Long Beach Boys’ Wrestling Preview

It’s wrestling season in the city and we made a trip to different schools to see how teams are looking head into the season.

Last year, Millikan and Long Beach Poly both made it to the CIF team playoffs in Division 2 and 4, respectively. Both teams lost in the second round, but are back ready to compete again.

Millikan

There haven’t been many programs in the city across all sports that have been as dominant as the Rams boys wrestling team.

Blake Lovato and the Rams are looking for their 16th straight Moore League title and have plenty of pieces in place to make a run for it.

The Rams were dominant in the middle weights a year ago as they won all six weight classes from 132 to 170 in the league finals.

Junior Chris Anguiano, 2025 Moore League wrestler of the year, is back and ready to help the Rams to another league title and a lengthy trip in the playoffs.

Last season, the Rams made it to the division 2 quarterfinal before losing to Etiwanda. Driven by that Millikan is ready to defend their league title and make a deep run in the playoffs.

“I think we can go and win CIF,” Anguiano said. “We’re all putting in work in the room and it’s showing honestlyly against a skeptical.”

Anguiano had an impressive showing at the South Torrance Spartan Kickoff Classic last weekend taking bronze in the 170-pound bracket – a few divisions heavier than we will likely see him compete in later in the season.

“Honestly, this season I’m going at it with everything I got, trying to get a state title,” Anguiano said. “It’s my junior year – important year for recruiting.”

While Anguiano took third, it was teammate Jason Fiala who had the best finish taking silver in the 150-pound final losing to Burbank’s Jayden Dela Rosa. Daniel Escobedo also made the podium taking third place in the 215-pound bracket.

Along with those three, Chase Antrobius and Nathaniel Kroll are all back after winning or finishing as runnerup at last season’s league finals.

Long Beach Poly

The Jackrabbits will miss Nathan Itchon, who was the fourth Moore League grappler and first Jackrabbits to win the league title four straight years, but Poly has reason for optimism with a group of returners and the biggest group of seniors coach Ken Lee has had during his tenure with 11.

“We have a pretty good returning team coming back,” Lee said. “Most we’ve had in awhile and some CIF placers. So, I expect big things out of them this year.”

At the South Torrance Spartan Kickoff Classic, Alek Carrera led the Jackrabbits with a second place finish. Carrera was a runnerup last season and will look to take a league title and help the Jackrabbits advance further in the playoffs after a close second-round loss to Warren last winter.

Along with Carrera, Alberto Olague and Knox Espinoza finished fourth in their brackets and will aim to help Poly get over the hump this season as they battle Millikan for a league title.

“I’m just looking forward to improving on last year,” Espinoza said. “We’ve been working in the room, you know. Trying to get the CF team title this year and just improve overall.”

The Jackrabbits will also look to Kevin Burnett who was a runnerup in the league finals last year.

“Everyone’s just working harder in the room, trying to get better,” Espinoza said. “We all want to CIF championship.

We’re kind of upset. We got knocked out early, so we’re hungry for it this year.”

Lakewood

Last year, Lakewood had two wrestlers finish as runners ups and will look to improve as they aim for one of the two CIF spots from the league.

Coach Randy Gonzalez has one returning runnerup from a year ago in Cameron McCormick, but the Lancers always have a room full of guys that can compete and Lakewood will look to do that this year.

Wilson

Long Beach Wilson is looking forward to this upcoming wrestling season as they look to compete for a Moore League title and a coveted spot in the playoffs.

The Bruins are back on the mat and coach Seth Wegter is looking forward to a team with balance and plenty of depth..

The team returns multiple impact athletes, some promising underclassmen.

One of the most anticipated returners is Gannan Erickson who was a runnerup at last year’s league finals.

“He’s somebody that’s been working as a team leader and is looking really good in the room and we’re definitely excited to see his progress this year,” Wegter said.

Joining him at the top of the returning group is senior Kevin Morales, a four-year varsity athlete known for his consistency, work ethic, and reliability in big moments. Morales’ veteran presence anchors a roster that blends experience with youth and provides stability as new wrestlers step into larger roles.

Another returning varsity contributor, Jose Cervantes, has impressed the coaching staff with the strides he made over the spring and summer. With a renewed focus and visible growth in his technique, Cervantes looks poised to elevate his performance and contribute at a higher level this season.

One Bruin to keep an eye on is sophomore Joshua Rodriguez, who has rapidly emerged as one of the team’s top young talents. As a freshman, Rodriguez possessed strong natural ability, but his partnership with former standout Jacob Jenner accelerated his development significantly. After a busy offseason filled with camps and club wrestling, Rodriguez returned to the room “looking really, really tough,” according to coaches.

Rounding out the highlighted group is junior Mario Van Lizzen, who gained mat time last season but made his biggest leap over the summer. Coaches note that he has returned noticeably stronger, sharper, and more confident—a combination that could make him a breakout contributor on an already deep roster.

With more promising wrestlers waiting in the wings—including a talented freshman class the staff intends to keep under wraps for now—Long Beach enters the new season with confidence. Depth, experience, and offseason dedication have created a competitive environment in the room, and the program believes that combination could translate into one of its strongest campaigns yet.

Jordan

On the North side, coach Alberto De La Cruz is excited for how his team will perform.

Last season, the Panthers’ Ange Delgadillo was a runnerup in the heavyweight class – losing to Millikan’s Nathaniel Kroll.

De La Cruz expects Emmanuel Magallanes, Ricardo Luna, Nathaniel Minton and David Velasquez to be a big part of the team’s success this year.

Cabrillo/Compton

Cabrillo coach Vince Ortiz is looking forward to this season. After Jacob Castillo helped jumpstart the program last season as the first Moore League champion ever, the Jaguars will have plenty of guys as they look to build on that success.

“We are looking forward to making a big jump into competing with some of the top Moore League teams,” Ortiz said. “Even though this will only be our second season with a team.”

Jonathan Marcos is a senior captain and is one grappler Ortiz thinks will be able to compete for a league title.

Cabrillo is also excited about seniors Adrian Dominguez and German Ampude.

“It’s anyone’s time to shine on this team with all the hard work the team has been puting in,” Ortiz said. “The difference between this year and other years is that even being such a young team – the experience level has never been on this level.”

Moore League action begins the second week of December and Cabrillo will host the league finals Saturday, Feb. 7.

2025 Moore League Champion: Millikan Rams

2025 Moore League Individual Champions:

106 – Poly’s Gerardo Tellez

113 – Poly’s Knox Espinoza

120 – Cabrillo’s Jacob Castillo

126 – Poly’s Nathan Itchon

132 – Millikan’s Jason Fiala

138 – Millikan’s Ozzie Preuss

145 – Millikan’s Logan Harrahill

152 – Millikan’s Chris Anguiano

160 – Millikan’s Mason Kong