ALAMOSA – The fourth-ranked Alamosa High School boys wrestling team competed at home for the only time this season as it hosted Centauri Thursday at the AHS gym.

It turned out to be differences between the lower weights against the larger ones. The Mean Moose had control of the lighter weights, but the Falcons controlled the heavier ones. The result was a 48-32 win for Centauri.

“I thought we wrestled well,” said Alamosa coach Rusty Johnson. “My small guys are really, really good and their big guys are really, really good. “They got good small guys too, but I think our lower weights wrestled extremely well. They just have more horsepower up too, and that’s what I expected.”

“It proved to be the factor,” said Centauri coach Micah Keys. “But I’m just pound of the way my guys wrestled. But we have plenty more season to go, so we’ll get there.”

The Mean Moose started well by winning the first two matches.

In the 106-pound match, Jeremiah DeLaCerda squeaked out a narrow 14-10 decision over Matthew Salazar. DeLaCerda recorded a takedown, but Salazar scored a reversal and a four-point near-fall for a 6-3 lead at the end of the first period.

There was no scoring in the second period.

In the third period, Salazar started with a takedown, but DeLaCerda got a reversal. Salazar then got a point for a potentially dangerous hold. DeLaCerda then got a near-fall to close within 10-9, and then Salazar was called for multiple stalling calls resulting in a point for DeLaCerda and tying the score at 10-10.

DeLaCerda then got another near-fall in the final seconds to pull off the comeback victory.

Anthony Meder then increased Alamosa’s lead to 9-0 by pinning Erik Garcia in 1:31 at 113.

Caden Casias put Centauri on the board as he pinned Pablito Rodriguez in 1:32 at 120.

The Mean Moose won the next two matches by fall. First Uriah Martinez pinned Levy Recinos in 3:02 at 126, and Elijah Salazar pinned Konner Horton in 2:34 at 132 for a 20-6 Alamosa lead.

Centauri came back by winning the next two matches. Aiden Knecht won the 138-pound match by pinning Caleb Quintana in 3:32, and then Nik Skadberg won by forfeit at 144.

Dyson Woodward then recorded a fall over Cole Jackson in 1:06 at 150 pounds for a 26-18 Alamosa lead.

Centauri won the next five matches with four of them coming by fall.

Parker Buhr started the run with a pin in 1:56 over Ryan Cordova at 157. Troy Munson pinned Jace Morgan in 5:05 at 165. Spencer Smith pinned Andrew Gonzales in 1:50 in 1:30. Aaden Quintana pinned Max Dokson in 1:59 at 190. Dorian Quintana won by forfeit at 215.

Alamosa’s Aaron Jordan wrapped up the match with a forfeit win at 285 pounds.

Both Alamosa and Centauri, along with Monte Vista are at the Mel Smith Invitational in Florence this weekend.

“All the good 3A teams are there,” Johnson said.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Keys said.

Centauri 48, Alamosa 32

106 – DeLaCerda (A) dec. Salazar, 14-10; 113 – Meder (A) pinned Garcia, 1:31; 120 – Casias (C) pinned Rodriguez, 1:32; 126 – U. Martinez (A) pinned Recinos, 3:02; 132 – Salazar (A) pinned Horton, 2:34; 138 – Knecht (C) pinned Quintana, 3:42; 144 – Skadberg (C) by forfeit; 150 – Woodward (A) pinned Jackson, 1:06; 157 – Buhr (C) pinned Cordova, 1:56; 165 – Munson (C) pinned Morgan, 5:05; 175 – Smith (C) pinned Gonzales, 1:30; 190 – A. Quintana (C) pinned Dokson, 1:59; 215 – D. Quintana (C) by forfeit; 285 – Jordan (A) by forfeit.