Palisades’ Jude Perez takes down San Pedro’s Mathias French at 113 pounds.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO
By STEVE GALLUZZO
CTN Contributor
When the Palisades High wrestling team took on San Pedro in its own gym in the quarterfinals of the City Section Duals on Tuesday night it marked the first time any Dolphins program had competed on campus since the Palisades Fire last January.
Coach Mike Lawlor’s squad made it worth the wait, prevailing 53-25 to advance to Thursday’s semifinal round at No. 2 Eagle Rock. The third-seeded Dolphins won nine of the 14 weight classes, two by walkovers, to beat the sixth-seeded Pirates.
“This is the most experienced team I’ve had,” said Lawlor, who is in his eighth season and piloted the boys to seventh place at last year’s City Championships. “We won league and we’re two deep at every weight… so we don’t have to forfeit any points.”
Palisades’ roster features 15 seniors and one of them, Jude Perez, got the Dolphins on the scoreboard in the second match with a 59-second pin at 113 pounds. He is rated No. 1 in the City after taking fourth place at that weight at City Finals last winter.
“I’m going to stay at 113 for City, it’s a comfortable weight for me,” said Perez, a three-year varsity letterman who has already placed in the top two at three meets this season. “I’m the [City] favorite in my division.”
Jacob Maldonado merely had to report to the scorer’s table to have his hand raised at 120 as the Pirates had no opponent at that weight. Caleb Kim, who was fourth in the City at 126 last year, pinned his opponent in the first period Tuesday, then Rocco Falcione forged a 7-0 lead before beating San Pedro’s Alika Kekauoha by fall in the third period at 132 to extend the Dolphins’ lead to 24-6.
Zane Lazar built an 8-1 in the first period, led 11-3 after two periods and beat San Pedro’s Julian Mejia by technical fall (worth five points). Lazar was ahead 21-5 at the time of the stoppage.
William Bautolini won by forfeit at 165, Vincent Meiseles went up 8-3 in his match versus Joshua Flores at 175 and won by fall midway through the second period, giving the Dolphins an insurmountable 22-point lead with three matches left. Meiseles placed fourth at 165 at City Finals last year.
Team captain Matthew Suh pinned Pirates 190-pounder Jay Gamboa with 43 seconds left in the first period and a second-period pin at 215 made it 53-19.
“My goal is to win City and go to state,” said Suh, who took third in the 190-weight class at last year’s City Championships and finished 3-2 at 175 at the Five Counties Invitational two weeks ago in Fountain Valley.
“I’ll stick to 190 for dual meets but I’m dropping to 175 for City, which is the lowest I can go. It’s my best weight. I’ll be quicker and stronger.”
Suh wrestled mostly at JV as a freshman, took fourth in City at 165 in 10th grade and is now relishing the captain’s role.
“I show up for every practice and find a way to wrestle,” Suh added. “I wasn’t goal-driven when I got to Pali but now I am. I want to be a City champion.”
Palisades won the inaugural City boys duals in 2014 under Randy Aguirre, who started the Dolphins’ program in 2011. Birmingham has won seven of the last eight boys duals competitions, three straight girls duals, the last six City boys team titles and the last three girls titles.
“Birmingham’s loaded and could have three state placers,” Lawlor said.
Palisades’ squad includes five girls: seniors Indigo Thorne and Jaden Mehrdad and juniors Emma Bolch (fifth at 145 at City Finals last year), Mikaela Mobassery (fifth at 110) and Sofia Townsley.
The Dolphins have finished runner-up at City Finals twice, most recently in 2022. Palisades’ last individual champion was James Van Wagenen, who won the 126-pound division as a senior two years ago.
Palisades’ Matthew Suh (top) 190 pounds pins Jay Gamboa in the first period.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO