Unbeaten Ventura Builds a Pincushion, 49-24

Winning time meant pinning time for the Ventura High wrestling team.

Trailing by two points in Tuesday night’s Channel League dual meet at Rio Mesa, the Cougars (13-0, 3-0 in league meets) recorded four pins in the final six bouts to pull away for a 49-24 victory.

Rio Mesa (8-15, 1-2) held an 18-16 lead after seven matches, but Ventura’s Nghiep Dang (145 pounds) triggered a surge by pinning Sergio Raya in 43 seconds to improve his record to 26-4, including 17 pins.

“Since our team was down, I wanted to pump up the crowd and change the momentum,” Dang said. “I wanted to do it quick today.”

So did teammate Bryan Doss (152), who followed by pinning Benjie Moraga in 56 seconds to improve to 26-15, including 18 pins.

“The coach said, ‘Do it fast.’ So I did,” Doss said. “We get impatient.”

Jamie Kellner (160) made it three quick pins in a row with a 1-minute 49-second flattening of Ish Flores. Heavyweight Joey Locklear capped the match with a pin of Rio Mesa’s Joey Tejada in 5:20.

Ventura, vying for its sixth league title in seven years, recorded six pins to the Spartans’ three. Ventura won nine of 14 bouts, including a forfeit victory at 215.

“We expected to get pins at certain weights,” Ventura Coach Paul Clementi said.

Rio Mesa was successful in the lower weights, winning four of the first five bouts.

Rio Mesa’s Jesse Bautista (135), sixth in the state last season as a sophomore, overpowered Jarom Gaitan for a pin in 56 seconds to improve to 24-2, including 10 pins. Bautista, who pinned Gaitan at the Torrance tournament this season, improved to 3-0 in league matches.

“I was just waiting for him to make a mistake,” Bautista said. “He lifted his elbow a little too much and I capitalized on it.”

Spikie Gonzalez (103) pinned Ventura’s Matt Saracini in 2:54, and Jorge Ayala (189) pinned Kenny Gilliand in 1:01.

Ventura’s Rory Locke (119) pinned Chris Bornhauser in 3:13, and Dustin Clocherty (125) followed by pinning Ryan Tedder in 3:53.

The meet’s most exciting bout unfolded between Rio Mesa’s Ralph Cortez and Cristobal Gonzalez at 171. Gonzalez began with an authoritative takedown late in the first period, built a 7-2 lead in the second period and held on for a 10-8 decision.

Gonzalez improved to 26-7. Cortez is 29-9. They split two matches earlier this season.

“I felt sloppy today,” Gonzalez said. “I thought I could beat him by more points, but I guess he wanted it bad, too.”

Rio Mesa’s William Bell defeated Trevor Clocherty, 13-10, after falling behind, 6-0, in the first period.

Rio Mesa’s Danny Morales beat Joe Rosa, 8-5, and Ventura’s Bernie Gonzalez (140) defeated Jeff Edwards, 11-2.