Saratoga News Falcons fourth at Lone Star Invitational By Dick Sparrer The Saratoga wrestling team began competition following winter break with a tough 52-18 dual match loss to Los Gatos. But the Falcons weren't about to let that loss get them done. In fact, quite the contrary was true. They battled back with a solid fourth-place finish in the rugged Lone Star Invitational tournament at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill. David Cheng topped a list of seven Saratoga placers at the weekend tournament to help the Falcons to their fourth-place finish in the team standings. Cheng finished second at 142 pounds, losing by technical fall to Rey Gutierrez of Salinas in the championship round. Four Falcons finished third in the tournament, including Monte Kawahara, Curtis Stanley, David Azzi and Keith Follmar. Kawahara nailed third place at 114 pounds, beating Joel Faustino of Serra 7-4 in his final match, and Stanley pinned third at 147 pounds, winning by fall 40 seconds into the third round of his last match. Azzi pinned Aaron Bingham of Leigh with just 25 seconds left to wrestle in the third-place match at 162 pounds, and Follmar clinched third with a 14-11 victory over Daniel Eller of Aptos at 173 pounds. Jarad Usher finished fifth at 137 pounds, beating Henry Chavez of Willow Glen 11-2 in the fifth-place match, and Yuichi Kurosawa ended up sixth at 121 pounds for the Falcons. Saratoga had won just four matches in its De Anza Division dual match earlier in the week. Follmar pinned at 1:02 of the second round at 171 pounds, and Stanley won by fall with 37 seconds remaining at 152 pounds. Kawahara posted an 11-6 victory at 112 pounds for Saratoga, and Matt Chaudry won 8-5 at 119 pounds. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 13, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.