Trojans trample Corning for perfect season

The Corning High wrestling squad was the only team that had a chance of handing Orland it's first dual meet loss in three years on Wednesday, and the effort proved to be pointless. Literally.

There was no way the Trojans were going to be denied another year of perfection, especially in front the hometown crowd on Senior Night, and Orland responded in all weight classes to throttle the visiting Cardinals 76-0.

"I'm really proud of the wrestling team, we had a great Senior Night," said Orland coach Victor Perry. "This group of seniors in the first group of kids that I started out with through our Orland Takedown Club eight years ago. I'm sad to see the seniors graduate, but I'm excited to see what the future holds in store for them."

The fun began for the Trojans when 128-pounder Hermilo Esquivel took the mat against Sean Lowe. The matchup proved to be more of an opportunity for Esquivel to practice takedowns, as the senior repeatedly traded single escape points for the opportunity to try more takedowns, before notching a 19-5 technical fall.

And it just ballooned from there.

In the 134-pound match, Taylor Enck won a 12-3 major decision over Josh Shults, and Jimmy Gamboa followed with the first of seven Trojan pins, in 3:32 over Corning's Matt Cochran at 140.

Tyler Embrey scored a third-period fall against Dakota Henry in the 147-pound clash, and Justin Hill made it three in a row with a pin of Jon Jones in the second period at 154.

Christian Wathen was in control of his 162-pound match, before Corning's Evan McFadden tapped out and defaulted with a first-period injury.

Tyler Gil accepted one of two forfeits at 172, with the other going to Q.P. Hill at 108.

Luis Hernandez and Jake Funk made short work of the Cardinals' Mario Cervantes and Noah Hall, putting each on their backs in the first period at 184 and 197, respectively. Hernandez's was the quickest, coming with just 57 seconds gone.

In the night's closest match in terms of scoring, Fernando Infante refocused after a scoreless first period and being taken down in the second, to post a 7-3 decision over Noe Franco at 222.

Victor Raigoza added another six points to Orland's total with a pin of Calvin Abel at 287, 115-pounder Hugo Punzo added an 11-3 major decision versus Martin Solano, and Laine Embrey ended the evening with a fall against Elias Vallejo at 122.

The Trojans are attempting to earn yet another Butte View League championship today at Wheatland.

"I'm excited for the end of the year and for the post-season, Perry said. "We are on track to defend the BVL league title and Division II and Masters titles."

Orland 76, Corning 0

108 - Q.P. Hill, O, accepted forfeit

115 - Hugo Punzo, O, by major decision over Martin Solano, C, 11-3

122 - Laine Embrey, O, pinned Elias Vallejo, C

128 - Hermilo Esquivel, O, by technical fall over Sean Lowe, C, 19-5

134 - Taylor Enck, O, by major decision over Josh Shults, C, 12-3

140 - Jimmy Gamboa, O, pinned Matt Cochran, C

147 - Tyler Embrey, O, pinned Dakota Henry, C

154 - Justin Hill, O, pinned Jon Jones, C

162 - Christian Wathen, O, by default over Evan McFadden, C

172 - Tyler Gil, O, accepted forfeit

184 - Luis Hernandez, O, pinned Mario Cervantes, C

197 - Jake Funk, O, pinned Noah Hall, C

222 - Fernando Infante, O, by decision over Noe Franco, C, 7-3

287 - Victor Raigoza, O, pinned Calvin Abel, C

CONTACT Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.