Ventura Victory Heavy-Handed

A matchup between City and Southern Section wrestling powers made for a competitive dual meet Tuesday night at Ventura High.

Until the final three matches.

Pins by Jason Rutland and Martin Mendoza, and a victory by decision by Steve Torres, gave Ventura a 40-25 come-from-behind victory over City power El Camino Real.

Ventura (7-10), two-time Channel League champion and a perennial Southern Section Division I power, outmaneuvered and overpowered the two-time defending City champion Conquistadores (25-5) when it mattered most.

The Cougars won eight of 14 bouts, including pins by Josh Kellim at 125 pounds and Pat Locke at 130 that erased a 7-3 El Camino Real lead.

Trevor Clocherty also won with a pin, defeating Matt Welch in 2:52 at 145.

But it was Rutland’s pin in 3:50 against Shaheen Jahangard at 215 pounds that clinched the victory after Torres had given Ventura a 28-25 lead with a 9-7 victory over Jamar Cargo.

Heavyweight Martin Mendoza provided the finishing touch by flattening Steve Lucas in 1:67.

The dual meet was the first meeting between the region’s most successful City and Southern Section teams.

Ventura has won seven league titles in nine years. El Camino Real has won eight of the last 13 City titles.

El Camino Real began with impressive victories in two of the first three bouts.

Josh Berg defeated Xocoyotzin Moraza, 11-1, at 103, and Edward Lemus defeated Daniel Brinkenhoff, 13-7.

But the tide soon turned.

“We knew going in that they were a good team and they were going to be very tough,” Coach Paul Clementi of Ventura said. “But we were able to beat some of their better guys. We needed something to get us off our butts.”

A disappointed Terry Fischer, coach of El Camino Real, used similar terminology to describe his team’s performance.

“Paul and I had talked for a long time about wrestling each other,” Fischer said. “Well, we did and they kicked our. . . .”

El Camino Real had its moments. Moshe Levi outlasted David Packard, 15-14, in the meet’s most intense bout.

With the score tied, 13-13, Levi scored with a reversal with 50 seconds left. Packard narrowed the gap with an escape 15 seconds later but was unable to make a winning move.

The Conquistadores trailed, 25-10, before winning three consecutive matches to pull even.

Eugene Korchmarev won a 4-2 decision over Bobby Taylor at 160. Anthony Thomas (30-0), defending City champion at 171, earned the Conquistadores’ only pin by flattening David Askay in 1:21.

Thomas’ victory evened the score, 25-25.

“I knew we needed six points, so I was ready to go out there and get it,” Thomas said. “We haven’t been doing well. I know our team is better than this.”

Pins by Kellim and Locke, both in the second period, gave Ventura momentum.

Kellim pinned Alex Albaum in 3:34 at 125. Locke stopped Edward Hernandez in 3:20.

“I give that kid a lot of credit,” said Kellim (18-6), who registered his 11th pin. “He was tough.”

At 114, Andy Webber of Ventura won a 10-6 decision over Matt Roman.

Sal Flores of El Camino Real won by injury default over David Lopez, who had a facial injury, in the 152-pound match at 1:39 of the second period.