EXIT STRATEGY—Simi Valley High’s Erik Hasan, on top, battles Christian Beauvoir of Royal during the 173-pound title match at last weekend’s Marmonte League wrestling finals. Hasan won, 9-0. By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Behdod Katebian jumped for joy, Jake Snyder pulled off an upset and the Highlanders flexed their muscles during the Marmonte League wrestling finals at Simi Valley High last weekend.

Snyder of Westlake won an overtime match in the 154-pound final while four Royal grapplers won individual championships.

The day, however, belonged to Katebian.

Katebian, a Thousand Oaks senior, found himself pitted against Moorpark’s Saul Garcia in the 132-pound finale.

Both wrestlers, arguably the two best grapplers in the Marmonte, reached the state tournament in 2009.

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Neither disappointed during a dramatic four-overtime bout that Katebian won, 2-1.

“I tried to play my own game,” the Lancer said. “He tried to push the pace of the match. I guess you could say I tried to make it more of a chess match.”

The TOHS senior used his hands to tie up Garcia but also matched Garcia’s strength. Katebian, who said he was sick of dropping weight each week, moved up a weight class two weeks ago.

Deadlocked 0-0 after one period, Katebian earned a point on an escape six seconds into the second round. Garcia earned a point on an escape in the third period.

After three frenetic overtimes, neither grappler could muster a point. Katebian fought his way to an escape with 6.7 seconds remaining in the final sudden-death fourth overtime.

Brimming with excitement after the dramatic triumph, Katebian jumped into the arms of TOHS head coach Kerry Lyne.

LOOKS LIKE A WWE MOVE—Despite being poked in the eyes by Robert Quiroz of Newbury Park High, Royal standout Edward Ruiz, on top, won the 114-pound championship by virtue of a pin. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers “It was a very emotional moment,” Lyne said. “I was happy he got emotional because he’s very even-tempered. He got really excited—good for him. He’s put in a lot of hours. It was just nice to see him let loose.”

Katebian was named the league’s most outstanding wrestler of the year for lower-weight grapplers.

The top-four finishers at the league championships advance to the CIF-Southern Section finals at Chaparral High in Temecula on Feb. 19 and 20.

Here is a rundown of how the other finalists fared:

105 pounds – Richard Vaillancourt (Moorpark)

defeats Travis Skidmore

(Royal), 5-2

The freshman Musketeer, who wrestled most of the year at 112 pounds, trailed 2-0 early, but fought his way back to victory.

“He trained really hard and gave it his best effort,” MHS head coach Tony Knight said of Vaillancourt.

Vaillancourt, one of three victorious Musketeers, was named rookie of the year by Marmonte coaches after the tournament.

114 pounds – Edward Ruiz (Royal) pins Robert Quiroz

(Newbury Park)

Ruiz, who qualified for state last year, had an early takedown and never looked back.

The Highlander pinned Quiroz with 8.8 seconds remaining in the first period.

121 pounds – Jesse Lyga (Royal) pins Blade Dyer

(Simi Valley)

Lyga trailed 5-2 before stunning Dyer with a second-period pin.

Dyer appeared to be in control with a couple of takedowns, leading 4-0 early in the second period.

“Blade didn’t keep the pressure on,” Simi Valley head coach Guy Greene said. “He went for a takedown but got caught in a headlock.” 127 pounds – Ryan Thompson

(Moorpark) defeats Dean

Skidmore (Royal), 4-0

The Musketeer had a first-period takedown, and added some cushion with an escape and reversal in the second.

“He stayed focused. That was his No. 1 thing,” Knight said of Thompson. “He had his adrenaline pumping and his nerves were built up, but he stayed focused and got into his mental game.”

137 pounds – J.B. Dones (Royal) pins Max Perkins

(Moorpark)

Dones made quick work of his adversary with a first-round fall to become league champion. 142 pounds – Ben Wolhaupter

(Agoura) defeats Tim Stone

(Newbury Park), 5-1

One year after finishing second, Wolhaupter finally won his league crown.

The senior Charger methodically built his lead while a row of teammates—who sat on the floor in front of the bleachers—chanted his last name in the closing seconds of his solid victory.

147 pounds – Collin Bedwell

(Moorpark) pins

Shane Toth (Royal)

Bedwell built a 5-0 lead before pinning Toth in the third period.

Knight was pleased with the performance of Bedwell, a runner-up last year, and the rest of his Musketeers during the grueling tournament.

“It was a tough race this year with Royal,” the coach said. “I’m definitely very happy with the whole season.”

154 pounds – Jake Snyder (Westlake) defeats Michael

Kairouz (Agoura),

5-3 in overtime

This match started slow before building steam at the end.

Snyder needed a late escape in the final seconds of the third period to tie the bout 3-3 and force overtime. The Warrior then reversed Kairouz with 16.5 seconds remaining in the extra period for the triumph.

Snyder was honored as the most outstanding wrestler of the year among upper-weight contenders.

162 pounds – Shane Laguna

(Westlake) defeats Justin

Southon (Newbury Park), 9-3

The Warrior overcame an early 3-2 deficit to give Westlake two winners in the tournament finals.

Laguna nabbed a 6-3 lead after a third-period takedown, and he never looked back.

173 pounds – Erik Hasan

(Simi Valley) defeats

Christian Beauvoir

(Royal), 9-0

In a battle of crosstown rivals, Hasan won with relative ease. Hasan beat Beauvoir earlier in the week by major decision.

191 pounds – Kyle Hasan (Simi Valley) defeats Brandon

Jansen (Thousand Oaks), 9-0

The Hasan twins won by identical 9-0 scores. Kyle Hasan set the tone with an early first-period takedown.

Lyne, who gave his vote to Hasan for outstanding wrestler of the year, was pleased Jansen reached the finals after battling injuries all season.

“Both of the (Hasan brothers) are real steady,” Greene said. “I expect them to get in a berth at state.”

217 pounds – Alex Rivera (Royal) pins Andrew Singer

(Moorpark) Singer stunned the league with a finals heavyweight victory as a freshman. He couldn’t pull off the feat a second year in a row.

The Musketeer hung tough for most of the match, trailing only 3-1 until Rivera earned a pin with 19 seconds left in the third period. Heavyweights – Jeff Gideon

(Thousand Oaks)

defeats Tyler McAnany

(Simi Valley), 5-4

Gideon, who lost by one point during last season’s Marmonte finals to Singer, erased a 4-1 deficit to clinch a league title.

A costly stalling call cost McAnany two points—and a win—in the final seconds.

“He was really aggressive,” Lyne said of Gideon, a senior captain. “The other kid was sitting on his lead. . . . It’s a very satisfying win for Jeff.”