DENVER — The state wrestling tournaments continues on Friday at the Pepsi Center.
We have live coverage, beginning with quarterfinals in classes 2A and 3A at 10 a.m. The 4A and 5A quarterfinals begin at 12:45 p.m.
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Category: Boys Wrestling
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Trio of defending wrestling champs move down a class
Jimmy Fate of Berthoud and Dimitris Flores of Mullen wrestle in a 145-pound bout. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) DENVER — Sage Budd, Jimmy Fate and Seager Oliver found themselves in the same unique situation coming into this weekends state wrestling tournament. Each one of them is a defending 4A champion. This year, they’re all wrestling at the 3A.
Budd (Mead), Fate (Berthoud) and Oliver (Montezuma-Cortez) all wrestle at schools that dropped in classification for the 2014-15 school year. None of the wrestlers seemed to have any problems adjusting to the difference in classes as all three won their opening bouts and advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals.
“(I’ve noticed) there are different wrestling styles,” Budd said after his 4-0 decision victory. “Mostly during the season we wrestled 4A and 5A teams, so our schedule was pretty tough. The only time I had seen 3A was in regionals and some matches in between. The 3A wrestlers are no joke.”
As a defending champion, each wrestler knows they can’t take their competition lightly. But dropping in classification has given them a level of built-in confidence as they walked onto the floor at Pepsi Center.
And it showed when the whistles blew and their matches began. After Budd’s decision victory, Fate and Oliver both advanced via pinball.
Sage Budd of Mead and Kaylen Montoya of Lama wrestle. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) “For me it gives me a little bit of confidence,” Fate said. “When your able to go out there with that level of confidence and the other guy doesn’t have it, it gives you an advantage. It let’s me wrestle my style and inflict my style on my opponent.”
And inflict his style he did. In his first state match in the 3A class, Fate pinned Mullen’s Dimitris Flores at 1:13.
The ease of the victories in no way reflects that these three wrestlers will just coast their way to another state championship. An enrollment cutoff in the offseason evened the playing field in terms of the number of schools that would compete in each class. Under the old rules, there would have been 38 teams competing in 3A. With the new cutoff, 53 schools now compete at the 3A level.
It might be easy to look at these defending 4A champions advancing with ease and simply point to them competing at a lower class. But the reality for them and countless other wrestlers is that the 3A became significantly more difficult.
“Compared to last year, 3A was weak as (heck),” Oliver said. “It wasn’t even. But now 3A is a lot tougher.”
But not tough enough to deter the three defending champions from 4A. All three will be back at Pepsi Center for the 10 a.m. quarterfinals session.
It will be the second-straight day in which the wrestlers have had to adjust to starting in the early session. They had previously started later in the day with the 4A and 5A groups, which go on last in the first two days.
“It was a little more hectic after weigh-ins,” Fate said. “We tried to get into our hotel and we couldn’t so we got here late and were scrambling to get ready. But we got a good warmup in, so it overall wasn’t too much of a difference.”
Seager Oliver of Montezuma Cortez and Matt Snow of CS Christian wrestle during a 3A 182-pound bout. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) -
Buena Vista’s Wentz wants to write a new wrestling ending
Keegan Wentz of Buena Vista and Jusiv Edwards of Centennial wrestle in a 182-pounds bout. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) DENVER – Keegan Wentz is ready for his fortunes to change.
The Buena Vista junior, the top seed in the Class 2A state tournament at 182 pounds, has already experienced a whirlwind prep career. A year ago he fell in the 3A title match to Centauri’s Jareb Aziz, dropping an 8-3 decision.
In the fall, Wentz quarterbacked the Demons to the 1A football championship game, only to have Paonia emerge with a 21-7 victory. Those two setbacks, combined with a 2012 title-game defeat to Cedaredge, have driven Wentz to find a way to climb to the top.
“That definitely sparked something,” Wentz said Thursday after opening the 2A state tourney at Pepsi Center by pinning Centennial’s Jusiv Edwards in 1 minute, 3 seconds. “Three years through high school and I’ve lost three state championships. That’s a chip on my shoulder right there.
“Hopefully I can get it turned around and make the fourth one a good one.”
Buena Vista is tied for 11th place after the first day with 11.5 points. Rocky Ford is sitting in first with 30 points, followed by Centauri (29.5), Paonia (26), Meeker (19.5) and Swink (17.5).
