SUNRISE WRESTLING: Foothill takes narrow lead over defending champs

A year ago, the Gators had to rally on the second day of the Division I Sunrise Region tournament to capture their third straight title. To continue their reign, they’ll have to do it again Saturday.

Foothill sent nine wrestlers to the semifinals and earned 77.5 points to take the lead after the first day of the tournament at Rancho. Green Valley, the two-time defending state champion, is second with 74 points.

“We analyze and critique every one of our kid’s strengths and weaknesses,” Green Valley coach Jon Ferry said. “They know what their job is. It’s important that they follow through.”

Las Vegas is third with 69 points and also put nine competitors in the semifinals. Liberty has 58 points, setting up a four-team battle for the title when the semifinals start at noon Saturday at Rancho.

The championship round is scheduled to begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. The top three finishers advance to the Division I state tournament on Feb. 22 at Primm.

Foothill, which displayed a balanced lineup, won the majority of its matches by pin and was able to snag the lead as a result. Albert Chavez (126 pounds), Jacob Chavez (132), Guillermo Rios (138), Steven Thomas (160), Bobby Merritt (170), Joshua Ozuna (220) and Dylan Weasa (285) each won two matches by pin for the Falcons.

“Everybody seemed to wrestle exactly the way I thought they would,” Foothill coach Ryan English said. “Foothill isn’t known for wrestling. We’re just a bunch of walk-ons. But I’ve got a really good, solid group.

“At the beginning of the year, nobody thought Foothill would amount to anything. I think we shocked a lot of people. I think the kids feel very validated. The kids got closer throughout the year. We’re a tight family. I think that has a lot to do with it.”

The Gators had 10 scoring wrestlers — and 12 in all — reach the semifinals. That helped make up for the absence of two-time defending state champion Sean Cannon at 120, along with Adrian Ojeda at 138 and Jared Temple (145).

Ferry declined to comment on why the trio were not in the tournament, saying, “I’m going to focus on the team we have here.”

Green Valley had two wrestlers at 106 and 152 pounds advance to the semis. Elyas Lizares, the Gators’ nonscoring wrestler at 106, knocked off his cousin, top-seeded Kaden Lizares of Foothill, 8-6 in the opening round and could meet teammate Walley Zernich in the final.

Freshman Guillian Nakamatsu pinned both of his opponents at 145 and could potentially face Liberty’s Storm Roper in the final.

“Elyas Lizares impressed me like you wouldn’t believe,” Ferry said. “Those two kids, certainly it’s not a surprise. But it’s impressive the way they won.”

Defending state champions Josh Temple (120) and Jared Brathor (132) also moved into the semifinals with pins, and Donovan Peek steamrolled two opponents for the Gators at 160. Teammate Logan Hughes scored a takedown in the final 10 seconds to defeat Luis Villareal of Eldorado 5-4 in the quarterfinals at 220 pounds.

Las Vegas was led by Antonio Jauregui, who won by technical fall in the opening round and then pinned Francis Bangayan of Del Sol in 1 minute, 47 seconds at 152 pounds. Jacob Littlefield pinned Coronado’s Dean Gerber in 1:48 after an opening-round bye at 170 pounds for the Wildcats.

Liberty put eight wrestlers into the semifinals, including Michael Martinez and John Halk at 126. Adam Knopow (106) pinned two opponents in a combined 52 seconds, while Jaylon Bates (120) also won both of his matches by pin for the Patriots.

Liberty’s Zach Balden won by technical fall in the opening round before pinning Kevin Canales of Silverado in 2:18 in the quarterfinals.