Coyotes win final dual meet
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera senior wrestler Josh McMillon works his Bullard opponent into a pin during his 160-pound match during a dual meet victory in Joe Flores Gym.
The Madera Coyotes wrestling team sent off nine seniors with a county/Metro Athletic dual meet victory over the Bullard Knights in its final dual meet of the season.
The Coyotes won eight matches, all by forfeit or pin Wednesday night for a 48-23 victory in Joe Flores Gym.
“We had a couple of key matchups that determined seeding,” head coach Joe Romine said. “It was key to get as many wins as we could. We lost to a really good kid at 197s. In heavyweight, we beat that guy last week and got reversed tonight.”
Mario Moreno, at 115 pounds, Moses Contreras, at 140 pounds, Josh McMillon, at 154 pounds, Jorge Gonzalez, at 162 pounds, and E.J. Hernandez, at 172 pounds, picked up pinfall wins.
Four of the six Madera losses were by decision. However, the Coyotes closed the dual with four straight victories, including a forfeit in the final match of the night.
“Bullard had some bullets,” Romine said. “They just didn’t have as many as we did. With the way the starting point was in the dual, I knew the last few matches were going to go our way, at least I was hoping they would go our way.”
Codi Slayton lost a 1-0 decision at 197 pounds to open the meet. Jonathan Perez was pinned with 1:07 left in the third period at 222 pounds.
Isaiah Fernandez lost his heavyweight match by pin with 45 seconds left in the second period. After three straight losses, Jonathan Solorio received a forfeit at 108 pounds to get the Coyotes on the scoreboard.
Mario Moreno made quick work of his 115-pound opponent with a pin 47 seconds into the match. Paul Bustos lost a 4-0 decision at 122 pounds while Bullard took a 17-12 lead.
Santiago Martinez received a forfeit at 128 pounds. Abraham Del Toro lost a high scoring match at 134 pounds. He was leading 6-5 at the end of the first period after a pair of takedowns and a reversal. However, Bullard scored the final eight points of the match for a 13-6 win.
Moses Contreras gave the Coyotes the lead they wouldn’t relinquish at 140 pounds. Already leading 7-1 after a takedown with 1:36 left in the second period. Contreras worked to get his opponent into a pin with 18.5 seconds left in the second for a 24-20 Coyote lead.
Nathan Alvarado was outscored 10-0 in the final two periods to lose his 145-pound match 10-4. Josh McMillon piled up the points at 160 pounds. He led 7-1 after the first period with a takedown and a pair of near falls. He recorded two more takedowns and a reversal for a 13-5 lead heading into the third. He took 15 seconds to get a takedown and then pinned his opponent 56 seconds into the third period for the win.
Jorge Gonzalez fell victim to a takedown nine seconds into his 162 pound match. However, he escaped the hold 16 seconds later and took down his opponent with 1:15 left in the first. He worked his opponent into a pinning situation and finally got the pin with 4.7 seconds left in the first for the win to give the Coyotes a 36-23 advantage.
E.J. Hernandez put the finishing touches on the team with a pin 1:12 into the second period. He was leading 5-0 at the time and got the pin for a 42-23 victory.
Morales’ forfeit win at 182 pounds gave the Coyotes their final margin of victory.
Madera hosts the County/Metro Athletic Conference championship and needs a victory to keep its run of five straight CMAC titles in tact. Finals begin at approximately 3 p.m. in Joe Flores Gym.
