Austin Breneman records lone pin for Paso Robles
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Bearcats hosted the Arroyo Grande Eagles wrestling team in the Gil Asa Gymnasium Wednesday night and lost 42-28 after a good start from the front half of their lineup. The Eagles forfeited two of the 14 weight classes on the evening but were far too strong in the bottom half of their lineup, recording four consecutive pins to end the dual.
The Bearcats started the evening with a forfeit of their own in the 108-pound division that was followed up by back-to-back matches for the Marmalejo brothers at the 115-pound and 122-pound divisions. First on the mat was Joe Marmalejo who was up against Arroyo Grande’s Jaun Gomez. The two flyweights grappled in the first and Gomez gained the early edge with a takedown and took a 7-4 lead into the second round. In the second, Gomez scored another takedown and earned a near-fall but Marmalejo fought his way out of it and earned a takedown of his own. But it wasn’t enough and he lost the match 9-4.
Next on the mat was Jacob Marmalejo who really showcased his athleticism with some acrobatic takedowns as he wore his opponent down. The wrestler in red recorded a takedown in the first, a reversal in the second and another takedown in the third to win the match 6-1 and give the Bearcats their first points of the evening.
Austin Breneman was next into the circle in the 128-pound division and recorded the lone pin for the Bearcats in an absolutely clinical performance of precision and power. The junior started the match as if his Arroyo Grande opponent had said something bad about his momma and didn’t stop ’til the referee blew his whistle.
“Normally, when I start out I just kind of go at it,” Breneman said following his match. “And ever since I have started just going out there and trying my hardest, I have been working hard in the room, I don’t get as tired anymore, and I just keep going and don’t stop.”
In a matter of seconds, Breneman had his opponent half-nelson and rolled him into the cradle. After a few seconds of unsuccessfully getting his opponent’s shoulders down, he let him up and took him down and did it again. Brenneman’s pin in the second round earned Paso Robles six points and tied the dual at nine with the Bearcats senior captain up next.
Maduena, who went 4-2 at the Sam Boyd C.I.T. in Morro Bay, occupies the 132-pound division for Paso Robles and stepped under the spotlight looking for a pin but couldn’t quite get it as his Eagles opponent fought until the very end.
“I was kind of annoyed because he wouldn’t get pinned,” Maduena said. “But throughout the match, I was just ready for anything and looking for openings.”
The senior was up 2-1 after one period and 6-2 after two before really putting it on in the third and final period. Maduena had his opponent wrapped up and trying to get his shoulders as the buzzer expired, ending the match via a major decision.
The sixth match of the night featured Paso Robles’ Peyton Kilber and the Bearcats last victory (not including forfeits). Kilber scored one takedown in the first period, started the second period on bottom and escaped, then grabbed his opponent again via another single leg takedown and went into the third round up 5-1. Kilber nearly had a pin in the third, earning a near-fall but ended the match without the toot of the whistle, winning 8-2 and putting Paso Robles up 16-9.
The Bearcats would earn 12 more points in the 160 and 170 divisions due to forfeits but heavier classes of the Eagles team were too strong, recording pins in the final four matches.
Overall this season, the Bearcats are 4-6 in dual meets but 0-3 in the Mountain League. Paso Robles will host their home match of the season (senior night) next Wednesday inside the Gil Asa Gymnasium against Pioneer Valley. The first match starts at 6 p.m.
