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Tag: Berthoud

  • Tee times for 5A and 4A girls golf state championships

    Tee times for the first day of girls golf’s state championships in 2016.

    The tournaments for both classifications run May 23-24. Class 5A is held in Aurora, and 4A is in Pueblo.

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    Tee times: 5A | 4A

    Class 5A

    CommonGround Golf Course (Aurora)
    Time Hole Player School
    8:30 am 1 Melia Buckton Legend
    8:30 am 1 Allie Garcia Coronado
    8:30 am 1 Alix Mees Cherokee Trail
    8:30 am 10 Paige Gentry Fossil Ridge
    8:30 am 10 Brooke Kramer Cherokee Trail
    8:30 am 10 Caitlin O’Donnell Grandview
    8:39 am 1 Madi Eurich Coronado
    8:39 am 1 Sarah MacDonald Liberty
    8:39 am 1 Nicole Tedesco Douglas County
    8:39 am 10 Hannah Doran Loveland
    8:39 am 10 Kayla Elder Fossil Ridge
    8:39 am 10 Morgan Ryan Grandview
    8:48 am 1 Kendra George Heritage
    8:48 am 1 Liina Neitenbach Monarch
    8:48 am 1 Amanda Westrick Thornton
    8:48 am 10 Amy Chitkoksoong Grandview
    8:48 am 10 Cammie Fowler Fossil Ridge
    8:48 am 10 Lauren Lehigh Loveland
    8:57 am 1 Delaney Benson Heritage
    8:57 am 1 Sophie Nelsen Fairview
    8:57 am 1 Emma Teuton Monarch
    8:57 am 10 Aili Bundy Loveland
    8:57 am 10 Leigha Devine Fossil Ridge
    8:57 am 10 Morgan Sahm Grandview
    9:06 am 1 Delaney Elliott Monarch
    9:06 am 1 Gabby Esquibel Heritage
    9:06 am 1 Kelsey Webster Fairview
    9:06 am 10 Sloane Cape Highlands Ranch
    9:06 am 10 Hope Kim Broomfield
    9:06 am 10 Kelley Yoshihara Legacy
    9:15 am 1 Carly Gallant Monarch
    9:15 am 1 Joanna Kempton Heritage
    9:15 am 1 Madison McCambridge Fairview
    9:15 am 10 Andrea Hoos Legacy
    9:15 am 10 Anna Roh Broomfield
    9:15 am 10 Izzy Ruiz Highlands Ranch
    9:24 am 1 Stephanie Bang Cherry Creek
    9:24 am 1 Sydney Eye Ralston Valley
    9:24 am 1 Olivia Roper Denver East
    9:24 am 10 Jenna Chun Highlands Ranch
    9:24 am 10 Jennifer Hankins Legacy
    9:24 am 10 Maddie Kern Broomfield
    9:33 am 1 Elena Barboza Denver East
    9:33 am 1 Hannah Fey Cherry Creek
    9:33 am 1 Lexi Mueldener Ralston Valley
    9:33 am 10 Elizabeth Pendleton Pine Creek
    9:33 am 10 Jacq Pepper Arapahoe
    9:33 am 10 Hannah Thornburg Fruita-Monument
    9:42 am 1 Julia Baroth Denver East
    9:42 am 1 Riley McKibbon Ralston Valley
    9:42 am 1 Lexi Ringsby Cherry Creek
    9:42 am 10 Christine Attai Arapahoe
    9:42 am 10 Charlotte Cliatt Palmer
    9:42 am 10 Halley McDonald Pine Creek
    9:51 am 1 Payton Canon Cherry Creek
    9:51 am 1 Sarah Hunt Denver East
    9:51 am 1 Jordan Remley Ralston Valley
    9:51 am 10 Elly Carlson Pine Creek
    9:51 am 10 Emma Hesse Lakewood
    9:51 am 10 Beth Lebar Arapahoe
    10:00 am 1 Brooke Pulver Regis Jesuit
    10:00 am 1 Miranda Schiffbauer Arvada West
    10:00 am 1 Naura Taqiya Rock Canyon
    10:00 am 10 Grace Linderman Mountain Vista
    10:00 am 10 Katie Malcolm Chaparral
    10:00 am 10 Tess Mitchell Columbine
    10:09 am 1 Alexis Chan Rock Canyon
    10:09 am 1 Leigh Robinson Arvada West
    10:09 am 1 Ali Timlin Regis Jesuit
    10:09 am 10 Avery Hill Central-GJ
    10:09 am 10 Callie Kloenne Castle View
    10:09 am 10 Leia Vadeen Northglenn
    10:18 am 1 Amelia Lee Rock Canyon
    10:18 am 1 Reagan Robinson Arvada West
    10:18 am 1 Mary Weinstein Regis Jesuit
    10:18 am 10 Zarena Brown Pomona
    10:18 am 10 Bailey Summers Central-GJ
    10:18 am 10 Duval Sutherland Legend
    10:27 am 1 Brandy McClain Rock Canyon
    10:27 am 1 Jaclyn Murray Regis Jesuit
    10:27 am 1 Ali Peper Arvada West
    10:27 am 10 Tabitha Diehl Mountain Vista
    10:27 am 10 Arielle Keating Rampart
    10:27 am 10 Amisha Singh Smoky Hill


