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Spartan Wrestlers Drub Fullerton State
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by Joe Roderick
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| It wasn't a particularly eventful week for Spartan wrestling coach T.J. Kerr. So rather than talk about the past,
Kerr wanted to discuss the not-so-distant future. |
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| The near-future can be summed up in three words... Cal State Bakersfield. |
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| "That's the biggest obstacle we have to an undefeated season right now," Kerr said. |
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| Kerr may get the undefeated season he's been dreaming about if the Spartans can knock off the Roadrunners, the
nation's number one ranked Division II team, this Thursday in Bakersfield. The remainder of the dual meet season
won't be sprinkled with the LaVerne and Shirley's of the world, though. On second thought, scratch that thought
as the Spartans face LaVerne College Friday in La Mirada. |
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| A win over Bakersfield (10-5 overall) though would make the undefeated season semi-easily obtainable. |
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| The Spartans, ranked 7th in the nation (Division I), are 10-0 in duals and 3-0 in PCAA matches. |
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| Kerr's teams have won 9 of 11 PCAA dual meet titles. But not since the pre-writing era have the Spartans gone unbeaten
in one season. "They went undefeated once, but they were playing a few YMCA teams then," Kerr said. In
other words, the schedule then left something to be desired. |
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| Speaking of YMCA-caliber teams, Fullerton State shouldn't be mistaken for a wrestling power. The Spartans won 9
of 10 matches, beating the Titans 49-3 Friday, dropping Fullerton to 0-3 in the PCAA and 7-17 overall. |
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| Fullerton's most talented wrestler is unquestionably its head coach, Dan Lewis, who's training on the side for
a shot at the Olympics this summer at 198 pounds. |
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| Lewis may get his chance at either Greco-Roman or Freestyle. "He's got a shot," Kerr said. "He's
probably the wrestler we've got (the US) in that class." |
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| No other Titan comes close to Lewis' ability. The Spartan's only loss came in the first match of the evening. At
118, SJSU's Gabe Gonzalez, filling in for Brian Canali who is out with an illness, lost to Kent Iwanaga 7-2. No
other Spartan came close to losing. |
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| The only psychological setback came at 177, where Marvin Jones, who owns a 23-4 record, didn't suit up because
of a fractured bone just under his thumb. Jones, ranked 5th in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News, sustained
the injury Jan. 14 against the University of Oregon. |
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| Chris Atkinson has filled in for Jones, and won easily Friday, drubbing Chris McIntosh 29-10. There was more bad
news, though, later. Atkinson injured his ankle Saturday in the San Francisco State Invitational and may not be
available against Bakersfield. |
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| Jones' status for the Bakersfield match won't be known until Thursday, according to Kerr. |
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| Meanwhile, Kerr used Saturday's SF State Invitational as an opportunity to give his younger wrestlers a piece of
the action. Four Spartan wrestlers placed; Anthony Palomino (134) and Bill Newton (142) finished third, while Matt
Olejnik (150) and Chuck Gibbins claimed fourth. |
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| Although just a freshman, Palomino is showing why he won the high school state championship last year as a senior
at Independence High. Palomino has started slow, but upped his record to 16-9-1 with four wins at the SF State
tournament. |
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| Palomino is now a threat to win big at the PCAA championships Feb. 24 in Las Vegas. |
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