The562’s wrestling coverage for the 2023-24 school year is sponsored by Emigh Dental Care.
The562’s coverage of Millikan athletics in the 2023-24 school year is sponsored by Curtis Boyer.
The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
Millikan’s Chris Anguiano has been wrestling since he was in middle school, so competing on the mat isn’t new to him, but since getting to high school the environment has been way different for the freshman.
“It’s really important this being my first year (in high school),” Anguiano said. “It’s a completely different atmosphere. This is way different, the atmosphere, the people, the coaches – it’s more fun. There’s a lot more engagement with the coaches and teammates. I like it and I’m going to keep on going.”
Anguiano was able to experience his first Moore League title as he helped the Rams win their 14th consecutive league title after defeating Lakewood 44-25 Thursday night. It’s the longest championship streak in the nearly 60-year history of Moore League wrestling.
“All my teammates are really good,” Anguiano said. “There’s a lot of talent, but that’s what gets you better.”
That mentality is a main reason coach Blake Lovato and the Rams have had continued success for more than a decade as they continue to push excellence on the mat.
“I love competition – competition is what makes it worth it,” Lovato said. “To see the league growing again and having four full lineups against Wilson, Lakewood and Poly – the league is coming back together. The league is on the rise again and it’s only going to breed success between all of us. The goal is to get Long Beach wrestling on top.”
While the league title was decided on the final week of the season, Lakewood coach Randy Gonzalez said that Millikan still had a few more horses than the Lancers – but he was proud of how the team battled.
“If a few of our closer matches went the other way – the score would’ve been a little bit closer,” Gonzalez said.
It was a Millikan sweep at Lakewood as the girls team defeated the Lancers 45-24 to finish their Moore League season.
The Rams’ lone loss came down after their meet against Poly ended in a tie – with the Rams losing on after the decision went down to a tiebreaker.
Millikan won eight of the 13 matches against Lakewood by pin – the most impressive coming from freshman Gabriella Bonilla who pinned her opponent in eight seconds.
“I was really motivated to win,” Bonilla said. “I’m a freshman – I’ve never wrestled before. So I really want to try my best and get as far as I can. I was really nervous before the match, but my dad told me ‘Hey, you got this’ and all my teammates and coaches really hyped me up so I just wanted to do as good as I could.”
The boys will be back in action for the Moore League finals at Millikan on February 3rd, while the girls will compete at the Moore League finals at Jordan on January 25th.
Girls Results:
100: Millikan’s Madison Baxter won by decision against Lakewood’s Brooklyn Wilson
105: Millikan’s Jaelen Escala pinned Lakewood’s Katherine Oliva
110: Millikan’s Nohea Booth pinned Lakewood’s Kailee Muk
115: Millikan’s Cardenas, Nataly pinned Lakewood’s Fallon Jones
120: Millikan’s Abigail Lee pinned Lakewood’s Angelica Frias
125: Lakewood’s Viriangie Rosario Montano won by forfeit
130: Millikan’s Isabella Martinez pinned Joselynn Dado
135: Millikan’s Gabriela Bonilla pinned Lakewood’s Ciara Montiel
140: Lakewood’s Mia Pryor pinned Millikan’s Audrey Reynoso
145: Double Forfeit
155: Lakewood’s Kayla Selvidge pinned Millikan’s Madison Oliver
170: Millikan’s Hailey Fernandez pinned Lakewood’s Kaydence Coukart
190: Double Forfeit
235: Lakewood’s Ashley Wafer pinned Millikan’s Helen Martinez
Boys Results:
106: Millikan’s Aidan Young by major decision vs Lakewood’s Anthony Peregrina
113: Lakewood’s Roberto Carbalal by decision vs Millikan’s Dallas Rosenthal
120: Millikan’s Aaron Mata by decision vs Lakewood’s Daniel Perez
126: Millikan’s Logan Stouvenel pinned Lakewood’s Israel Mandujano
132: Lakewood’s Tyler Muk by decision vs Millikan Daniel Kroll
138: Millikan’s Isaiah Rivera by major decision vs Lakewood’s Matthew Sanchez
144: Millikan’s Diego Aguirre by major decision vs Lakewood’s Joseph Macaias Lake
150: Millikan’s Chris Anguiano pinned Lakewood’s Daniel Quezada
157: Lakewood’s Andrew Hollemback pinned Millikan’s Travis Costello
165: Millikan’s Trey Culwell by decision vs Lakewood’s Andrew Mum
175: Millikan’s Benjamin Garcia pinned Lakewood’s Sean Williams
190: Lakewood’s Nelson Ramirez pinned Millikan’s Nathaniel Kroll
215: Millikan’s Tannor Costello pinned Lakewood’s Brandon Kim
285: Lakewood’s Brendan Raygoza pinned Millikan’s Austin Carroll
