{"id":136459,"date":"2026-01-16T17:56:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T17:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/136459\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T17:56:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T17:56:24","slug":"long-beach-poly-boys-wrestling-beats-millikan-with-thrilling-finish-press-telegram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/136459\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach Poly boys wrestling beats Millikan with thrilling finish \u2013 Press Telegram"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Ahmad Rawashdeh takes on Millikan\u2019s Anthony Avelar in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Mallett Orozco takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Colin Ornelas in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Chase Antrobius takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Knox Espinoza in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly fans cheer on their wrestler in the Moore League matchup against Millikan in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Teagan Rowsell takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Sammy Via Timu in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Wyatt Durst takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Alex Carrera in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Chris Anguiano takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Augustus Brown in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Malid Sharif takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jayden Al Ekong in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Jason Fiala takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Rocky Lo in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Devyn Kripp takes on Millikan\u2019s Gabriela Bonilla in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Ahmad Rawashdeh takes on Millikan\u2019s Anthony Avelar in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Daniel Escobedo takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kevin Bennett in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Evan Bradley takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Alberto Olague in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Tyson Dabu takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jordan Dizon in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Chase Antrobius takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Knox Espinoza in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Chase Antrobius takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Knox Espinoza in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kaimana Araquel takes on Millikan\u2019s Kai Backstrom in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Jimmy Alvarez Jr. takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Lincoln Chung in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Martin Ornelas takes on Millikan\u2019s Daniel Cullen in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Jimmy Alvarez Jr. takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Lincoln Chung in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Jason Fiala takes on Long Beach Poly\u2019s Rocky Lo in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Devyn Kripp takes on Millikan\u2019s Gabriela Bonilla in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Martin Ornelas takes on Millikan\u2019s Daniel Cullen in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 23<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Ahmad Rawashdeh takes on Millikan\u2019s Anthony Avelar in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

LONG BEACH \u2014 With the chants inside Ron Palmer Pavilion rising around him and his team trailing 34-29, Long Beach Poly boys wrestler Sammy Timu found himself in a tough situation.<\/p>\n

He was facing Millikan\u2019s Teagan Rowsell in the final match of Thursday night\u2019s showdown between the two Moore League rivals. Timu, a sophomore who wrestles in the heavyweight division, held a five-point advantage heading into the third and final period.<\/p>\n

As the final minute of the match wound down, Timu found the power to escape from Rowsell\u2019s grasp and pinned him to give Poly the six points it needed for a 35-34 win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a blessing that God had given me the strength to pull the last move off,\u201d said Timu. \u201cIt was really the crowd and my family around me. They were cheering me on and to continue to keep going even when facing adversity. I know how to struggle through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The match began with the Rams earning three straight victories \u2014 from Anthony Avelar, Daniel Cullen and Kai Backstorm.<\/p>\n

Poly\u2019s star, state-ranked wrestler Knox Espinoza, and Damien Orozco-Mallett then gave the Jackrabbits back-to-back wins.<\/p>\n

But then came perhaps the most shocking outcome of the match, as Millikan freshman Jimmy Alvarez Jr. pulled off a victory against senior Lincoln Chung to shift the momentum back to Millikan.<\/p>\n

Alvarez managed a takedown in the second period and Chung\u2019s three near takedowns weren\u2019t enough to bring the freshman down.<\/p>\n

The two teams kept trading wins, leading up to the final encounter between Timu and Rowsell.<\/p>\n

Timu, who also is a defensive lineman for the varsity football team, was able to get the upper hand against Rowsell with consecutive takedowns in the first two periods, setting up the epic final period.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Millikan) built that tradition,\u201d said Poly head coach Ken Lee, whose team is undefeated in league. \u201cThey built that standard in Long Beach and it\u2019s really good to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kayla Chagala takes on Millikan\u2019s Meg Chelsea Pulido in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kayla Chagala takes on Millikan\u2019s Meg Chelsea Pulido in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Maribel Quezada takes on Millikan\u2019s Ava Gomez in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Riley Pestanas takes on Millikan\u2019s Natalie Curioso in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 4<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kayla Chagala takes on Millikan\u2019s Meg Chelsea Pulido in the Moore League matchup in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Earlier in the afternoon, Poly\u2019s girls team also came away with a big win against the Rams 47-35.<\/p>\n

After jumping to a 17-12 lead, thanks to three wins in the first five duals, Poly saw the match become tied when Millikan\u2019s Meg Chelsea Pulido defeated the Jackrabbits\u2019 Kayla Chagala 17-2.<\/p>\n

The tide shifted when Poly\u2019s Bowie Digregorio defeated Millikan captain Kayde Preciado 8-5 with a pin.<\/p>\n

The Jackrabbits followed by winning the next four matches, the last three of which were forfeited by Millikan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a lot of heart and a lot of grit from out girls,\u201d said Lee. \u201cWe had a lot of girls that were filling a lot of big shoes. We suffered quite a few injuries this week, and, you know, they were able to go ahead and come out and just play.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was an amazing night of wrestling,\u201d he added. \u201cI feel like this community is doing better as a whole and being able to have these competitive matches is not only great for the schools, but it\u2019s great for the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

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