HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
PERRIS With a Mountain Pass League dual title on the line, Perris Citrus Hill turned to its two-time state qualifier, Anthony Vargas. The 134-pounder delivered in the clutch to secure a 35-29 home win over Hemet in a battle for sole possession of first place in league, but it was far from easy, as Vargas got a perhaps unexpectedly heated challenge from Issaih Burkes. With Hemet trailing, 32-23, Burkes threw Vargas down right out of the gate and had him in a precarious situation that earned a twopoint near fall. Vargas escaped the jam and had a lead by the end of the first period that he would never surrender. “I wasn’t really expecting (the throw),” said Vargas, whose team improved to 4-0 in league to clinch at least a share of its second straight league crown. “Once I got on my back I knew I really had to work to get a reversal or do something just to catch up.” Had Burkes completed the pin, the entire outcome of the dual could very likely have been different. One of the Bulldogs’ better wrestlers, Garrett Willerford, would have had a favorable matchup in the final match against a physically limited Daniel Alacantar with just a three-point deficit to make up. Willerford ended up winning via forfeit when Citrus Hill coach Andrew Holmes opted not to send out Alcantar, who has spent most of the season recovering from a broken wrist, with the dual already decided. “We knew (Willerford) was a really tough kid,” Holmes said. “It wasn’t anything to undermine them or be disrespectful.” Hemet (3-1 in league) is expected to beat Beaumont in its league finale on Jan. 30 and could force a co-title should Citrus Hill suffer an unlikely defeat at Hemet Tahquitz the same night. Citrus Hill also got pins from David Guevara at 154 and Joel Villa at 182, while Kevin Pelligrini (108) and Alex Padilla earned major decisions for the Hawks. Phauntryl Buie scored a pin for Hemet at 162 pounds and Tristin Sutton (222) and Lance Conway (115) turned in major decisions for the Bulldogs. CONTACT THE WRITER: [email protected]