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TEMECULA — Every five years or so, there is talk in wrestling circles about a team that might be able to snap Temecula Valley’s impressive league winning streak.
Chaparral was that team this season. The program has its deepest and strongest lineup in many years, including six wrestlers being state-ranked or on the honorable mention list heading into Thursday’s night’s showdown. Temecula Valley had seven state-ranked wrestlers this week.
Temecula Valley shut down talk of an upset for another season, as the Golden Bears dominated their crosstown rivals and posted a 52-15 victory that clinched at least a share of another Southwestern League championship. Temecula Valley concludes the league portion of its dual schedule at home Tuesday, Jan. 22, against Murrieta Mesa.
“We don’t talk here at Temecula Valley. We wrestle and let that do the talking,” first-year head coach Mario DeCaro said. “A lot of people talk the talk, but it all comes down to walking the walk. We walk that walk, and that keeps on showing every year.”
The precise numbers behind Temecula Valley’s league winning streak are in question. The Bears have won at least 35 straight league titles, but former co-head coach and current assistant coach Lyndon Campbell said he believes the streak might be at 37. And the program has won at least 150 consecutive league matches. The last time Temecula Valley did not win one of its league matches was in 1991, when it tied with Hemet.
DeCaro helped Temecula Valley claim a handful of those league championships during the late-2000s, and he was the one selected to take over the program when longtime coaches Arnold Alpert and Campbell chose to step down as head coaches last season. Campbell still is an important figure in the program and did most of the mat instruction during Thursday’s match.
“Our school and this program has always been about tradition, and I’m just excited to be a part of this family again,” DeCaro said. “I hope as long as I’m here, this streak continues. I’m proud of what these guys have accomplished so far this year.”
Chaparral’s Justin Herrera gave the home crowd something to cheer for early, as he won the opening bout (126 pounds) of the match. Herrera took a 6-0 lead and nearly locked in a pin during the second period. He ultimately held on for a 6-3 decision.
And while Chaparral’s crowd was thrilled about having a 3-0 advantage, Temecula Valley’s bench was equally excited. Gabriel Lemos managed to avoid being pinned (six points).
“That’s a victory for us,” Campbell said while congratulating Lemos for the effort.
Temecula Valley then rattled off six straight victories to take a commanding 34-3.
Malikhi Espiritu (132) got things rolling for the Bears with a 14-5 major decision.
Nathan Perryman was leading 11-3 in the second period of his 138-pound match before locking in the first of five consecutive pins by the Bears. Freshman Ashton Lassig (145) made quick work of his opponent with a pinfall victory in the opening minute. Daniel Sterling (152) was up 17-3 in the second period and eventually got a pin at the 3:22 mark of the match. Logan Alawneh (160) took control of his bout during the second period and recorded a pin in the third period. Kameron Phillips (182) capped the run with a takedown and pin 17 seconds into the second period.
“It just felt good knowing I went out there and did what I needed to do to help my team win tonight,” Perryman said.
Dylan Natceli temporarily halted Temecula Valley’s momentum when he came away with a 10-3 decision to win his 182-pound match and keep any chance of a Chaparral comeback alive.
Matt Porras-Diamond had the honor of clinching the victory for Temecula Valley, as he cruised to a 13-2 major decision to give the Bears an insurmountable 38-6 lead with five matches remaining.
“We definitely wanted to stop the talking. People can talk all they want, but what matters most is the wrestling and the results,” Porras-Diamond said. “It’s an honor to keep the tradition going for the next generation of wrestlers to follow.”
Chaparral’s Vaughan Taylor (220) received a walkover victory. Temecula Valley decided not to present a wrestler at that weight, electing instead to bump Chase Bergeson up to heavyweight. And the move paid off, as Bergeson prevailed 6-0.
Isaiah Trujillo (106) overcame an early 4-0 deficit and recorded Temecula Valley’s sixth win via pinfall. Trujillo still trailed 5-2 when he locked in the pin at 1:30.
Eric Miramontes scored Chaparral’s fourth and final win of the night with a 10-3 decision at 113 pounds.
Aidan Munoz, Temecula Valley’s highest state-ranked wrestler (14th at 120 pounds), provided the exclamation point on the Bears’ victory with a 19-0 technical fall.
Perryman is a second-generation wrestler for Temecula Valley, His father and uncle helped establish the foundation in the program’s early days. Nathan and his brother have exteneded the tradition.
“It just feel great to keep adding to the legacy of this program.” Perryman said.
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