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    Class 4A

    Pueblo Country Club
    Time Hole Player School
    8:30 am 1 McKenna Eddy Elizabeth
    8:30 am 1 Kelsey Rodrigue Mesa Ridge
    8:30 am 10 Autumn Brown Wray
    8:30 am 10 Sarah Rhodes Pueblo West
    8:39 am 1 Kenzie Fontana The Classical Academy
    8:39 am 1 Ashley Macaluso Trinidad
    8:39 am 1 Meghan Witt Mullen
    8:39 am 10 Sam Caricato Pueblo West
    8:39 am 10 Audrey Gunlikson Skyline
    8:39 am 10 Halle Holmes Ponderosa
    8:48 am 1 MaKenzie Andert Mesa Ridge
    8:48 am 1 Alana Hackett Alamosa
    8:48 am 1 Rachel Shaffer Rye
    8:48 am 10 Jorie Anaya Pueblo Centennial
    8:48 am 10 Dani Ortonword Manitou Springs
    8:48 am 10 Madi Rifkin Kent Denver
    8:57 am 1 Shannon Bocquet Discovery Canyon
    8:57 am 1 Brianna Choman Alamosa
    8:57 am 1 Jayden Muro Windsor
    8:57 am 10 Grace Gunlikson Skyline
    8:57 am 10 Faith Mewmaw Durango
    8:57 am 10 Keena Strope Niwot
    9:06 am 1 Jolene Carrica Swink
    9:06 am 1 Emma Moser Northridge
    9:06 am 1 Kinsey Smith Windsor
    9:06 am 10 Nicole Matthews Eagle Valley
    9:06 am 10 Claire McPeak Niwot
    9:06 am 10 Lorenza Rios Pueblo Central
    9:15 am 1 Erin Baum Frederick
    9:15 am 1 Alli Brown Northridge
    9:15 am 1 Jessica Zapf Windsor
    9:15 am 10 Vanessa Johnson Vista Ridge
    9:15 am 10 Courtney Kauffman Standley Lake
    9:15 am 10 Bailey Reed Wray
    9:24 am 1 Nicole Cherry Montrose
    9:24 am 1 Sarah Johnson Windsor
    9:24 am 1 Caitlyn Olson Northridge
    9:24 am 10 Haley Owens Pueblo South
    9:24 am 10 Larissa Roberts Bishop Machebeuf
    9:24 am 10 Dolores Sharaf Aspen
    9:33 am 1 Addie Ekhoff Ponderosa
    9:33 am 1 Corylyn Fetty Pueblo County
    9:33 am 1 Olivia Lopez Vista Peak
    9:33 am 10 Aryn McLaughlin Thompson Valley
    9:33 am 10 Emma Robinson Pueblo Centennial
    9:33 am 10 Cheyanne Williams Cedaredge
    9:42 am 1 Sam Chaney Vista Peak
    9:42 am 1 Sydney Houghton Pueblo County
    9:42 am 1 Caitlin Morgan Rifle
    9:42 am 10 Isabella Morfe Valor Christian
    9:42 am 10 Lauren Murphy Glenwood Springs
    9:42 am 10 Alyson Shuman Palisade
    9:51 am 1 Samantha Colletti Pueblo County
    9:51 am 1 Kylee Shepard Vista Peak
    9:51 am 1 Masi Smith Rifle
    9:51 am 10 Molli Boruff Berthoud
    9:51 am 10 Sarah Hwang St. Mary’s
    9:51 am 10 Kellsey Sample Palmer Ridge
    10:00 am 1 Kyree Conaway Vista Peak
    10:00 am 1 Danyka Fetty Pueblo County
    10:00 am 1 Elly Walters Rifle
    10:00 am 10 Makayla Dahl Valor Christian
    10:00 am 10 Leah Donnelly Wheat Ridge
    10:00 am 10 Meaghan Ireland Florence
    10:09 am 1 Casey Fetters Cheyenne Mountain
    10:09 am 1 Trinity Goderstad Colorado Academy
    10:09 am 1 Alex Hanley Montrose
    10:09 am 10 Natalie Holley Evergreen
    10:09 am 10 Sophia Montoya Pueblo South
    10:09 am 10 Ashlee Sample Palmer Ridge
    10:18 am 1 Ellie Broker Cheyenne Mountain
    10:18 am 1 Cassie Kneen Colorado Academy
    10:18 am 1 Samantha McConnell Golden
    10:18 am 10 Kelsey McKenna Air Academy
    10:18 am 10 Hannah More Mullen
    10:18 am 10 Taylor Sandoval Eagle Valley
    10:27 am 1 Maxine Choi Cheyenne Mountain
    10:27 am 1 Kacey Godwin Colorado Academy
    10:27 am 1 Makena Prey Golden
    10:27 am 10 Marin Halvorsen Kent Denver
    10:27 am 10 Kiselya Plewe Dolores
    10:27 am 10 Erin Sargent Silver Creek
    10:36 am 1 Regina Dillon Cheyenne Mountain
    10:36 am 1 Caroline Jordaan Colorado Academy
    10:36 am 1 Sydney Prey Golden

