WRESTLING

Ventura 40, Highland 24--The Cougars won the five heaviest weight classes to rally for a dual-meet victory at Palmdale.

Tim Eckberg and Bobby Taylor sparked Ventura (1-0).

With his team trailing, 24-15, Eckberg, at 160 pounds, pinned Jose Shaw in 16 seconds.

Taylor, a 171-pounder, won by decision over Brad Wolfenstein, 13-4.

“The upper weights, that’s our senior-laden group,” Ventura Co-Coach Mike Collin said. “They anchor our program.”

Highland (0-1) dominated the lower weights, winning three of the first four matches.

Mike Estrada, who is expected to wrestle at 103 pounds, moved up to 125 pounds and won a 16-4 decision over Travis Koch to spark the Bulldogs.

Ventura, which reached the Southern Section Division I team semifinals last year, was without six starters, including Joaquin Real, Justin Rivera and Jimmy Renshaw.

Rivera, a returning Masters Meet qualifier, and Renshaw were out with injuries. Real, also a returning Masters qualifier, is still playing football.