Santa Ana pulls out victory over rival Calvary Chapel
SANTA ANA – The Santa Ana and Calvary Chapel wrestling teams had alternated victories in their annual dual the past three years entering Friday's match.
The trend continued Friday.
The fourth-ranked Saints rallied from a 12-point deficit to pull off a 34-28 victory over visiting Calvary Chapel in this year's Iron Sharpens Iron Classic at Santa Ana.
Calvary Chapel won the dual in 2009, Santa Ana in 2010 and Calvary Chapel last year.
Calvary Chapel led, 24-12, after Dominick Magana's victory by fall at 160 pounds. Jon Hernandez started the Santa Ana comeback with a major decision victory at 170, cutting the deficit to 24-16.
Santa Ana picked up two consecutive forfeits at 182 and 195 to retake the lead, 28-24.
Anthony Farias clinched the match with a victory by fall at 220.
"He's the hero of the night for us," Santa Ana assistant coach Jose Leon said of Farias. "He had the big pin. We didn't know he had that in him."
Santa Ana won the first three matches by decision for a 9-0 lead. Calvary Chapel won the next four, including two by fall — Fisher Keene at 138 and Mike Longo at 145 — to take an 18-9 lead.
Jorge Gutierrez pulled off a 5-2 victory over Aaron Negrette at 152 to make the score 18-12. Magana followed with his pin at 160 for the 12-point lead.
"We didn't know what we needed to do on the bottom in the earlier weights and that hurt us in getting the momentum going," Calvary Chapel coach Jacob Harman said. "We fell up a little bit short. If we don't get the engine running early, it is hard to rally and get momentum."
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
