Bruins overwhelm Jesuit; title within reach

BRUIN NICK TROQUATO, left, pictured wrestling Oak Ridge's Zach Claiborne, won his Senior Night match by pin Tuesday. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

SHINGLE SPRINGS — If the Ponderosa High wrestling team wanted to stay in contention to win a share of the Delta River League title with Folsom, it had to pin Jesuit Tuesday night in the league finale.

Mission accomplished.

The Bruins (4-1) rallied from an early deficit to post a 57-17 victory over the Marauders on Senior Night. The senior grapplers honored were: David Timm, Jonathan Timm, Christian Canepa, Nat Isreal, Nick Troquato, Henry Sharoyan and Jeff Camilli.

Next for Ponderosa is the league tournament on Saturday, Feb. 9 at Sheldon. Folsom, which narrowly beat Ponderosa, 30-27, on Jan. 22, is undefeated in league dual meets. If the Bruins beat the Bulldogs in team points at the league tournament, both teams would be co-champions.

Jesuit won three of the first five weight classes to take a 14-10 lead. But Ponderosa won eight of its last nine matches for the win. Canepa gave the Bruins the lead for good at 16-14 in the 138-pound class with a pin in the first period at 1:19. Canepa, a senior, had been competing in the 145s most of the season.

“He’s actually made the adjustment (from 145s),” said Ponderosa co-coach Tyson Escobar of Canepa. “He’s going to go 138s for the rest of the year. I think it’s going to be a good fit for him.”

David Timm has taken over the 145s spot for Canepa. He, too, shined in his match Tuesday night, winning by a 4-2 decision. After a scoreless first period and behind 1-0 after the second period, Timm rallied in the third with recording four points; two by takedown.

“He fills in where we need guys,” said Escobar on Timm. “He’s another solid kid.”

Other winners for the Bruins were: TJ Shamblin (152s) by major 15-0 decision; Josh Ferry (160s) by pin at 1:45 in the first period; Matt Israel (170s) by 7-2 decision; Troquato (182s) by pin at 1:57 in the first round; Camilli (heavyweight) by pin at 1:34 in the first and Jake Gonzalez (120s) by a 9-0 decision.

Ponderosa won the 106s and 220s by forfeits. Jesuit won the 126s, as the Bruins’ Jake Weber lost by a pin with 46 seconds left in the third period. Ponderosa’s Jonathan Timm (132s) rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the first to take a 4-2 lead on a takedown and escape. But a reversal and escape averted victory for Timm, losing 5-4.

Now the attention shifts toward the Delta River League meet. Escobar, who is the school’s athletic director, is looking forward to the meet.

“We are working the next two weeks to get the championship,” Escobar said. “I think we have a pretty solid group to go down (to Sheldon) to try to win that league championship.”

Contact Mike Bush at 530-344-5079 or mbush@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @MBushMtDemo on Twitter. 

Mike Bush

Mike Bush has been working at the Mountain Democrat since August 2011. Mike is the Sports Writer and Features Writer.

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