Palomar Finishes Third at Santa Ana Invitational

SANTA ANA, CA (10/4/2025) -- The Palomar wrestling team put together another strong outing at the Santa Ana Invitational, finishing third overall in a loaded 12-team field. The Comets totaled 101.5 points, trailing only Cerritos College and Mt. San Antonio College, and placed six wrestlers in the top six of their respective weight classes.

At 141 pounds, Sergio Porras continued his early-season momentum with a runner-up finish. Porras advanced through the bracket with a series of dominant wins before falling in the championship bout to Cerritos' Isaac Gonzalez by major decision, 14-6. The sophomore's performance marked his second straight podium appearance to start the season.

Nick Rodriguez also turned in a strong showing at 149 pounds, placing second after a run of decisive victories. Rodriguez advanced to the finals where he was pinned by Cerritos' Spencer Parry, taking home another silver medal for the Comets.

Palomar's depth showed in the middle weights as Ivan Natceli and Seth Iten both placed at 174 pounds. Natceli battled his way into the championship match before falling by fall to Cerritos' Abraham Galicia to finish second, while Iten took fourth after dropping a 6-2 decision in the third-place bout. Their combined efforts gave the Comets valuable team points in one of the tournament's toughest divisions.

At 184, Sebastian Anderson notched another top-four finish, placing fourth after a narrow 11-7 loss in the consolation final. Jakar Carter followed that up at 197 with a second-place finish, advancing to the title match before being pinned by Moorpark's William Fulgentes late in the bout. Heavyweight Alejandro Scolari rounded out the Comet placers with a sixth-place finish, adding key points to the team total.

The Comets' consistent performances across multiple weight classes solidified their third-place finish behind perennial state contenders Cerritos and Mt. SAC. It marked another step forward for a young roster that has already shown balance, resilience, and the ability to compete with some of California's best.

Palomar will return to action next weekend as the Comets continue their early-season stretch of tournament competition.