"Step down" has good start for Vera-coached wrestlers - Perillo wins Vista Frosh-Soph Dual tournament

Under most circumstances going from the varsity to the junior varsity would be a demotion. In the case of 2011 Fallbrook High School graduate Cristian Vera, who transcended from a star on Fallbrook’s varsity last season to this year’s freshman and junior varsity coach, it’s not truly a step down but has had a significantly positive impact on the Fallbrook wrestling program.

“He’s doing a real good job with the lower-level guys,” said Fallbrook varsity coach Greg Wagaman. “He’s a good mentor and I’m really happy to have him.”

Vera wrestled for Wagaman for four years. As a senior Vera missed qualifying for the state tournament in the 215-pound bracket by one match.

Vera is currently attending Palomar College part-time, and since he is not a full-time student he is not eligible to be on the Comets’ wrestling team. Because the NCAA eligibility rules allow an athlete four years in a five-year period beginning with when he enrolls as a full-time student, the eligibility clock for Vera has not yet started.

Vera opted to stay in wrestling and be a lower-level coach for Wagaman. “He was really excited about doing that. He wanted that,” Wagaman said.

That allows Vera to work with the school’s younger wrestlers. “He’s really motivated, and they feel that,” Wagaman said. “I’m really, really happy with him.”

Vera made his coaching debut at the Vista Frosh-Soph Dual tournament Dec. 2-3 at Vista High School. The Warriors took 10 wrestlers, including two pairs who were in the same weight class. “For almost every one of them it was the first time they’ve ever wrestled in competition, so they did really well, I think,” Wagaman said.

“We went into it to get as many matches as we could,” Wagaman said. “Almost everyone got from six to eight matches.”

Freshman Nick Perillo made his high school wrestling debut at the tournament in the 152-pound class. He won all eight of his matches, seven by pin, to take first place in the division. “He did really, really good,” Wagaman said.

Lorenzo Garcia, a sophomore who is in his first year as a high school wrestler, placed second in the 160-pound division. Alexys Fernandez was fourth in the 138-pound class, and Cristian Rudisell was fifth in the 220-pound weight bracket.

Because Fallbrook did not field a full team, the Warriors didn’t post a competitive team score. Wagaman felt that Vera and his wrestlers met their individual goals. “They won the majority of the matches,” Wagaman said. “They did a really, really good job. They beat a lot of guys up.”

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