WRESTLING NOTEBOOK: HIGHLAND DOMINANT AGAIN BULLDOGS PASS TOUGH TEST VS. PALMDALE.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Lingering doubts about Highland High's wrestling dominance were erased Wednesday. The supposedly rebuilding Bulldogs, 38-0 in Golden League competition since joining in 1992, won their league opener 49-21 against visiting Palmdale. It was a significant triumph since the Falcons have a strong group of seniors and figured to give Highland a serious challenge this year.

But like a drum beat, Highland's winning streak continues.

``We have a young but hungry team,'' coach Mike Young said. ``I'm looking forward to a good year.''

As usual, Highland prepared for league with a series of difficult tournaments, starting with the Lemoore duals, featuring four of the state's top 10 teams. The Bulldogs also participated in the Northview tournament (finishing 10th out of 20 teams) and the Upland tournament (12th out of 40).

Senior Mike Estrada, who was 46-7 last year - his second consecutive 40-win season - moves from 103 pounds to 112. He is 13-6 with seven pins, including a fourth-place finish at Upland, but three of the losses were at 125 in the Lemoore tournament, matches that should provide a long-term benefit.

``I think Mike has a pretty good shot,'' Young said.

Junior Dustin Alleman, a 145-pounder, is trying to follow in the footsteps of his brother Wes, last year's Golden League champion at the same weight. Dustin is 17-3 with 12 pins so far.

Greg Sturdyvin, Jeremy Friedman, Chris Culotta, Brad Wolfenstein and Greg Root are others to watch. Sturdyvin (140) is 9-5, Friedman (119) is 12-4 and Culotta is 16-2 (after winning 19 of 21 as a part-timer last year). Returning league champion Wolfenstein is 10-7 and football convert Root won his first match with an injury default against Palmdale.

If Highland can find the right combination and progress, perhaps the Bulldogs will extend their success past the Golden League. That wouldn't be unheard of; Highland won the Division IV championship in 1997, was runner-up in 1996 and 1995 and placed third in 1998.

--Will the Falcons fly? Of course Palmdale was hoping to knock off Highland this year. Now the Falcons have to hope someone else can do the trick. In the meantime, they probably will win most, if not all, of their remaining Golden League matchups.

Charlie Aguirre, a 103-pounder, is favored to win the league. He is 12-2 with nine pins and won the recent Quartz Hill Classic featuring most of the Golden League teams.

Sergio Santana, a football linebacker, doubles as a 171-pound wrestler. He is 13-4 with six pins after going undefeated in Golden League regular-season competition last year.

Richard Holguin is also one to watch. The 125-pounder is 16-3 with 10 pins.

--Antelopes looking to come back: Antelope Valley, once one of the region's top teams, has recently fallen on hard times. But the Antelopes show promise this season after six wrestlers medaled at the Rebel Classic. Heavyweight John King, a junior, is 20-2.

--Tourney time: The ninth-annual Bobby Loughridge Invitational is Jan. 12-13 at Highland. Tickets are $3 at the door.

Highland has won the tournament five times but lost in last year's final to Yucca Valley in a championship that came down to the last match. Yucca Valley returns, along with City power El Camino Real, Dos Pueblos, Hueneme, Upland and Thousand Oaks.

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Highland's Brad Wolfenstein, left, takes on Palmdale's Darren Robertson. The Bulldogs won the match, establishing themselves as league favorites.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News