Cougars win nine straight matches

WARDEN - The road to the state title isn't set in stone yet, but Warden's wrestling team is ready to pave the way.

Monday night against Concrete was just another step in preparation for going after a fourth straight state 1A wrestling title. The Lions forced Warden to work early, but after nine straight wins, the Cougars put the match away with a 49-18 win.

"Right now we are trying to get ready for the postseason and getting young kids ready and groom them," said Warden head coach Rick Bowers.

Carlos Hernandez, the only returning state champion for the Cougars, toyed with his opponent throughout the first period, building an 8-3 lead after the first two minutes. In the second, Hernandez scored a reverse, followed up with a two-point near fall before scoring a pin at the end of the period.

Hernandez scored one of five Warden pins that put Concrete out of reach.

"I wouldn't want to wrestle him," Bowers said. "He is so quick for a 215 pounder and has great technique."

Opening the match at 112 pounds, Freddy Flores picked up the first win for the Cougars with an overtime win, scoring a takedown early in the extra minutes.

Concrete's Yzaquirra followed with a pin over Chad Pruneda for a Lions' 6-3 lead, but a pin from Alan Martinez at 125 pounds turned the table again in favor of Warden. The Lions' Aires pinned Manuel Morales halfway through the second period for its final lead of the match at 12-9.

Guillermo Mendoza scored a major decision at 135 pounds for Warden for the final Cougar lead of the match, Ben Stott scored a first period pin at 140 pounds, A.J. Phillips followed with a decision at 145 and Anthony Martinez had a technical fall at 152 pounds.

Joel Martinez scored another first period pin at 160 pounds and Kevin Bowers pinned Concrete's Coggins at 171 pounds in the first period.

Joseph Elizalde clinched the win for the Cougars at 189 pounds, defeating Concrete's Partien 14-5 for a Warden 46-15 lead. Luis Martinez came up with a decision at 275 for the final Cougar points of the game.

At 103, Stevie Elizalde came up short against Concrete's Yzaquirra at 103 pounds to close out the match with a 7-5 loss. Elizalde trailed 5-4 heading into the third period, scored an escape to tie the match, then Yzaquirra scored a takedown with eight seconds remaining to win.

Elizalde finished up second behind Warden's Frankie Torres at the 2003 state 1A wrestling championship and missed the 2004 tournament due to a strained elbow.

"He isn't favoring it or anything and it isn't bothering him, it's just going to take him a little while to get back," Bowers said. "He did fall behind by five and that messed the game plan up."