MOORPARK WRESTLING IS ONE TO BEAT AGAIN; ONE OF THE STATE'S BEST TEAMS, THE RAIDERS ARE OFF TO A 5-0 START.

Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer

Moorpark College has had one of Southern California's top wrestling programs for years and this season should be no different.

Off to a 5-0 start, the Raiders won the team title at the San Bernardino duals recently, going 4-0, and then soundly defeating Golden West College of Huntington Beach 31-15 on Sept. 24.

``I'd say they are in the top three (teams in the state),'' Golden West coach Dale Deffner said. ``Of course we haven't seen everybody, but along with Fresno, who I hear is loaded, and Palomar they're definitely up there.''

Raiders' second-year coach Paul Mayhew, whose team hosts Palomar at 7:30 tonight, agrees.

``Our capabilities could put us in the top three of the state,'' Mayhew said. ``Things can certainly happen that could derail that, injuries, not reaching our potential - and things are going to happen - but with the work ethic these guys have shown, anything is possible.''

The Raiders, who placed sixth in the state tournament and captured their 18th consecutive Western State Conference title last year, return three All-Americans (wrestlers who finish in the top four of their weight class) and have several talented newcomers.

The best of the returning All-Americans is 167-pounder Ati Conner. As a freshman, Conner, now a team captain, placed third in the state tournament at 158.

``Ati is a tremendous talent,'' Keysaw said. ``He has unlimited ability and he works hard. His work ethic pushes others to work even harder.''

Conner, from Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, set a school-record with 145 take downs last year and finished with a 32-2 record. He is undefeated this season (5-0) with two pins and two technical falls.

Another returning All-American in Gabriel Roman at 158. Roman, a graduate of Oxnard High School, lost in the state championship match last year at 150. He is 5-0 thus far in 1997 with all five victories coming by pin.

``An absolute warrior is what he is,'' Mayhew said. ``He has no quit in him.''

Anchoring the upper weights is Danny Ramirez at 190. Ramirez is the third returning All-American and like Roman is a graduate of Oxnard High.

Ramirez placed fourth in the state in 1996 and is 3-1 this season.

Juan Roman is a newcomer whom Mayhew projects will star at 126. A graduate of Channel Islands High School, Roman is 5-0 so far.

``He blew an ACL and had to redshirt last year,'' Mayhew said. ``He's an iron horse. I look forward to him doing some great things.''

A freshman of note is Steve Elisondo at 134. Elisondo was a two-time state qualifier at Bakersfield High School and is 5-0 with five pins at Moorpark.

``I like the mix we have,'' Mayhew said. ``We have solid leadership in Conner, (Gabriel) Roman and Ramirez and some talented new guys. The veterans have already set the tone with their work ethic and it's rubbed off.''

``These guys know what it takes,'' Mayhew added. ``Moorpark always has had a reputation of being tough and never rolling over. This team is just following in that tradition.''

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PHOTO Moorpark College wrestling coach Paul Mayhew, speaking to his players before practice, has one of the strongest teams in the state.

Myung J. Chun / Daily News