Wentz takes his 34-1 record into Friday morning’s quarterfinals against Meeker junior Devon Pontine. A victory there would send him into Friday night’s semifinals.
“He’s been down here before, he’s not scared of the lights,” Buena Vista coach Jared Todd said. “He’s been in the moment before.”
Wentz isn’t the first quarterback to translate his skills onto the wrestling mat. Former Demons signal-caller Koby Close, a teammate of Wentz’s his freshman year, also competed in both sports.
Keegan Wentz of Buena Vista and Jusiv Edwards of Centennial wrestle in a 182-pounds bout. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) Wentz threw for 1,247 yards and 23 touchdowns to go along with 1,301 rushing yards and 18 more scores in the fall, helping Buena Vista get back to the championship game. Todd said that the junior is mentally strong and very intelligent, which has helped him succeed on the field and on the mat.
“There’s some advantages to it, but my mindset is a lot different. I don’t have to lead a whole team,” Wentz said of making the transition from quarterback to wrestler. “I’m not responsible for everybody, wrestling is an individual sport. I feel like I’m more on top of things when I come into wrestling because it’s just me rather than 11 guys.”
After falling to Aziz in the 195-pound title match, Wentz said he came back this winter more focused than ever. He dropped to 182 as the Demons moved down a classification.
“Losing that definitely affected my whole season,” Wentz said. “Every practice was 100 times better in my opinion. I’d say I worked twice as hard as I worked last year. I just knew if I trusted in the work I put in, it would pay off in the end.
“Hopefully we’ll see results here in a couple of days.”
Swink off to a strong start
To say that Swink senior Austin Coy has some added incentive to go out on top in his final state tournament is just a bit of an understatement.
Coy has advanced to the title match in each of his previous three seasons at state, only to fall just short each time. The Lions standout opened up Thursday afternoon with a pin in 1:09 over Fowler’s Sean Graham at 132 pounds to advance to the quarterfinals.
“Intensity in the room is a lot more since me and a lot of my teammates are all seniors,” Coy said. “We’ve definitely picked it up.”
In his first two seasons Coy fell by decisions of 2-0 (in overtime) and 1-0. A year ago it was Paonia’s Jesse Reed who emerged with a 6-4 decision to clinch his third state championship.
On Thursday Coy caught Graham in a headlock to advance to the quarters, where he’ll face Merino’s Marcelinio Baptista. He admitted it was nice to get the first match out of the way but added that the opening day of the tournament gets more enjoyable each year.
“The first time you come here you don’t have any fun because you’re just really nervous,” Coy said. “It’s part of the confidence, just relaxing and having fun with it.”
Also winning first-round matches for Swink were seniors Jaden Valdez-Barela (120 pounds), Noah Ferris (126), Blake Denton (145), and Seth Mills (160).Returning champs roll into quarters
The top seeds in 2A all pinned their way into the next round, with the quickest fall coming at 37 seconds from Akron’s Tanner Watson at 106 pounds.
Paonia senior Jesse Reed began his pursuit for a fourth consecutive state title with a first-period pin of Merino’s Remington Canfield at 126 pounds. Chasing a third championship, Meeker junior T.J. Shelton pinned Custer County’s Kody Aldrich in 1:18 and Aziz pinned Ellicott’s Avery Whitlock in 1:06.
Other returning state champions to advance were John Mall’s John Andreatta (120), Norwood/Nucla’s Talon Harris (120), Monte Vista’s Jose Duran (126), Paonia’s Bo Pipher (138), Swink’s Denton (145), Holly’s Ryan Nordyke and Paonia’s Zach Milner (160).
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Photos: State wrestling championships begin in 4A and 5A
DENVER — The Class 4A and 5A state wrestling championships got underway on Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
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Coronado’s Hankin has experienced it all at 5A state wrestling tourney
Coronado senior Jess Hankin, right, takes a shot on Thorton junior Wendell Berry during a first-round match during the Class 5A state wrestling tournament at 132 pounds Thursday night at Pepsi Center. Hankin took a 9-1 victory as he attempt to win his second individual state wrestling champions. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss) DENVER — Coronado senior Jess Hankin has run the gamut of emotion at the Class 5A state wrestling tournament.
Hankin has experienced failing to place on the podium, winning a state championship and then suffering a one-point loss in a title bout.
“I don’t think about my losses all the time,” Hankin said Thursday night after opening up his final prep state tournament with a 9-1 victory at 132 pounds against Thornton junior Wendell Berry. “I do think about what I did wrong and what I need to improve on. I use that to get me better in this situation and atmosphere. There is a lot more pressure involved then usual.”
