Wrestlers compete in first match

The wrestling team had a good showing in their first match of the season, held at Gilcrest on Saturday, December 5.

Nine teams were scheduled to participate, but only six were actually able to attend. Coach Gene O'Brien told The Nugget that the event went from a tournament to a "crab pool."

"A crab pool is where you take a group of wrestlers and pool them in a group of four or five wrestlers around the same weight," said O' Brien.

Josh O'Brien took a second-place finish. O'Brien usually wrestles at 130 pounds but was bumped up to the 140 and 145 weight classes. Josh lost his first match and then went on to pin his opponent in the third round of his second match. O'Brien won his third match by a major decision in a final score of 15-0.

Ryan Long won by a fall in his first match and then lost the next two for a third-place finish.

"Ryan is going to surprise a lot of people this year," said O'Brien. "He's a very quick learner."

Steven Nemer also earned a third-place finish. Nemer pinned his first opponent and then lost his next two matches.

Gilbert Porraz (171) dominated his matches for a first-place finish. Porraz pinned all three of his opponents with a side throwdown.

"In his third match he really faked out his opponent," said O'Brien. "He went for the ankles on a fake and then came up and threw him down."

Chandler Zenich was the surprise of the day at 189 pounds. Zenich, in his wrestling debut, pinned all three of his opponents with a half nelson.

"I can't even tell you how he did it," said O' Brien. "He's just beginning, but he is so fun to watch. After being warned about locking hands, which resulted in four points being awarded to his opponent, he looked at me and said 'What do I do?' I just told him to not lock hands. Right after that Chandler took him down with no hands and no control and I have no idea how he did it. For only two weeks of practice, wow...he's going to be good."

Ryan Sterling won his first match by a fall, his second by decision and then lost in his final match. Sterling had a good performance and earned a second-place finish.

"Overall, the team did very well," said O'Brien. "Now, we are going to hit the mats and finish up on our technique conditioning and getting our moves perfected, so we will be ready for Culver."

The Outlaws will travel to Culver, the three-time reigning state champs, for the Culver Memorial Tournament on Friday and Saturday, December 11 and 12. Thirteen to 17 teams are expected to attend the event, including some of the top teams in the state.