COLORADO SPRINGS – For years, the Colorado Springs Metros wrestling tournament has been one of the marquee wrestling events in the city.
For the first time, the girls got into the fray as the Metros returned after being absent in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the last time the tournament was held at Doherty High School, girls wrestling has been officially sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association and administrators were quick to add the girls division to the tournament.
It was seen as a rousing success as Doherty brought home the team championship after winning three individual championships.
“I’m so happy because as girls we’re finally getting this recognition,” 127-pound champion Sarah Savidge said. “This sport is going so much and I’m so happy that we got to have a Metros championship before I graduated. Every time we’ve ran this tournament it’s always been for the boys and I’ve always wanted to wrestle here because it’s so exciting.”
And it serves as a major piece of preparation for next month’s state tournament. Dual meets can certainly contribute to the development of a wrestler through the course of the season, but a tournament like Metros serves so many functions.
A big-tournament atmosphere is something that these girls should be experiencing before heading to regionals to try and qualify for next month’s state tournament at Ball Arena. The energy that the girls felt through the course of Saturday’s championship matches only fueled their anticipation of what awaits them in Denver.
“I’m super excited for state,” freshman Katey Valdez said. “I have to keep training and keep practicing.”
Last year’s inaugural state tournament was a landmark event in Colorado. But this year will have a special feeling as it returns to the site that fans have flocked to for years. Getting to compete on that stage will give this year’s tournament a fresh feel for the girls.
“It feels normal,” Valdez said. “Now that it’s normal it’s super fun and it beats having to wrestle the boys.”
Valdez was Doherty’s first winner of the night, taking the 100-pound championship. Naomi Kidd followed it up with a win at 118 before Savidge capped the Spartans’ banner night with a win in 127.
The Doherty gym was packed with fans giving the girls every bit the energy that was given to the boys. It was the energy in the building that may have given them just as much preparation for state as the actual competition on the mat.
“Really exciting events like this, not only are they fun, but this helps us feel what a proper season feels like,” Savidge said. “This feels great and I’m really that we’re back here and it feels back to normal.”
Discovery Canyon also had a winner in Mia Hargrove at 105 and Palmer Ridge’s Aspen Barber got her biggest win of the season as she pinned Discovery Canyon’s Victoria Guinard to claim the 147-pound title. The loss for Guinard was her first of the season.
Teams will compete for a few more weeks before heading to regionals on Feb. 11 and 12 where they’ll try to qualify for state.
