WRESTLERS DRAW CLOSER TO END OF THE SEASON

By Paradis J. Fejerang

The ISA/IIAAG wrestling season is now one week closer to its season finale with dual meets having been held at both Tiyan and George Washington High. With teams sharpening their lineups and postseason pressure building, Saturday delivered heated battles, standout performances, and more than a few tense moments.

‘Royal Friars’ vs. Bulldogs

At the Tiyan site, the day began with the combined Notre Dame/Father Duenas squad taking on the Okkodo Bulldogs. The ND Royals opened the meet looking as sharp as ever, rolling through the majority of their matchups. The lone setback came at 143 lbs., where Royal Kayla McIntosh did everything she could to prolong the bout but ultimately fell to Okkodo’s Maileah Laureano, who secured a first-period pin.

The second half of the dual brought a very different kind of intensity from the boys as both teams had points deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct. Despite the environment, the Friars maintained their composure just enough to take a decisive 56-20 win.

Several matchups from this dual stood out:

138 lbs. – Friar Jake Materne vs. Bulldog Decian Imbuido: Materne once again showed his trademark grit, grinding through three periods before sealing the win by pin in the final round.

160 lbs. – Bulldog Jake Littlejohn vs. Friar Brock Aguon: One of the closest contests of the morning saw both athletes exhausted by the final whistle. Littlejohn barely came out with his win against Aguon by just three points after a full three-period battle.

170 lbs. – Bulldog Emyl Dela Cruz vs. Friar Rylan Stanley: Stanley’s technique had him in control early, but Dela Cruz’s raw power shifted the match. A momentum swing in the second period ended with Dela Cruz securing a pin.

195 lbs. – Bulldog Hilario San Nicolas vs. Friar Adam Aflague: San Nicolas closed Okkodo’s final victory of the dual with a strong first-period pin over Aflague.

Team Splits at GW site

Over at GW, the Guam High Panthers and JFK Islanders faced off in a meet that ended in a split decision between the divisions: the Panther girls secured the female team win while the Islanders claimed the boys’ side.

The most compelling match of the dual came from the heavyweights as they were the only bout of the meet that stretched the full three periods. The back-and-forth contest resulted in a decision rather than the pins that defined the rest of the lineup, drawing strong reactions from both crowds as the lone long-form match of the meet and promising for an interesting lineup to come in the heavyweights for who might take the championship in a couple of weeks.

GW’s Senior Night concluded with the host Geckos taking on the Sanchez Sharks in another boys/girls split. The Shark girls walked away with the female team win, while the Gecko boys carried the victory on the male side.

Despite having just five wrestlers on their female roster, the Geckos nearly swept their matchups – four of the five athletes collected wins, showcasing the squad’s efficiency and determination despite their limited numbers.

Next Week: Last Meet of the Regular Season

The league heads into its final week of regular-season competition next Saturday. Guam High will host George Washington, Tiyan, and Okkodo, while JFK welcomes Southern, Father Duenas/Notre Dame, and Simon Sanchez.

With postseason positions on the line and rivalries sharpening, the final slate of duals is set to deliver one of the most intense weekends of wrestling yet.

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