The Moore League wrestling finals, held Saturday at Cabrillo High School, delivered a mix of familiar dominance and fresh victories as 14 athletes claimed league titles. The event showcased both seasoned competitors continuing their legacies and newcomers making their mark, setting the stage for the CIF Individual Championships this weekend.
The day began with a breakthrough performance from Millikan freshman Anthony Avelar, who secured his first Moore League title in the 106-pound division. Avelar defeated Wilson’s Dominic Cortez by pin, expressing his gratitude and acknowledging the challenge of reaching the top. “I’m really grateful for it,” Avelar said. “I’m just happy that I got to be in this position. It was really hard to get up here.”
Long Beach Poly’s Knox Espinoza continued his impressive run, winning the 120-pound crown for the third consecutive year. Having previously claimed titles at 113 and 106 pounds, Espinoza demonstrated his consistent excellence. His sights are now set on a rare four-time championship. “My goal today was to get another Moore League title,” Espinoza stated. “And then next year to become one of the four-time champions. That’s the main goal.”
Millikan’s Chase Antrobius avenged a previous loss, defeating Cabrillo’s Jonathan Marcos by pin in the 126-pound weight class. The victory marked a significant moment for Antrobius, who had fallen short in the final the previous year.
Long Beach Poly followed with consecutive wins from Colin Ornelas (132-pound) and Lincoln Chung (138-pound). Chung’s victory over Millikan’s Jimmy Alvarez Jr. Was particularly noteworthy, as the two wrestlers have frequently faced each other this season and are likely to meet again in the postseason.
One of the most dramatic moments of the afternoon came in the 144-pound final, where Millikan’s Milad Sharif edged out Long Beach Poly’s Jayden Al Ekong in a sudden-victory period. Sharif secured a crucial escape, sending his team into a frenzy of celebration. “I still don’t think I’m down,” Sharif said, still buzzing from the adrenaline. “That’s a moment where I’ll never forget that moment in my life. A lot of preparation has gone into this and I work super hard. I took a loss to him early in the season, so you know I respect him and his coaches – but I wanted it more.” Sharif credited his coaches for their strategic preparation, emphasizing the dedication he puts in outside of school. “I did a lot of game planning,” Sharif explained. “Me and my coaches, one-on-one work and I put a lot of work outside of school for wrestling. My goals are to go far, go to state – do the best I can.”
Millikan continued its strong performance with Jason Fiala winning his second straight title in the 150-pound division, and Chris Anguiano securing his third consecutive title in the 157-pound weight class, defeating Long Beach Poly’s Alek Carrera. Anguiano views this achievement as a stepping stone towards his ultimate goal. “It’s very exciting being a 3-time champ,” Anguiano said. “Not a lot of people can say that they’ve gotten to do that. But, that’s just a stepping stone in my goal of going to state and I gotta keep taking them down all the way up until state. I plan to win CIF and go to Masters and show everybody that SoCal is where it’s at.”
Wilson senior Gannan Erickson achieved a personal milestone, winning the 165-pound title after finishing as a runner-up last season. His victory over Cabrillo’s Luis Garcia was a satisfying culmination of his efforts. “Last year I came up short,” Erickson said. “But this year I got first and I’m really happy about that. I was trying pretty hard.”
Long Beach Poly’s Albert Olague and Jordan Dizon both secured repeat championships. Olague, the previous year’s 182-pound champion, won the 175-pound title, while Dizon, last year’s 195-pound gold medalist, claimed the 190-pound crown.
Millikan’s Daniel Escobedo earned his first Moore League gold in the 215-pound division, defeating Long Beach Poly’s Kevin Bennett. Escobedo expressed his determination to continue his success. “It means a lot, and we still got more work to do,” Escobedo said. “Time to get ready for CIF, I’m ready.”
The final match of the day saw Long Beach Poly’s sophomore Supe Vai Timu defeat Millikan’s Teagan Rowsell by pin in the 285-pound division. Timu, a recent addition to the wrestling team after football season, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. “Throughout my two years of high school already I wasn’t a Moore League champ,” Timu said. “I’m just happy to see everyone smiling during Moore League and individuals. I’m just happy and I thank God for this opportunity.”
The top four finishers in each weight class will now advance to the CIF Individual Championships, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Moorpark High School. The Moore League finals served as a crucial stepping stone for these athletes as they prepare for the next level of competition.
Final Results (Top 4 Qualify For CIF)
106-pound
- Anthony Avelar – Millikan
- Dominic Cortez – Wilson
- Jeremy Arias – Cabrillo
113-pound
- Martin Ornelas – Long Beach Poly
- Daniel Cullen – Millikan
- Christian Naples – Cabrillo
- Joshua Rodriguez – Wilson
120-pound
- Knox Espinoza – Long Beach Poly
- Kai Backstrom – Millikan
- Joshua Franklin – Cabrillo
- Maddox House – Wilson
126-pound
- Chase Antrobius – Millikan
- Jonathan Marcos – Cabrillo
- Jacob Cuevas – Lakewood
- Chris Calhoun – Wilson
132-pound
- Colin Ornelas – Long Beach Poly
- Damien Orozco – Millikan
- Jason Nguon – Wilson
- Anthony Madrigal – Lakewood
138-pound
- Lincoln Chung – Long Beach Poly
- Jimmy Alvarez Jr – Millikan
- Cameron McCormick – Lakewood
- Malakhy Rodriguez – Wilson
144-pound
- Milad Sharif – Millikan
- Jayden Al Ekong – Long Beach Poly
- Adrian Dominguez – Cabrillo
- Michael Ramirez – Lakewood
150-pound
- Jason Fiala – Millikan
- Rocky Lo – Long Beach Poly
- German Ampude – Cabrillo
- Jowell Lazo – Wilson
157-pound
- Chris Anguiano – Millikan
- Alek Carrera – Long Beach Poly
- Earnest Davis – Cabrillo
- Kevin Morales – Wilson
165-pound
- Gannan Erickson – Wilson
- Luis Garcia – Cabrillo
- Braxton Chung – Poly
- Joseph Fields – Millikan
175-pound
- Alberto Olague – Long Beach Poly
- Joseph Macias – Lakewood
- Mario Vanlizzen – Wilson
- Malcolm Falls – Compton
190-pound
- Jordan Dizon – Long Beach Poly
- Tyson Dabu – Millikan
- Jacob Lopez – Jordan
- Miguel Ramos – Wilson
215-pound
- Daniel Escobedo – Millikan
- Kevin Bennett – Long Beach Poly
- Emmanuel Magallanes – Jordan
- Andel Valencia – Compton
285-pound
- Supe Vai Timu – Long Beach Poly
- Teagan Rowsell – Millikan
- Marvin Padilla – Compton
- Jericho Rodriguez – Lakewood
