Rock-Solid Middle Highlights Victory

WOODLAND HILLS —  Avoid getting stuck in the middle with the El Camino Real High wrestling team.

Bell learned that the hard way during the Conquistadores’ 56-16 nonconference victory in a matchup of City Section powers Thursday night at El Camino Real.

The Conquistadores (15-3) recorded victories in 11 of 14 weight classes, with Bell (7-8) earning one of its three victories by forfeit.

Solid this season from top to bottom, El Camino Real flexed its muscle in the middle weights. Hugo Monge (140 pounds), Francisco Jordan (145), Jared Maiden (152), David Amaya (160), Erick Cornejo (171) and Alex Perez (189) each recorded lopsided victories to account for 34 points.

Monge, Maiden, Amaya and Perez recorded pins, Maiden and Amaya in the first period against Valentin Toscaro and Jose Aleman.

Cornejo and Jordan recorded technical-fall victories by margins of 16-1 and 17-1.

“We’re like a block wall from 140 to 189,” El Camino Real Coach Terry Fischer said.

Amaya, who improved to 17-1 with his 12th pin, appropriated an even catchier phrase to describe the meat of the lineup.

“We call it Murderer’s Row,” he said.

Bell Coach Frank O’Connor, whose team last season beat El Camino Real for its third City title in five years, conceded as much.

“This is their year,” O’Connor said. “They’re at their best, we’re at our worst right now. But we should have won a few more matches.”

Bell’s best performances were turned in by Alex Oropeza (112) and Erick Mendoza (135).

Oropeza, a defending City champion, outpointed Tony Lara, 15-3. Mendoza, in his first varsity season, pinned Raymond Munoz in 5:06.

El Camino Real totaled six pins, including victories by Keith Thomas (140) and Ernesto Monge (103).

Ernesto Monge took 5:14 to pin Andre Morazan, and Thomas flattened Carlos Herrera in 23 seconds.

“It’s called a bow and arrow,” Thomas said of his decisive move. “I stuck my head in his side and cradled him until he gave.”

In the meet’s most competitive match, Anthony Matassa (119) recorded an escape in the final 30 seconds to defeat Rick Fernandez, 11-10. The match was tied, 2-2, after one period, 4-4 after two and 8-8 in the third.

In other bouts, El Camino Real’s Cameron Mirochnick (125) defeated Victor Torres, 14-1, and heavyweight Orlando Vasquez defeated Albert Gonzalez, 7-3.