The Palo Alto High School wrestling team suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Los Gatos Wildcats Thursday night at Los Gatos, 45-21.

The match-up was one of the most anticipated dual meets of the entire season.

“If we [had] won this dual, we probably would have won leagues in duals,” co-captain Nicholas Ortiz (’12) said.

The match started out in Paly’s favor with Jose Tochez (’11) winning his match. The other two heavy weights Spencer Drazovich (’13) and Tanner Felt (’12) both won based on forfeits because the other team did not have a wrestler in their respective weight classes.
After that however, the dual went downhill for the Vikes.

“We came in kind of messing around,” Erik Anderson (’13) said. “We have to be serious before our matches.”

Loses from Ahmed Awadallah (’14), Canaan Linder (’13), Trent Marshall (’12), Zach Winer (’13), Gary Hohbach (’13), Gunner Felt (’14) and Henry Tucher (’13) piled up and let the Wildcats run away with the match.

Ortiz and Anderson also both narrowly lost to their opponents.

The team did however see strong performances from co-captain Kalen Gans (‘12), who is ranked first in CCS, and from co-captain Joey Christopherson (‘12).

With a lot of pressure on Gans to do well at the end of the meet, Gans won based on points.

“I think the biggest match was at 160 [against Gans],” Los Gatos assistant coach Evan McDonald said. “Being first in CCS is a lot to prove and he wrestled well”

Although Los Gatos won by a landslide, the Wildcats respected the quality of their opponents.

“We are both good teams,” McDonald said.

The Wildcats also believe that Paly will be even more competitive next year.

“Next year they are definitely going to be a team to be reckoned with because they have a lot of young guys,” Los Gatos Captain Alex Howard (’12) said.

After the 24 point defeat, the Vikings were obviously disappointed with the loss.

“We were quiet the whole bus ride home,” Ortiz said.

The Vikings will face Homestead on Thursday at Paly at 5:30 p.m.