Parker – There’s still no school like the old school when it comes to Class 5A’s top wrestling rivalry.
The three-time defending state champion Ponderosa Mustangs, the stalwart of Parker, kept upstart and crosstown Continental League rival Chaparral winless in their heated dual competition with a 38-23 victory Thursday before an overflow crowd.
The rumble had four technical falls and just one pin as every wrestler scrapped to the bitter end, much to the delight of a raucous and savvy crowd.
In a word: “It’s awesome,” said Ponderosa’s 119-pound junior Zach Valdez, whose 6-4 decision over Kyle Love clinched victory for the Mustangs with one weight to spare.
With the win, Ponderosa maintains the Pride of Parker Cup, the obvious bragging rights and a boost of confidence heading into the stretch run of the wrestling season.
The Wolverines led 23-21 with four weights remaining after Bayard McCue-Frazier’s 6-3 decision over Drew Crosier and Andy Skinner’s forfeit win at heavyweight.
But 103-pound freshman Zeke Hofer put the Mustangs up for good with a 10-4 win over Caleb McDowell, followed by Daniel Kelly’s 16-0 technical fall win over 112-pound counterpart Jacob Harris.
Needing a win to clinch, Valdez stayed in front of Love and went up 3-2 with an escape late in the first period. Valdez was up 4-2 in the second before giving up an escape early in the third period for a 4-3 lead.
Valdez sent the home supporters into raptures when he dropped Love for a takedown on the edge of the circle with 57 seconds remaining. Love escaped with 17 seconds left but could not get a takedown.
“It’s tough,” Valdez said. “All the pressure is kind of on you when you’re wrestling at the end.”
With the match lost, Wolverines coach Rodney Padilla forfeited the 125-pound weight.
Padilla said he was proud of his group and said it fought hard and according to plan.
“This was the way it was supposed to be,” Padilla said of the rivalry. “This is what we want: hostile, dark, lights, crowd.”
Ponderosa 189-pounder Ian Heinisch had a 12-3 lead over junior Steven Cruz and stuck him on his back late in the second period.
PONDEROSA 38, CHAPARRAL 23
103 pounds – Hofer, P, dec. McDowell 10-4; 112 – Kelly, P, tech fall Harris 16-0; 119 – Valdez, P, dec. Love 6-4; 125 – Bennett, P wins by forfeit; 130 – Trygstad, C, major dec. Turco, 13-4; 135 – Nelson, P, dec. Rod. Padilla, 6-4; 140 – Snider, P, major dec. Rom. Padilla, 14-2; 145 – Armstrong, P, tech fall Peterson, 19-3; 152 – Murphy, C, tech fall Keefover 17-2; 160 – Needham, C, tech fall Cunningham 17-1; 171 – Heffron , P, dec. Velarde 6-2; 189 – Heinisch pinned Cruz 4:00; 215 – McCue-Frazier, C, dec. Crosier 6-3; Hwt. – Skinner, C wins by forfeit.
