14 Fort Lupton Press
LOCAL
February 3, 2022
SPORTS
Wrestling: Fort Lupton’s Leon hesitates, joins sport he loves environment. All these people here? I’ve grown with. It’s really cool. “Wrestling really is a single-man sport, which I love,” he added. “But baseball? Everyone does their own part. It feels the same.” Leon said wrestling is fun for reasons other than competition. “The competition is fun. You get to see people from everywhere in big tournaments,” he said. “It’s cool to see. Competing with those people is a really fun time. When I lose, I reflect. Coaches tell me what I can work on, and we drill.” Leon said he would have missed wrestling had he not competed this season. “When you do a sport for so long, it starts to get to a point where it feels worse,” he said. “But I’m thankful that my parents gave me a chance if I want to wrestle or not. I just took the chance to wrestle so I can make them proud a couple of more times. “I would have missed it a lot,” Leon added. “I’ve been wrestling since I was 4. I’ve just grown with it. I keep my range of sports so I can keep playing and playing. “It’s what I do,” he concluded. “If I feel lonely without wrestling next year, I’ll come back.”
Douglas County’s Grant Wiskus, left, is on the receiving end of a takedown attempt by Fort Lupton’s Uriel Leon during a 120-pound match at Fort Lupton High School Jan. PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH 28. Leon won by a score of 10-6.
Baseball Fort Lupton High School wants to start a baseball hall of fame. New coach Ted Bergquist outlined his plans and hopes during his first meeting with his players Jan. 13. Call 720-207-4948.
The costs is $55 through Saturday Jan. 29, and $75 through Saturday, Feb. 5, the last day to sign up. First games are March 19, and they will be at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center and surrounding areas. Volunteer coaches are needed.
The city’s adult softball league begins Monday, March 14, at Pearson Park, state Highway 52 and U.S. Highway 85. Registration costs $375 per team, and the deadline is Monday, Feb. 21; afterward, the fee increases to $400.
Team sports Fort Lupton’s recreation center is looking for players to fill out various leagues this spring.
Adult basketball The deadline to sign up for the center’s adult basketball league ends Sunday, Jan. 30. The fee is $450 per team. Games start at noon; the season begins Sunday, Feb. 13. Register at the front desk of the rec center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.
Youth soccer A coed soccer program needs prekindergarteners, kindergarteners and first- through sixth-graders to participate starting Thursday, March 10. The early registration deadline (with fees of $35 for pre-K through second grade and $55 for thirdthrough sixth-graders) is Saturday, Feb. 12. Afterward, the fee increases $15 for the younger age groups and $20 for the older ones. The final registration date is Saturday, Feb.
BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After some debate, Fort Lupton freshman Uriel Leon is on the mat for the Bluedevils’ wrestling team. He split his first 16 matches of the season. One of his more recent wins was a 10-6 decision over Douglas County’s Grant Wiskus in a 120-pound match Jan. 28 at FLHS. “I wasn’t going to wrestle this year,” he said. “It’s been really welcoming. I love them all so much, and I thank them for helping me.” Leon worked his way through the Fort Lupton Metro program and through middle school before joining the varsity ranks this season. He is one of two, ninth-graders who made the roster for the Douglas County meet (FLHS’ 170-pounder, Christopher Galicia was the other). “Usually, it’s an age group. In middle school, it’s only three grades? Here, it’s four,” Leon said. “Those seniors can be huge sometimes. I don’t think at all. I go out there and do my thing. Whatever happens, happens.” Wrestling isn’t Leon’s only sport. He plays soccer (since sixth grade) and baseball. He loves baseball. “But winning a match in wrestling is my favorite,” Leon said. “It’s the
BRIEFS
Girls volleyball Registration is underway for girls volleyball for third- through eighthgraders It’s available at www. fortluptonco.gov.
Adult softball league FROM $
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19. Questions on any of these leagues? Call 303-857-4200. Girls golf Frederick High School’s girls golf team will have an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, in the high-school library. Business move Different Breed Performance, owned by Mead High School alum Gabe Knapton, is moving Feb. 1. The new home will be at state Highway 66 and Weld County Road 19. On Facebook, Knapton posted that the gym size will increase, the equipment will be upgraded and athletes will have access to both cold and hot tubs for recovery. Call 720-771-7699.
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