Guerrero's triumph isn't enough for Fort Lupton

119-pounder delivers one of seven pins in loss to No. 4 Northridge

Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 13, 2006 at midnight

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FORT LUPTON - A glance at common opponents gave Saul Guerrero of Fort Lupton a boost of confidence Thursday as he prepared to wrestle Zach Melendez of Northridge.

Guerrero, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by On The Mat at 119 pounds, came through with a pin against Melendez, ranked No. 4 (Melendez had been wrestling at 112 pounds and was ranked No. 1). Guerrero was happy with the fall at 3 minutes, 45 seconds, but Fort Lupton's 45-30 loss against Northridge in a critical Northern League matchup was a disappointment.

"I had seen in the papers that he had struggled in a few matches we have had with common opponents, so I was pretty confident I could win," said Guerrero, who improved to 16-1. "I was a bit surprised by the pin. Losing as a team, though, is tough. It looks like that gives them an edge for the league title."

Guerrero, who has lost only to Loveland's Tyler Graff, ranked No. 1 in 5A, got off to a quick start with a takedown after the whistle and took a 4-1 lead into the second period. He started the second on top, rolled Melendez for a near fall, released his foe, took him down and ended it.

Northridge coach Adam Alirez and Fort Lupton's Tom Galicia each had a few top wrestlers out of his lineup. Northridge was missing Easton Ramirez, ranked No. 2 at 125, and Fort Lupton had seven freshmen in the lineup.

There is little doubt, though, Alirez is pleased to see Drake Huggans, who missed almost three weeks because of a neck injury, return to the Northridge lineup. Huggans pinned Eric Zamora in 1:48 in the night's second match at 112.

"I guess it's good because I was considered the underdog," said Huggans, 9-3 this season. "I just wanted to go out and do a good job."

The match between No. 4 Northridge and No. 6 Fort Lupton, started out as a pin-fest, and the team encounter was over in 1 hour, 8 minutes.

Fort Lupton's Dale Shull, ranked No. 1 at 103, made short work of Jake Steffens with a pin at 1:32 to start things. Then Huggans came through with his win, and Guerrero followed with his. Justin Gonzales of Northridge made it four consecutive falls when he pinned Andrew Luiz in 3:34 in their 125-pound bout.

Fort Lupton gained the lead when Tyler Diller won by forfeit, but Northridge won the next four matches to build a 30-18 lead. Brandon Grajeda stopped the run for the Blue Devils when he pinned Matt Miller in 5:28 for a victory at 160.

"Fast is the way we like it," Alirez said. "Fort Lupton's young, but this is the closest anyone has come to us in a dual this season. It's good to get Drake back; it gives us a good lower half. And the night went pretty much as I expected."

Galicia knew youth could take its toll. Still, he is happy with the effort his wrestlers put forth.

"There is no doubt Northridge is strong, and that does give them a leg up in the league," Galicia said. "But, hopefully, we will do much better against them in the region."

In a night of pins, technical falls and major wins, the closest match was at 135. That's where Patrick Gomez of Northridge came away with a 5-2 victory against Angelo Giron.

NORTHRIDGE 45, FORT LUPTON 30

103 pounds - Dale Shull, FL, pinned Jake Steffens, 1:32. 112 - Drake Huggans, NR, pinned Eric Zamora, 1:48. 119 - Saul Guerrero, FL, pinned Zach Melendez, 3:45. 125 - Justin Gonzales, NR, pinned Andrew Luiz, 3:34. 130 - Tyler Diller, FL, won by forfeit. 135 - Patrick Gomez, NR, def. Angelo Giron, 5-2. 140 - Brett Herring, NR, pinned Hector Solis, 3:06. 145 - Terrance Salazar,NR, won by tech fall, Garrett Pacheco, 19-3. 152 - Lance Mijures, NR, def. Pedro Barron, 15-3. 160 - Brandon Grajeda, FL, pinned Matt Miller, 5:28. 171 -Ryan Hill, NR, pinned Fabian Guerrero, :59. 189 - Dillon Schroeder, NR won by forfeit. 215 - Doug Fisher, FL, won by forfeit. 275 - Tim Saucedo, NR, def. John Antuna, 4-0.

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