Ponderosa rally on Folsom isn’t enough

SHINGLE SPRINGS — Ponderosa High’s varsity wrestling program lost a close one to Folsom Wednesday night at home, coming up short 30-27 in a hard-fought battle with the Bulldogs. As both teams came in undefeated, the outcome likely determined the Delta River League winner.

Folsom’s lower weight classes set the early tone in decisioning T.J. Holloway (106 pounds), Pre Deitchman (113), Jake Gonzalez (120), Jake Garcia (126) and Colin Hustrulid (132) who, to their credit, refused to be pinned. Gonzalez’ matchup was a close one, going three periods before Jerry Garrido’s takedown in the third outweighed Gonzalez’ escape.

“We got the matchups we were looking to get tonight,” Bruins co-coach Soren Murphy said after the dual. “Everyone knew what their role was going to be. It was a tough one to lose but I can say that each and every one of our guys went out there and gave absolutely 110-percent.”

Jimmy Scarr put Ponderosa on the board with his 138-pound decision against Mason Koshiyama. After two reversals in the second round, Scarr held Koshiyama scoreless in the third en route to a 4-2 decision.

Christian Canepa (145) sought to build some more momentum following Scarr’s win, but came up short against Lorenzo De La Riva in the 145-pound bracket, falling in an 8-5 decision. T.J. Shamblin’s (152)  showdown with Connor Watson was just as tight, with Watson edging Shamblin for the 5-4 decision.

Josh Ferry was pinned by Nick Fiegener in the second round of his match, giving Folsom a seemingly insurmountable 31-3 lead.

Needing points, Nick Troquato (170) stepped in to handle Folsom’s Devon Nooner, fighting tooth-and-nail with Nooner through three rounds before pinning the Bulldog with 1:34 left in the third period.

The six-point swing awoke Bruin fans in a hurry and Trae Providence (182) thrust Ponderosa back into the running with a first-period pin of Jake Benvenue in the 182-pound weight bracket. Providence, competing two classes above his normal weight class, dictated the match from the first whistle, smothering Benvenue into submission with precision maneuvering and constant repositioning.

“Trae Providence is a kid that wrestles 160-pounds and moved up to 170-pounds who we threw into the 182 bracket tonight — did a great job tonight, pinning his opponent in the first round, had a great match,” Bruin co-coach Tyson Escobar said. “Nick Troquato stepped up and had a big night for us. He cut weight down to 170, wrestled a kid that was tough to beat and found a way to pin him. And Kyle Jennings, a freshman wrestling 195-pounds for us has a tremendous night, I’m very proud of those guys and the way they performed.”

Jennings wrestled with his team trailing by 15. Originally 31-9 during Providence’s match, Folsom was deducted a point for unsportsmanlike conduct by a member of the bench. After Providence’s efficient deconstruction of Benvenue was over, Jennings took over and earned a 6-0 decision.

With Folsom forfeiting in the heavyweight bracket, the Bruins needed nothing less than a pin to tie the Bulldogs, and Henry Sharoyan (220) nearly delivered just that. In fifth gear from the start, Sharoyan tried for three periods to get a pin but a seemingly endless series of trips to the edge of the mat forced restarts through the entire match. In the end, Sharoyan clinched an undeniable 6-2 decision as the Bruins fell short by three.

For Escobar, Murphy and company, the goal remains the same: Work hard and finish strong.

“We’ll take on Jesuit next,” Escobar said. “We’ll keep working, finish the league strong and head into the postseason.”