Early Losses Don’t Deter

Rio Mesa High’s Scott Speakman, Monroe’s Arthur Bryan and El Camino Real’s Edward Lemus each earned consolation-round victories on Friday and advanced into today’s final day of competition at the state wrestling championships at the University of Pacific in Stockton.

Speakman lost in the first round but rallied with two victories in the consolation round, including a 10-0 decision over El Camino Real’s Moshe Levi in his final bout of the day.

Speakman was beaten, 10-6, in the first round by Gilroy’s Raul Alvarez. Alvarez entered as the No. 3-ranked wrestler in the state at 140 pounds.

“Generally, I’m real happy with the way Scott has wrestled so far in the tournament,” Rio Mesa coach Todd Stoke said. “[Alvarez] is real tough, and he’s real tough on his feet, which is kind of a weakness of Scott’s. Scott had a couple of opportunities, but he wasn’t able to cash in.”

Speakman had little trouble in the first round of consolation, pinning Jeremiah Captain of Oakland in 2:35.

Lemus (119 pounds) won his first-round match, taking a 16-5 decision over Villa Park’s Doug Yakel, but he lost in the second round, 22-7, to Andy Kim of Poway.

He rebounded with a 22-6 victory over Arroyo Grande’s Jose Velasquez.

“I’m really pleased with how he’s doing,” El Camino Real coach Terry Fischer said. “He’s been to so many tournaments so this was expected. He’s fulfilling his goals.”

Bryan entered with the region’s best record at 43-1 but lost, 9-8, to Hemet’s Ryan Griffin.

It was Bryan’s first loss since December when he was defeated by Mira Costa’s Jon Cordero at the North Torrance tournament. He beat Cordero two weeks later in the final of San Fernando tournament.

In the consolation round, Bryan, who won his first two matches at the state tournament last season, decisioned Fairfield’s George Palmer, 12-3, and pinned Livingston’s Jose Salgado in the third round.

“He got a real tough first round draw,” Monroe coach Tom Jones said. “It’s a real tough weight class.”