BENICIA’S CODY WILLIAMS (top) takes control over Bethel’s Skylar Edwinson in the SCAC wrestling opener for both school’s Wednesday at Benicia High.

Benicia High wrestling coach Japheth Aquino was so confident in his Panthers going into Wednesday’s Solano County Athletic Conference opener against Bethel, he let several of his freshmen get their first varsity dual-meet experience.

The freshmen more than held their own as the Panthers rolled past visiting Bethel, 72-9. The Jaguars had to forfeit seven of the 13 scheduled matches, guaranteeing Benicia a victory before the match even started. But five Panther freshmen – along with junior Riley Pitkin – combined to win four of the six matches wrestled Wednesday.

“Bethel’s rebuilding their program right now and we felt we could give our freshmen a chance to compete at the varsity level,”Aquino said.

Pitkin, wrestling at 170 pounds, was Benicia’s only regular varsity wrestler to see action. Pitkin had a 9-4 lead when he pinned his opponent at the 1:32 mark of the second period. Freshman Ryley Boutain needed a total of 31 seconds to pin his 113-pound opponent in the night’s first competitive match.

“He’s solid and is ready to step into the varsity lineup any time we need him,” Aquino said.

Freshman Cody Williams pinned his 145-pound opponent 42 seconds into the first period. Fellow freshman Koe Alava, wrestling at 160 pounds, had an 8-0 lead early in the second period when he pinned his opponent.

“He’s been working hard and executing the moves that we’ve taught him,” Aquino said of Alava. “And he finished strong and got the pin.”

Freshman Elijah Osit earned Benicia’s final on-the-mat victory of the night when he pinned his 195-pound opponent 40 seconds into first period.

“It’s really rare for us to get a freshman who can wrestle at the heavier weights,” Aquino said of Osit.

Francisco Callejas secured Bethel’s only pin of the night at 120 pounds. Bethel’s Nolan Cruz-Smith won a 7-2 decision against Justin Gomez at 138 pounds for the only other Jaguar victory.

Benicia’s boys will take part in the Third Annual Joe Rios Memorial this weekend in Chico. The Lady Panther wrestlers will compete in a tournament at Vintage High School in Napa. Benicia’s next SCAC dual match is Wednesday, Jan. 14 at Vallejo High.

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