Living in the now keeps Hankin focused on the task at hand as the lone wrestler in 5A attempting to win his second individual state championship after falling short his junior season.
“It’s pretty motivating,” Hankin said looking back on last year’s championship bout loss. “It’s nice to go out on a win.”
Coronado senior Jess Hankin has his arm raised after a 9-1 first-round victory Thursday night. Hankin lost in the 126-pound championship bout last season after winning a state title at 113 pounds his sophomore season. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss) As a freshman, Hankin got a taste winning on at mats at Pepsi Center. He finished with a 1-2 record at 103 pounds before a loss in a second-round consolation match ended his tournament.
Hankin’s sophomore season ended with the ultimate prize, a state championship at 113 pounds. Hankin upset top-seed Kyndall Rutz of ThunderRidge in the final 6-2 to end his remarkable three-day run.
Coming in as a returning state champion in 2014, Hankin advanced to the 126-pound champion bout but suffered a 1-0 loss to Cherry Creek’s Mitch Finesilver.
“I haven’t changed anything as far as my warm ups or routine,” Hankin said of his fourth trip down to Pepsi Center. “I just get focused on my match and think about what I’m going to do.”
Hankin’s four takedowns and escape against Berry on Thursday night was enough to earn the victory. However, the senior admitted he was a little frustrated about his first-round performance.
“My attitude is always to be dominate, no matter what and no matter who the opponent is,” Hankin said. “I felt like I didn’t wrestle to my full ability this round.”
Hankin faces Lakewood freshman Gabriel Dinette in the quarterfinals at 132 on Friday afternoon. An interesting twist could face Hankin if he advances to the final Saturday night. Cherry Creek junior Matt Finesilver, younger brother of Mitch who defeated Hankin last year in the 126-pound final, could be Hankin’s opponent.
“Everybody is going out to win this thing,” Hankin said about how he respects all his opponents. “Nobody is going to just sit down and let you win. You just have to keep going.”
Prairie View senior Keynan Davis grabs the foot of Denver East senior Maya Nelson during the Class 5A 120-pound match Thursday night. Davis won 5-2 in what was the fourth career bout against Nelson. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss) Denver East senior Maya Nelson’s goal is to be the first female to place in the top six at the state tournament. Nelson will have an uphill climb after losing to Prairie View senior Keynan Davis in the opening round at 120 pounds.
Davis had a key two-point takedown of Nelson at the close of the first period. He eventually held a 5-0 lead before Nelson got a takedown late to make the final score 5-2.
“Honestly, even though she is a girl I would say she is the second strongest person I’ve ever wrestled,” Davis said. “She is really strong.”
Nelson made history last 5A state tournament becoming the first female wrestler to win a first-round match. Two close two-point losses in the quarterfinals and second round of consolations prevented Nelson from standing on the podium.
It was actually the fourth meeting between Davis and Nelson over the past two years. Davis was able to even his record to 2-2 against Nelson with Thursday’s win.
“I knew that was how it was going to be because everyone loves Maya,” Davis said of hearing plenty of cheers for Nelson during the match. “She is a great wrestler. I knew everyone would be watching our match. I was just mentally prepared to go out there and be aggressive with her.”
There were no major first-round upsets in the 5A tournament. All six returning state champions from last season were victorious, including Grand Junction senior Jacob Trujillo who is attempting to become a three-time state champion.
Last year’s runner-up Pomona took a slight edge on Jeffco rival and defending state champion Arvada West in the team standings after Day 1. The Panthers racked up 24.5 points. A-West (24) stands in second and Pine Creek (18.5) sits in third. Grand Junction (18) is close behind in fourth with Chaparral (17.5) is fifth.
Denver East senior Maya Nelson (bottom) tries to get an escape during her first-round Class 5A state tournament match at 120 pounds Thursday night. Prairie View senior Keynan Davis managed a 5-2 victory. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss) -
West, of Greeley West wrestling, battles through injuries to chase crown
Dylan West of Greeley West puts a move on Alex Bezugly of ThunderRidge during a 138-pound 5A bout on Thursday at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) More photos. DENVER – This prep wrestling season didn’t go according to script for Dylan West – especially early.
The Greeley West senior, who finished third at the 2014 Class 5A state tournament at 126 pounds, missed the first part of the year with a back injury.
