El Camino Real Weighs in With Dual-Meet Title

Who better than heavyweights to tip the scales?

A tightly contested City Section dual-meet wrestling final came down to the last six minutes--not including the preliminary stare-down--between heavyweights Alex Perez of El Camino Real High and Julius Askew of San Fernando.

When it was over, Perez edged Askew, 11-9, and El Camino Real had a 31-26 come-from-behind victory Thursday night at El Camino Real.

The Conquistadores (11-4-1) repeated as dual-meet champions only after rallying from an early deficit--something they failed to do a week earlier in San Fernando’s 34-31 victory at El Camino Real.

Trailing, 26-22, El Camino Real Coach Terry Fischer switched heavyweight John Grogan and Perez, who was penciled in at 215 pounds.

Grogan responded by pinning David Ortiz in 2 minutes, 18 seconds to give El Camino Real a two-point advantage.

Predictably, the final bout was emotional. Both wrestlers tumbled out of the circle and off the mat five times.

Askew, who lost a 5-3 decision to Perez a week earlier, was penalized one point for unnecessary roughness.

Perez fell behind, 2-0, but took a 4-3 lead after one period and maintained a narrow lead until the end.

“It’s all up to us sometimes, and sometimes it doesn’t mean anything,” Perez said.

“It’s awesome to win like this. Nothing like it.”

San Fernando (13-4), winning five of the first seven bouts, rolled to a 19-6 lead with several wrestlers competing at weights heavier than usual.

Juan Gutierrez gave the Tigers a 26-16 lead with a 4-3 decision over Anthony Thomas at 171 pounds.

That set the stage for the big finish.

Sophomore Jamar Cargo pinned San Fernando’s Noe Ramirez in 2:49.

“I knew we needed it,” Cargo said. “I tried to win it with my heart.”

Fischer followed by shuffling his lineup.

“A baseball move,” Fischer said. “I knew John could pin the guy. And Perez has a great deal more experience.”

Nine wrestlers, including Perez and Grogan, were members of El Camino Real’s 3-A Division championship football team, which defeated Carson, 42-0, in December at the Coliseum.

Keith Thomas, who missed the last half of the football season because of a knee injury, has an 11-0 record since returning in January following a 10-0 victory over Anthony Rico at 152.

Twins Andy and Eddie Moro were among seven winners for San Fernando. Andy pinned Ryan Lewis in 3:54 at 135 and Eddie defeated Sal Flores, 11-2, at 140.

Arthur Lucero of El Camino Real pinned Jose Ramirez in 2:56 at 145.

In the third-place meet, Canoga Park defeated Monroe, 42-39. Chatsworth defeated University, 60-17, for fifth place.