Dos Pueblos Has the Final Word

There were few surprises during Saturday’s Channel League wrestling finals at Ventura High.

Powerful Dos Pueblos, with five wrestlers claiming individual titles, placed first among six teams.

Ventura, which lost to Dos Pueblos, 38-20, on Thursday in the final dual meet of the season, finished second with four champions.

As expected, standouts Ati Conner of Dos Pueblos (152 pounds) and Jesse Bautista of Rio Mesa (130) toyed with opponents while recording lopsided victories.

About the only eyebrow-raiser was the appearance of Bautista, who emerged from the daylong competition with a swollen right eye and badly swollen left ear.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Bautista said, smiling.

Bautista, sixth in the state last season as a sophomore, put the hurt on Jorge Inda of Dos Pueblos, muscling to a 20-5 advantage to record a technical fall in the third period and claim a second consecutive league championship.

Bautista (31-2), who has been slowed this season by a sprained knee, sprained back and tonsillitis, appears to be in top form entering next weekend’s Southern Section Division I finals at El Monte High.

“I’m getting back in the swing of things,” he said.

Conner (41-0), No. 1 in the state after placing fourth at the State meet last season, defeated Bryan Doss of Ventura, 27-12, to record a technical fall.

“I kept capitalizing on his mistakes,” Bautista said.

Ventura’s Dustin Clocherty (119), Bernie Gonzalez (135), Cristobal Gonzalez (171) and Joe Martinez (189) all placed first among nine Cougar wrestlers to advance to the final round.

Clocherty pinned Casey Shannon of Dos Pueblos in 2 minutes 15 seconds and Martinez did the same to Sai Fasagaiga of Hueneme in 3:50.

For the Gonzalez brothers, victories were hard-fought. Bernie defeated Jesse Plowman of Dos Pueblos, 5-4, while Cristobal beat Pat Compton of Dos Pueblos, 11-8.

“I just wanted it more than him,” said Cristobal Gonzalez (31-7). “It’s a small goal, winning the league title. Going to State is my goal. I’m getting better every match.”

At 112 pounds, Rio Mesa’s Danny Morales (15-3) pinned Ben Fischetti of Dos Pueblos in 3:15.

Poa Tuitama of Hueneme (160) defeated Joe Raven of Dos Pueblos, 9-2.

Dan Ramirez of Oxnard (215) flattened Leonel Del Toro of Hueneme in 49 seconds.

Heavyweights Ricky Mendez of Hueneme and Joe Locklear of Ventura bumped each other out of the circle throughout the bout before Mendez earned a 5-3 overtime victory when Locklear was penalized for stalling.