PUEBLO — Sometimes the matchup is everything.
Erie’s Rudy Lopez began the season on a mission to repeat as a Class 4A state champion and his determination has never wavered. And if he wasn’t driven enough already, Lopez even received some extra motivation when Broomfield’s Ryan Vigil defeated him in the regional finals. So Lopez had a personal agenda in hand when the pair met one week later in the 138-pound state championship match.
Even that extra motivation wasn’t enough to match Vigil’s plan and execution.
In Saturday’s rematch at Southwest Motors Events Center, Vigil won a 3-0 decision in the title bout to block Lopez from a repeat bid and claim a first championship medal of his own. It was the same score he won by in a tactically similar match to regionals, and Vigil exits Season B as the sole wrestler to beat Lopez.
“It feels amazing to get to this point,” Vigil said. “It’s insane and it feels a lot better than fifth did last season. It’s the best feeling I could have, to come back this season and win this.”
It took some shifting around for Saturday’s match to happen.
Moving up to 138 pounds after winning the 4A title at 113s last winter, Lopez jumped up four weights in one offseason. Vigil was at 126 pounds last winter and placed fifth overall.
In Saturday’s title match, Vigil scored an escape and a takedown early in the second period. After that, he did what he does best and rode his opponent until the final whistle.
“It was the same game plan, just trying to avoid his shots,” Vigil said. “I knew I could hold him down on bottom so it was just about not getting taken down. If I get taken down, I lose that match. That takedown I got right off the bat once I escaped was clutch. That helped me a lot.”
Broomfield junior Morgen Watt also reached his 220-pound division’s championship match, but had to settle for runner-up after getting pinned by Cheyenne Mountain’s Jake Boley. The Erie Tigers also had a second wrestler in the finals in sophomore Ramon Salazar, who was pinned by Pueblo County’s Eric Griego and left with a silver medal.
With junior Gavin Malek (195 pounds) taking third and Michael Brazeau placing fifth, Erie finished eighth in the team competition. Broomfield was 11th.
For Frederick, junior Alex Carrillo placed fourth at 113 pounds and JT Gardner went 0-2.
Skyline’s trio of qualifiers — Calvin Mendez (106), Grayden Bridwell (152) and Oscar Aranday (285) — all placed fifth in their respective divisions.
Just a freshman, Mead’s Jake Glade placed fifth at 120s and senior teammate Randy Guerra placed sixth at 126s.
