Santa Margarita Catholic High School wrestling kicked off the new year in impressive fashion, defeating San Juan Hills 51–18 in a commanding dual that showcased depth, intensity, and multiple statement performances across both JV and varsity lineups.
The night started strong for the Eagles at the JV level. Ozan Kose-Montoya set the tone early, securing a first-period fall with relentless pressure. Evan Wakida followed with one of the highlights of the night, hitting a beautiful double-leg takedown before earning the fall in the second period. Rounding out JV action, Aaron Klatt—also the starting center for the football team—picked up a forfeit win, adding valuable team points and momentum heading into varsity competition.
Varsity action opened at 113 pounds, where sophomore Oliver Mohamed delivered a dominant performance, scoring a technical fall that transitioned into a pin combination in the third period. At 120 pounds, freshman Finn Boisenranc battled tough but ultimately came up short against a seasoned San Juan Hills opponent. The Stallions picked up additional points at 125 and 132 pounds via forfeit, while 138 ended in a double forfeit for both teams.
At 144 pounds, Ryan Romero answered the call with a gritty 5–3 victory, swinging momentum back to the Eagles. From there, Santa Margarita went on an emphatic run. At 150 pounds, senior captain Dean Johnson delivered a signature cradle finish, earning a first-period fall that energized the crowd. County-ranked team captain Hutton Steele followed with a dominant first-period pin, reinforcing his leadership and presence on the mat.
The Eagles continued to roll at 165 pounds, where Luke Garner executed an impressive takedown straight into a pinfall finish. At 175, Fletch Palmer stepped up to the varsity lineup and made the most of his opportunity, powering his opponent to the mat with a first-period power half for the fall. At 190 pounds, Kevin Chapman showcased control and strength, using a leg ride into a power half to secure another pin.
In the final match of the night, senior captain Jason Perez delivered a true main-event performance, scoring a technical fall that transitioned into a pin combination. At heavyweight, Hunter Grajeda secured the forfeit victory, sealing the 51–18 victory for the Eagles.
After the match, head coach Joseph Nava reflected on the performance - “What a way to kick off the new year. Respect to our opponent, but we still got work to do. Our season just started, and the road to CIF continues.”
With a strong team effort and multiple standout performances, the Eagles sent a clear message to start the year—Santa Margarita wrestling is locked in, motivated, and hungry for what lies ahead.
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