DENVER – D’mitri Garza-Alarcon is on the Mount Rushmore of Fort Lupton wrestlers.
The junior won his third state title Feb. 18, beating Mullen’s freshman Isaak …
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The junior won his third state title Feb. 18, beating Mullen’s freshman Isaak Chavez with a 2-1 decision in the 138-pound finals of the class 3A state wrestling championship.
Garza-Alarcon joins Saul Guerrero and Dale Shull as the school’s only three-time state champions. Now the junior has his sights set on setting history for the Bluedevils.
“I’m going to be the school’s first four-time champion,” Garza-Alarcon stated after the bout at Ball Arena.
While the Fort Lupton wrestler didn’t dominate in the state match as he has the majority of the season, he knew there was no question he was going to win the match. He used his length and size to out-maneuver and control Chavez throughout the bout. He held on to the one-point lead in the third period and locking up his opponent to seal the victory.
“I saw it in his eyes,” Garza-Alarcon said. “I wanted it more than he did, and I knew it. There was no question I was going to win. I’ve never wrestled him before, but I had to be aggressive and smart to get the win.”
Garza-Alarcon (42-4) swept through his first three matches at the tournament with ease. He pinned Resurrection Christian’s Hayden Sailer in the opening match and then won by pinfall over Valley’s Colby Schaffer and Holy Family’s Brayden Bach.
“I worked so hard to get here and left it all out there,” the junior said.
Garza-Alarcon won the state title his freshman year at 126 pounds and then won his second title when he upset Brady Hankin with a 4-3 decision in the 138-pound title match, keeping Hankin from winning four state titles.
“This makes me feel like I want to cry, but it also makes me feel like I want to go run a marathon or go wrestle another state match,” Garza-Alarcon said. “I’ve put so much heart and dedication into this sport, and I lay my heart out on the line. It is just such a great feeling winning.”
Garza-Alarcon also mentioned how much it meant it was to get this victory in front of his family.
“My dad likes sports and likes wrestling,” the junior said. “For him to come and support me, it means a lot. Being able to wrestle in front of my family at this event just means so much to me.”
Will Alvarado took third at 157 pounds. Josiah Gonzales wound up fifth at 126 pounds.
FLHS' other state qualifiers -- Donovan Birmingham (106), Danny Rodriguez (144), Christopher Galicia (165), Camren Galicia (190) and Kayden Derbigny (215) -- did not place in their respective weight classes.
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