Camarillo Takes Five and Pins First League Defeat on Rio Mesa

Camarillo High put itself back in the race for the Pacific View League wrestling title on Tuesday night, winning five of the last seven matches for a 33-30 victory over Rio Mesa.

The defending league champion Scorpions (14-1, 3-1 in league meets) forced a three-way tie for first with Rio Mesa (12-11, 3-1) and Hueneme.

The winner of the league finals at Hueneme on Saturday will capture the title.

“It was a big team victory for us after losing to Hueneme [two weeks ago],” Camarillo 189-pounder Ralph Garcia said. “We knew what we had to do and we knew we couldn’t get pinned [in some matches].”

Camarillo followed its game plan precisely, allowing Garcia to wrap up the victory with two bouts remaining.

Garcia, a returning Times’ all-region selection and Masters Meet qualifier, beat Chris Davis, 12-3, to give the Scorpions an insurmountable 33-18 lead.

It was a cushion that Camarillo knew it needed because the Scorpions had two first-year wrestlers in the final two bouts of the meet.

Equally important was a 6-5 decision by Brent Cantrell over Mike Tao at 171 pounds.

Cantrell scored two points in the final 40 seconds on a reversal to give him a 6-4 lead.

Tao committed a critical error when he was penalized for leaving the mat midway through the third period. The official awarded Cantrell a point that gave him a 4-3 lead.

“He’s a cross-town rival and I wanted to take it to him and put some points on the board for us,” Cantrell said. “This sets up a tie and we have to take it to them at league finals.”

Camarillo jumped to a 13-0 lead, winning the first three weight classes.

At 103 pounds, Bryce Riach pinned Charles Sevier of Rio Mesa. Jake Nishimura (112 pounds) followed by handling Anthony Arevalo, 16-2.

Daniel Valencia finished the outburst, outlasting Matt Morales, 2-0, in the 119-pound bout.

Neither wrestler was able to assert control, but Valencia gained a point in the first period when Morales was penalized for stalling. He scored a point on an escape in the final seconds of the third period.

Rio Mesa countered with victories from Caleb Bautista (125), Lance Neal (130), Alex Romo (135) and Steven Arevalo (140) to take an 18-13 lead.

Jeff Carter gave Camarillo the lead for good at 19-18 by pinning Brandon Stocks in 1:55.

Arturo Ocegueda then gave the Scorpions an unexpected victory with a 10-8 overtime decision over Miguel Navarette at 152 pounds.

Navarette held an 8-7 lead with seconds remaining in the third period but was called for stalling to give Ocegueda the tying point. Ocegueda, in his first wrestling season, avenged an earlier 5-0 loss to Navarette.

“[Ocegueda] has been working really hard,” Coach Ron Wilson of Camarillo said. “It was great he could turn it around. That was a real big match.”