Moorpark Tries to Maintain Hold on Title

Melkon Melkonian, his right arm heavily taped, has two hyper-extended elbows and, possibly, torn ligaments.

Chuck Sandlin, sporting a pair of cauliflower ears, has waged a wrestling match with his appetite for months.

But neither is complaining. And not because the grueling junior-college wrestling season is nearing an end.

Melkonian and Sandlin are the best among seven Moorpark College wrestlers entered in the state finals today and Saturday at Moorpark.

The Raiders, who finished second in the Western State Conference, will try to defend their state title and cap a season filled with hard knocks and aching limbs. Although battered and bandaged, Melkonian (197 pounds) and Sandlin (184), who will be wrestling their final matches for Moorpark, yearn for more.

Sandlin, a sophomore from Camarillo High, is 21-3 and eager to defend the state title he won last season.

Melkonian, a sophomore from Granada Hills High, is 17-4 and making his first appearance in the state final.

Sandlin has committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, while Melkonian is in search of a university that offers wrestling.

“I’ve had a lot of injuries, a lot of pain this season,” Melkonian said. “But I love wrestling and I want to go as long as I can go. You want to go to the highest. You want to be top dog.”

That pursuit, however, requires Spartan-like dedication. And while it motivates some wrestlers, it can lead to dangerous circumstances.

Sandlin, champion at 177 pounds last season, was hospitalized after a match in October because of dehydration caused by rapid weight loss.

A former linebacker and member of Camarillo’s 1996 Southern Section championship team, Sandlin chose wrestling over football at Moorpark because he craved the intense training of wrestling.

“Right now, I’m in physically good shape, no injuries,” Sandlin said. “I let myself go a little after last season and I paid for it. This year, the competition will be a little tougher. I think it will be harder.”

The 184-pound final could come down to a rubber match between Sandlin and Jason Rossotti of Fresno.

Rossotti defeated Sandlin, 9-7, in October moments before Sandlin collapsed. Sandlin earned a 14-6 victory over Rossotti last month.

“Chuck has the best chance,” Coach Paul Keysaw of Moorpark said. “This year has been a lot tougher. Last year, it was more of a dream team. This year, we’ve had more injuries, more adversity.”

Armando Torres (133) is the only other sophomore competing for Moorpark. The Raiders’ other entries are Dartanian Bagby (165), Craig Baldwin (141) and Ramon Rodriguez (149). Jaime Reyes (125) was selected as an alternate.

Junior College State Finals

Where: Moorpark College

When: Today and Saturday. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. Final round Saturday at 7.

Information: (805) 378-1457.