El Camino Real Pulls Its Weight in Wrestling Win

Perhaps El Camino Real High’s wrestling team is not quite as lean and mean as first-year Coach Terry Fischer had hoped. But the Conquistadores are not exactly flat on the mat, either.

Longtime power El Camino Real put some strong moves on outnumbered and outclassed Birmingham on Thursday to post a 66-8 victory in a Valley League opener at Birmingham.

Four wrestlers recorded pins for El Camino Real (11-9-1). Seniors Matt Austin (160 pounds) and Matt Tuttle (140) pinned opponents in 1 minute 34 seconds and 1:22, respectively.

Josh Roman (112) recorded a pin with one second remaining in his six-minute match and Mike Dender (135) recorded a pin in 5:44.

True, Birmingham (0-3) forfeited six weight categories at a cost of 36 points. But of the Braves who made it to the mat, only Devon Tate (152) recorded a victory, pinning Mike Van Grove in 3:55.

Birmingham’s Clarence Williams (119) and El Camino Real’s Paul Inn battled to a draw.

While things shaped up nicely on the scoreboard, Fischer could not say the same for the Conquistadores’ physical condition.

“We’re totally out of shape and our techniques were weak,” Fischer said. “All the schools are out of shape during this winter vacation. It’s terrible.”

Fischer and Birmingham Coach Peter Dhanes bemoaned the current break from classes because of the City Section’s year-round schedule. Many coaches of winter sports share those complaints.

Dhanes said that many of Birmingham’s wrestlers are unable to practice or participate during the break because of transportation problems, family vacations and other difficulties.

“Both teams are so down this year,” Dhanes said. “As down as we are, ECR would have annihilated us if they were in better shape.”

Austin, the league’s 152-pound runner-up last season, acknowledged that many wrestlers might not be sticking closely to training regimens. But he didn’t appear to be among them during his match against Birmingham’s David Terk.

Austin limited Terk to one point while controlling the brief match from the start.

“I don’t think I’m out of shape,” Austin said. “A lot of the guys on the team, they eat a lot of fried foods and stuff like that. But as part of my diet, I don’t eat any red meat or dairy (products).”

Ron Avneri defeated Milton Montiel, 17-8, in the 189-pound division to round out El Camino Real’s scoring.