The Skyline College men’s wrestling team opened their season on Friday with a 24-20 victory over Shasta College.
     Bobby Stack, a second-year student, led the way by recording the only pin of the night. For Stack, this was especially sweet.
     A Pacifica native, Stack was a part of last year’s championship Shasta College team. After winning it all last year, he decided to try and bring the trophy home. On Friday, he and his team took the first step towards doing just that.
     Virgil Lockett, a first year student from San Francisco, started Skyline off with a 13-8 victory in the 133 lb. weight class. After taking an early 4-2 lead in the first round, two ground shaking take downs in the second gave him a 10-8 edge. Lockett held his opponent scoreless in the third, while adding three more points to his score.
     Second-year student Scott Beale of Pacifica, followed suit in the 149 lb. class. Beale controlled the pace and the points through the first two rounds, going into the third round with a 7-2 lead. Although exhausted, Beale was able to escape from his opponent’s hold with only a few seconds to go, and finished with a 9-3 win.
     Next up was 157 lb. Ally Lockett, also a first year student from San Francisco. Allystarted slowly, down 4-0 after the first two minutes, but then pulled within two points at the end of the first round. The highlight of the match came in the third round as Ally thwarted an attempt at a sneak attack and scored to pull within one point. Although the match ended in a Shasta victory, the guts showed by Ally Lockett brought the crowd to a roar and energized the team.
     Stack, perhaps feeding off of the excitement, added to Skyline’s lead with a first round pin in the 165 lb. weight class.
     Skyline looked to be in control after the first five matches, but Shasta wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
     Bobby Taylor, a 184 lb. first year student from Ventura, perhaps had the slam of the night in the next match. The headgear worn by his Shasta College opponent may have been the only thing that kept his ears attached when Taylor flipped him over and used his head as a landing gear. Unfortunately, Taylor was not able to capitalize and lost the match 10-2.
     When 197 lb. Nick Theotikos stepped into the circle against Robbie Van Ryan from Shasta, he knew that he was in for an interesting match. No, it wasn’t Van Ryan’s size. It wasn’t his strength. It was his mouth.
     The first year Shasta College student had made his presence known by shouting and pacing back and forth behind his team. Theotikos showed his sportsmanship by not loosing his cool when Van Ryan continued his antics throughout the match. The crowd was behind Theotikos, but he was not able to defeat Van Ryan. He was, however, able to score six points to help his team.
     Theotikos echoed the feelings of just about all in attendance when he added, “Good match champ…but you talk too much s–.”
     In the next match Matt Schug, a first year student from Pacifica, lost 5-1.
     Shasta could smell blood and Skyline knew they had to step it up in the last match.
     It was up to 125 lb. Diwan Williams to close out the victory for Skyline. Williams, a first year student from San Leandro, did just that. He traded points back and forth with his opponent through the first two rounds, and went into the third round up 10-9. In maybe the most action-filled match of the night, a lightning fast Willliams was able to keep within striking distance. The match went to Shasta, at 13-12, but sealed the victory for Skyline.
     After the match Stack added, “They were the champs last year, but this year we’re gonna take it.”
     Next time,Wrestling Coach James Haddon takes his team to Sacramento for the Sacramento City Invitational tournament. The men return home to host the West Valley Invitational on Oct. 1. This will be one of only two home events left this year.