Despite having an injury-depleted roster, the Palisades High boys wrestling team could still end up as high as second in the Western League with a strong finish. Last Saturday at the Best in the Valley individual tournament at Chaminade, two freshmen had strong outings, as Ezra Balcha placed fifth in the 160-pound weight class and Alex Smith was seventh in the 106-pound class. There were 14 total weight classes with anywhere from 16 to 24 participants in each. The Dolphins (4-5 overall, 1-1 Western League) will likely need to win their final two league dual meets, today at San Pedro and next Thursday at Dorsey, to have a chance to finish second. They may have to do so without one of their top wrestlers in junior Holland Herzfeld, who was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s match with an illness. The team was also without freshman sensation Brad Boorstin at Chaminade, as head coach Randy Aguirre held him out with a high ankle sprain, but the coach was thrilled with the efforts of Balcha in his absence. ‘He’s not the most athletic kid but he works hard ‘ the hardest worker on the team, hands down,’ Aguirre said. ‘Even on Sundays when they have open mat wrestling in Santa Monica, he takes a bus and goes down there to get a little extra mat time.’ Team captain Ryan Bland also missed the Chaminade meet while on a college visit, but will be in action for the San Pedro match, as will Boorstin. Western League finals begin on February 18, followed by City Finals the following week. Aguirre said he expects as many as three of his wrestlers could contend for a berth in State ‘ Bland, Boorstin and Herzfeld. He also heaped high praise on his freshman class. ‘I’ve never had a group of freshmen with so much potential,’ the coach said. ‘I didn’t know what to expect this year, but we have a great young group and we’ve exceeded expectations.’
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