Posted: Oct 16, 2021
Santa Ana College saw dual competition for the first time in the 2021 season at the South State Duals, facing off against Cerritos, Palomar and Rio Hondo that resulted with a team finish of 1-2 for the day. The team has been in a rebuilding phase, due to a variety of circumstances that have included the Covid-19 pandemic, and only two of seven sophomores returning from the 2019 season. The team opened its 2021 season at the perennial home tournament after it had to cancel traveling to the Bakersfield and Mt SAC duals. They finished in 14th place at the Santa Ana College tournament, with 2019 CCCAA state qualifier Jose Mata being the only placer that day. Head coach Vince Silva is optimistic: "We have a young and inexperienced team, but I like what I saw today," he said regarding the teams' performance for the duals.
The action started with Santa Ana being the 7th seed challenging the 2nd seed Cerritos. The team opened strong by winning the first three matches which included a majority decision by Damien Perez (125) over state ranking honorable mention Evan McShane, and Jose Mata avenging his SAC tourney loss to state ranked number 3 Josh Mendoza. Cerritos would win the next two matches with a fall and decision to close Santa Ana's lead to 13-9, while at 165 Saeed Perez made his debut for the team by scoring a fall when his Cerritos opponent pinned himself. This would be the last points scored for Santa Ana in the dual with Cerritos taking the last four weight classes by technical fall, fall, majority decision and Santa Ana forfeiting the heavyweight match. The final score of the dual would be 30-19 for Cerritos.
In the first consolation match, Santa Ana would be faced against Palomar College. The dual opened with the 133 pound match, in which Jose Mata made quick work of his opponent with a 15-0 technical fall. At 141 pounds, Hector Camarena scored a takedown in overtime to give the Dons an 8-0 lead. Santa Ana would further extend its lead by winning the next three matches with two falls and a forfeit to gain a 26-0 lead. Conner Hardy at 174 pounds would secure a takedown in the second overtime match of the dual to give the Dons the dual victory with its lead at 29-0, making it mathematically impossible for Palomar to catch up with four matches remaining. Palomar would take the last four matches by winning 184 pounds with a majority decision, Santa Ana forfeiting 197 and heavyweight, and Palomar winning in overtime at 125. Santa Ana would advance to the consolation semi-finals with a score of 29-19.
In the consolation semi-finals, Santa Ana faced Rio Hondo, who was the tournament 4 seed and ranked 7th in state. Santa Ana once again won the opening match of the dual that started at 141 pounds, with Hector Camarena having a convincing 12-5 decision over 4th ranked Miguel Cabrera. Rio Hondo would roar back though to win the 149 and 157 pound matches by fall to take a 12-3 lead, not looking back afterwards. Santa Ana would get within three points after Rio Hondo forfeited the 165 and 184 pound matches. However, a fall win by Rio Hondo at 174 pounds, and forfeits by Santa Ana at 197 and heavyweight would seal the win for Rio Hondo. Alexis Tellez of Rio Hondo would score a majority decision over Damien Perez of Santa Ana at 125 pounds to add to Rio Hondo's total, but Jose Mata would close out the dual with a win of 9-4 over Luis Perez of Rio Hondo, with the final score of the dual being 34-18. Jose Mata and Hector Camarena would finish 3-0 for the day.
The Dons next event is this Wednesday when they have their conference dual against visiting Palomar.
Dual results:
Quarter-Finals vs Cerritos
125 - Damien Perez (SA) over Evan McShane (CER) by major decision 17-9
133 - Jose Mata (SA) over Josh Mendoza (CER) by fall at 4:58
141 - Hector Camarena (SA) over Brennen Wells (CER) by decision 5-3 (OT)
149 - Felix Osorio (CER) over Zayn Patel (SA) by fall at 0:42
157 - Caolite Drury (CER) over Salvador Munoz (SA) by decision 7-2
165 - Saeed Perez (SA) over Vincent Perez (SA) by fall at 5:52
174 - Stone Robledo (CER) over Conner Hardy (SA) by technical fall 18-3
184 - Joe Rodriguez (CER) over Gino Pintor (SA) by fall at 2:34
197 - Jordan Patterson (CER) over Deniz Ari (SA) by major decision 10-1
285 - Jonovan Smith (CER) over FORFEIT
Final Score: Cerritos 30, Santa Ana 19
Consolation Round 1 vs Palomar
133 - Jose Mata (SA) over Owen Wilson (PAL) by technical fall 15-0
141 - Hector Camarena (SA) over Randall Lockwood (PAL) by decision 3-1 (OT)
149 - Nicholas Poma (SA) over Hassan Alexander (PAL) by fall at 4:08
149 - Nicholas Poma (SA) over Hassan Alexander (PAL) by fall at 4:08
157 - Edward Ramirez (SA) over FORFEIT
165 - Saeed Perez (SA) over Daniel Hernandez (PAL) by fall at 4:10
174 - Conner Hardy (SA) over Brayan Macias-Morales (PAL) by decision 8-6 (OT)
184 - Armando Rodriguez (PAL) over Deniz Ari (SA) by majority decision 15-4
197 - Oscar De La Cruz (PAL) over FORFEIT
285 - Allen Salgado (PAL) over FORFEIT
125 - Juan Diaz (PAL) over Damien Perez (SA) by decision 9-7 (OT)
Final Score: Santa Ana 29, Palomar 19
Consolation Semi-Finals vs Rio Hondo
141 - Hector Camarena (SA) over Miguel Cabrera (RIO) by decision 12-5
149 - Donovan Sanin (RIO) over Nicholas Poma (SA) by fall at 2:39
157 - Adrian Rios (RIO) over Edward Ramirez (SA) by fall at 6:12
165 - Saeed Perez (SA) over FORFEIT
174 - Lorenzo Villegas (RIO) over Conner Hardy (SA) by fall at 0:59
184 - Deniz Ari (SA) over FORFEIT
174 - Lorenzo Villegas (RIO) over Conner Hardy (SA) by fall at 0:59
184 - Deniz Ari (SA) over FORFEIT
197 - Ricardo Cardona (RIO) over FORFEIT
285 - Emitt Mercado (RIO) over FORFEIT
125 - Alexis Tellez (RIO) over Damien Perez (SA) by major decision 13-4
133 - Jose Mata (SA) over Luis Perez (RIO) by decision 9-4
Final Score: Rio Hondo 34, Santa Ana 18