“I hurt it at Fargo (N.D.) Nationals last summer and I didn’t get to wrestle this season until the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament (Dec. 19-20 in Greeley),” West said.
West was making up for lost time and then had to sit out a few more matches after banging his head in a couple of matches, the last being at the Top of the Rockies Jan. 24 at Centaurus High School.
“It was tough missing the first part of the season, because I had to get in shape,” said West, who was never diagnosed with a concussion, but sat out some matches for precautionary reasons.
Rather than dwell on lost time, West is healthy now and focused on winning a coveted gold medal at the Class 5A state tournament.
“Wrestling is a more of mental sport to me than physical,” West said. “My injuries stopped me a little bit, but I knew I had to keep going.”
Alex Bezugly of ThunderRidge and Dylan West of Greeley West grabs hold of Alex Bezugly of ThunderRidge during Thursday’s first round. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) More photos. West began his championship quest by muscling past ThunderRidge’s Alex Bezugly 3-1 at 138 pounds Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
“I didn’t even know who I was facing my first match,” said West, who improved his season record to 25-7. “I don’t like looking at any of the brackets. I know someone is going to wrestle me and I was able to go out there and do my thing.”
West took a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:30 mark of the first period. Bezugly did get within 2-1 with 41 seconds left in the second, but West added an escape at 1:01 of the third for the final margin of victory.
“I definitely felt in control the entire time even though the score was close,” said West, who is ranked No. 4 by On the Mat.
Up next for West at 12:45 p.m. Friday is a quarterfinal match against Lincoln’s Seth Rosales (41-6). Rosales upset Adam City’s Elias Deaguero (34-11) 5-4 in the first round. Deaguero was ranked No. 6 by On the Mat.
“I’ve never wrestled Rosales,” the 5-foot-8 West said. “I just want to stay aggressive and get after it out there on the mat. I know I feel comfortable at (138 pounds) and I feel strong. It would sure mean a lot to me if I could win state. I’ve been working hard this whole season and I know I can accomplish that goal if I just do my best, and don’t let the big stage get to me.”
No matter what happens this weekend, West plans on continuing his wrestling career in college.
“I have not signed with anyone yet, but I want to stay in state,” said West, a three-time state qualifier. “I would like to major in psychology that’s something that really interest me.”
Wonder twin powers: There have been 72 state championship wrestling titles won by Pueblo prep wrestlers.
Despite all those gold medals, no wrestler from the Steel City has won back-to-back state titles as a freshman and sophomore.
That could change this weekend. Pueblo County’s fraternal twin brothers, sophomores Grant and Hunter Willits are on the right path to make history.
Hunter won state at 106 pounds in 4A last year and Grant was the 132-pound state winner and each scored convincing wins Thursday in the first round – Grant at 113 pounds and Hunter at 138 pounds. Both are also ranked No. 1 by On the Mat at their weights.
“It was real exciting to win state, and then to do it with my twin brother made it even more special,” Hunter said. “I don’t think there’s any pressure on my brother and I this year (at state). We are just going to go out there and wrestle the best that we can.”
Pin master: Glenwood Springs’ Christian Gonzales is 44-0 and more impressive is all his victories – with the exception of forfeits – have come via pins. Gonzales improved to 45-0 Thursday night with, what else, a pin of Denver South’s Casey Seppelt.
Gonzales was 24-1 a year ago, but missed regionals with an injury and thus was unable to compete at state.
Cristian Gonzalez of Glenwood Springs tries to pin Casey Seppelt of Denver South during a 195-pound 4A first-round bout, Thursday at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com) More photos. -
Replay: State wrestling tournament continues on Day 2
DENVER — The state wrestling tournaments continues on Friday at the Pepsi Center.
We have live coverage, beginning with quarterfinals in classes 2A and 3A at 10 a.m. The 4A and 5A quarterfinals begin at 12:45 p.m.
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Photos: Class 2A and 3A state wrestling quarterfinals
DENVER — The Class 2A and 3A state wrestling quarterfinals got underway on Friday at the Pepsi Center.
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Photos: Class 4A and 5A state wrestling quarterfinals
DENVER — The Class 4A and 5A state wrestling quarterfinals got underway on Friday at the Pepsi Center.
Full coverage:
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Replay: State wrestling tournament begins on Day 1
DENVER — The state wrestling tournaments kick off on Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
We have live coverage, beginning with classes 2A and 3A at 3 p.m. The 4A and 5A championships begin at 7 p.m.
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