Mustangs sweep the mats

Bryce Alderton

First-year Costa Mesa High wrestling coach Brett Shainfeld

competed at Corona del Mar for seven-year Coach Gary Almquist. This

fall Shainfeld even had his team run over to CdM to say hi to

Almquist.

On Thursday, Shainfeld’s squad wasn’t as kind on the mats as the

Mustangs beat CdM along with Newport Harbor and Estancia to win the

Newport-Mesa District Championship in the first three-way dual meet

to feature all four district schools.

“I’m happy with the start,” Shainfeld said following the sweep

(3-0). “The guys came in a little disappointed because they lost

(four-year coach Matt Kellogg) but we just focus on simple techniques

and better conditioning.”

Conditioning was evident for Costa Mesa (10-3 overall), as six

Mustangs won district championships. Those winning three matches in

their respective weight classes: senior Carlos Ibarra (103), junior

Silvio Estrada (130), senior Matt Grubisich (140), senior Jesse

Franco (145), senior Adam Donovan (152), and junior Eric Reyes

(heavyweight). Ibarra, Estrada, Franco, Donovan and Reyes all had

three pins.

The Mustangs defeated CdM, 54-21, Newport, 52-24, and Estancia,

54-12.

Newport finished 2-1 for the meet, beating CdM, 44-29, in the

closest team match of the day, and downing the Eagles, 42-25.

Corona del Mar took a 26-23 lead after Sea King Dane Robie

(189-pound class) pinned a Newport wrestler in 7:51, but the Sailors’

Phil Gerard (heavyweight) put a CdM wrestler in a headlock with his

left arm and drove him to the mat to seal the pin for six points.

Newport took the 103- and 112-pound weight classes on CdM forfeits to

gain 12 points and beat the Sea Kings for the first time in Coach

Dominic Bulone’s four years at the helm of the Sailors.

“It helps when you have a full lineup because we got 12 free

points,” Bulone said.

Sailor junior Kid Lim (112), senior Nate Geier (135) and senior

Brandon Marshall (171) won all three of their matches to claim

district championships.

Marshall beemed with a smile following the victory over CdM,

saying, “We don’t have to run tomorrow.”

Host Corona del Mar beat Estancia, 42-20, while falling to Newport

Harbor and Costa Mesa, but had four wrestlers take home district

titles: Brian Feeley (119 on two pins and one default), Ryan Shores

(160), Robie (189) and Alex Diaz (215).

“Shores was impressive to go the distance (against Costa Mesa),”

Almquist said.

Shores led, 8-5, and gained points when he wrapped his arms around

his opponent’s knees to drive his back into the mat, setting up

Shores for an eventual win on decision.

Estancia senior Victor Carmona won the 125-pound weight class on

one pin, one technical decision and one decision. He said his

conditioning made the difference in wrestling three matches Thursday.

Estancia Head Coach Steve Perez, Stainfeld and Bulone all

commended Almquist on his work in making Thursday’s meet possible.

“(Almquist) is doing a great job and this is a nice event to start

and continue,” Perez said. “All four coaches in the district are

great guys. There is no animosity. Our teams often workout together.

It’s a close-knit group that is only going to get closer.”