LJ wrestling: Faress joins Isaiah and Joshua as league champions

Faress Zwain (top), the Vikings' 152-pound wrestler, dominates his
opponent, Gibson Puckett of San Diego High, early in their match
on his way to a 14-2 win by decision.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Senior Faress Zwain, capping a high school career of hard work, built an insurmountable lead against 152-pound opponent Gibson Puckett of San Diego High on the way to a 14-2 major decision Wed., Jan. 30, thereby clinching the Eastern League title in his weight class.

"It means a lot," said Zwain after his match, "because that's my first time winning (a league title) in four years of wrestling."

The 12th-grader joins classmate Isaiah Torres, at 222 pounds, and junior Joshua Jasso, 197, as league champions in their respective weight classes. The two others did not have official matches against the Cavers, who forfeited at those two weights, and had already secured their conference titles prior to the dual meet downtown.

Zwain, who took command from the outset of his bout in the dual meet, quickly maneuvered his way to a 4-0 advantage in the first period. Beginning the second period, he performed an escape from the down position, and followed with two-point takedown of the nearly defenseless Puckett for a 7-1 lead.

Viking league champions for 2019, from left:
Isaiah Torres (222 pounds), Joshua Jasso (197),
and Faress Zwain (152).
 

In the third round, it was more of the same, with Faress combining strength with his quickness to forge a 9-1 edge on a reverse. During the majority of the match, the muscled wrestler fully controlled his foe. The only question was how high the score would reach, or if Zwain would pin him.

The eventual 14-2 margin enabled the senior to score four points for his team, on account of it being a win by eight or more points, thus classified a major decision.

At that point, Coach Kellen Delaney's Vikings trailed the aroused Cavers, 40-25, on Senior Night at San Diego High.

The final was 46-25, ending the dual meet season in the Eastern League in advance of the City Conference Championships Sat., Feb. 2, at Cathedral Catholic High.

"San Diego was stronger than we expected, but we held our own," said Delaney, not unsatisfied with his squad's effort.