Disappointed in his performance against Ventura’s Patrick Birkimer in the deciding match of last month’s dual meet loss, Chad Lampe was out to make amends at the Channel League wrestling championships on Saturday.
The Dos Pueblos sophomore delivered.
Lampe rallied from a 5-2 deficit and pulled out a dramatic 6-5 decision over Birkimer to win the 114-pound weight class title.
Lampe’s sweet revenge highlighted a good day on the mats for the Chargers at Sovine Gym. They had 10 wrestlers reach the finals, won six titles and qualified 12 for the CIF Individual Divisional Championships. Ventura also had six champions.
“It was great day,” DP coach Anthony Califano said. “This is one of the best teams I’ve ever hard.”
It also was a big day for Santa Barbara’s Bryce Vinion. The 191-pounder became the first Don in several years to win a league title. He broke open a close match in the third period and beat DP’s Lucas Rascon 8-3.
Bryce Vinion of Santa Barbara takes down Lucas Rascom of Dos Pueblos in the 191-pound championship match.
DP's Chad Lampe (top) maintains control over Ventura's Patrick Birkimer. Lampe won the league title by a 6-5 decision.
“I beat every single guy out there before, I just had to keep going out and wrestle like I always do,” said Vinion.
“We’re really happy,” Santa Barbara coach Jesse Plowman said. “Bryce has worked really hard all year and it’s good to see it finally pay off.”
Lampe was ecstatic after beat Birkimer, who has been his nemesis the last two years. He jumped into the arms of Califano and then ran over to his proud father and leaped into his arms
“It feels really good,” Lampe said. “I know I went out there sick in the dual meet, but I didn’t care, I wanted to keep after it. I came here today and I knew it was my day. I put it to him. All the hard work paid off, all of it. It feels great. I love it.”
Califano expressed his pride in his young wrestler.
“It was an incredible match. He wrestled a very strategic and a smart match,” the coach said. “The goal was to keep it close and beat him in the end. He’s lost to Patches four, five, six times and it was hard on him.”
Inspired by a boisterous crowd, Lampe got stronger as the match went on. He made a big move to score a two-point reversal that gave him the lead in the final seconds of the final period.
“I went straight to my crackdown position because I feel comfortable there. I just got head out and got the two (points). I knew I had to stay in good position. I just knew what I had to do to win the match.”
Lampe’s victory provided a big boost to other Chargers.
Nico Sorenson followed with a pin over Buena’s Isaac Sorenson in the 121-pound final.
Harrison Solomon was up next at 127 pounds and he got revenge against Buena’s Steven Mendez, winning 8-3 for his first league title.
“I really wanted it last year,” Solomon said. “I wrestled the same kid last year and I was beating him. I was owning him and he caught me on my back and pinned me, so this was really good. It was sweet revenge. I’m really excited about it.”
This is just the beginning for Solomon.
“My goal doesn’t stop at Channel League,” he said. “My goal ends at Bakersfield, at the state tournament.”
After a tough 2-1 loss by Danny Lee at 132 pounds, Sam Sarmiento stepped on the mat and wrestled a terrific match at 137 pounds, beating Ventura’s Jake Joquier by a technical fall, 15-0. Sarmiento was so happy after the match he was doing back flips.
Brandon Velazquez almost pins Ventura's Michael Ledesna on his way to a decision victory.
“That’s probably one of the best matches I’ve ever had,” said Sarmiento, who also runs on DP’s cross country team. “The two main things that kept me in this sport were my mom put me in gymnastics and I did cross country.”
His keys to success: “Start hard, finish hard and don’t give in at any moment.”
Brian Dominguez and Brandon Velasquez captured titles at 142 and 154 pounds, respectively. Dominguez score a pair of two-point reversals and shut out Ventura’s Christian Brown 4-0.
Velasquez broke an 8-8 tie in the third period with a two-point takedown and beat Michael Ledesma of Ventura, 12-8.
Vinion was trailing 1-0 going into the final period against Rascon. He said the key was being patient.
“I thought I’d wait for him to do something stupid because my takedowns suck,” Vinion said. “I take advantage of everything the opponent gives me. I knew he was going to give me something, so I was biding my time and crushed him.
“Right now, I feel like the strongest thing on the face of the Earth.”
Vinion and Lampe were named the outstanding wrestlers for the upper and lower weight classes.
CHANNEL LEAGUE WRESTLING FINALS
105—Brandon Abdullatif, V, dec. Esteban Flores, DP, 12-7
114—Chad Lampe, DP, dec. Patrick Birkimer, V, 6-5
121—Nico Sorenson, DP, pinned Isaac Lopez, B, 1:10
127—Harrison Solomon, DP, dec. Steven Mendez, B, 8-3
132—Victor Alvarez, V, def. Danny Lee, DP, 2-1
137—Sam Sarmiento, DP, tech. fall over Jake Joquier, 15-0
142—Brian Dominguez, DP, dec. Christian Brown, V, 4-0
147—Jake Snyder, V, tech. fall over Richard Stevens, DP, 16-1
154—Brandon Velasquez, DP, def. Michael Ledesma, V, 12-8
162—Juan Cortez, V, dec. Quinn Summit, B, 6-5
173—Ryan Bortness, V, dec. Mike Scott, B, 14-0
191—Brice Vinion, SB, dec. Lucas Rascon, DP, 8-3
217—Ben Kingsley, V, pinned Jake Wiggins, B, 1:17
287—Stephen Magaña, B, pinned Dylan Gutierrez, V, 1:45
Third Place Finishers
105: Alex Nuño, SM; 114: Jonathan Morales, B; 121: Sam Tello, V; 127: Austin Saito, V; 132: Curtis Gilison, B; 137: Chris Marquez; 142: Jonah Bernard, B; 147: William Hewes, SM; 154: Cody Johnson, B; 162: Anthony Lomeli, DP; 173: Yaskin Solano, SM; 191: Jake Badilla, V; 217: Rudy Cortes, DP; 287: Zach Wagner, DP.
nice work DP. go chargers!!
ventura had 6 champions not 5
We stand corrected, coach Gacha. Ventura did have six Channel League champions. We apologize for the error.