San Marcos wrestling pulled out a back-and-forth 42-40 win over crosstown rival Santa Barbara High on Tuesday inside JR Richards Gym.
“These wrestlers came here to work,” San Marcos head coach Eric Flores said. “Aside from the forfeits we gave up, each of our wrestlers showed up hungry and ready to scrap.
“The Royals wrestled very technical and secured the pins where it mattered most. “
San Marcos began the night with a pair of forfeit victories at 106 and 113 pounds before the Dons began their scoring with a forfeit win at 120.
The Royals then got four straight wins by way of pins courtesy of Roman Jungblut (126), Tommy Diaz (132), Anthony Leal (138) and Alejandro Pulet (144).
After the Dons got a win at 150 pounds, San Marcos’ Cole Dominguez gave the Royals another pin victory at 157 pounds.
Tristin King then picked up a first-round win for the Dons at 165 pounds before San Marcos forfeited three straight weight classes to bring the score to 42-36 in favor of the Royals with the heavyweight class left.
Santa Barbara High’s Zen Lui and San Marcos’ Isaac Trujillo squared off and although Lui came away with the major decision win, it wasn’t enough points to overcome the deficit as the Royals hung on for the 42-40 victory.