  • Photos: Holy Family baseball bats come alive in fifth inning in win over Berthoud

    BROOMFIELD — A four-run fifth inning helped Holy Family move to 3-0 as the Tigers topped Berthoud 6-4.

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  • All-state wrestling teams for 2015-16 season

    State wrestling tournament Pepsi Center generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    The 2015-16 all-state wrestling teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

    These teams were created based upon results at the state meet. Coaches of the year were selected by team performance at the state meet, as well.

    Wrestlers of the year were determined by a formula which took the following information into account: season record; season winning percentage; type of wins at state (pin, tech fall, major decision); and strength of a weight classification’s bracket.

    Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.

    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A


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    Class 5A

    Wrestler of the year: Ryan Deakin, Legacy

    Coach of the year: Sam Federico, Pomona

    First Team
    Name School Year Weight
    Dawson Cranmer Chaparral Senior 170
    Ryan Deakin Legacy Senior 138
    Gabriel Dinette Lakewood Sophomore 145
    Jacob Greenwood Poudre Sophomore 132
    Fabian Gutierrez Adams City Senior 113
    Malik Heinselman Castle View Sophomore 106
    Peter Isais Pine Creek Junior 160
    Jordan Martinez Pine Creek Junior 120
    Garrett Niel Pine Creek Sophomore 182
    Josiah Rider Grand Junction Sophomore 152
    Theorius Robison Pomona Freshman 126
    Trenton Schultz Mountain Vista Junior 195
    Cohl Schultz Ponderosa Freshman 220
    Clayton Voytilla Fruita Senior 285


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    Class 4A

    Wrestler of the year: Parker Simington, Thompson Valley

    Coach of the year: Eddie Soto, Pueblo County

    First Team
    Name School Year Weight
    Andrew Alirez Greeley Central Freshman 120
    Deric Cruz Mesa Ridge Junior 195
    Justin Davis Pueblo County Junior 132
    Samuel Freeman Mesa Ridge Senior 145
    Dante Garcia Pueblo County Sophomore 182
    Alex Mai Fort Morgan Senior 220
    Toby McBride Fort Morgan Senior 285
    Parker Simington Thompson Valley Senior 160
    Jace Trujillo Pueblo East Freshman 113
    Sam Turner Discovery Canyon Senior 138
    Will Vombaur Windsor Freshman 106
    Grant Willits Pueblo County Junior 126
    Hunter Willits Pueblo County Junior 152
    Myles Wilson Glenwood Springs Junior 170


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    Class 3A

    Wrestler of the year: Jimmy Fate, Berthoud

    Coach of the year: Mike Caciari, Valley

    First Team
    Name School Year Weight
    Ricky Ayala Sheridan Junior 220
    Kyle Cisneros Jefferson Junior 126
    Zach Damian Valley Senior 145
    Isaiah DeLaCerda Alamosa Junior 113
    Sam deSeriere Mullen Junior 285
    Chad Ellis Berthoud Senior 195
    Jimmy Fate Berthoud Senior 160
    Macoy Flanagan Valley Senior 170
    Brendon Garcia Dolores Huerta Freshman 106
    Jacob Jimenez Olathe Senior 152
    Michael Johnson Lamar Senior 132
    Dalton Robertson Weld Central Senior 182
    Jody Sandoval II Fort Lupton Junior 120
    Aaron Trujillo Valley Junior 138


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    Class 2A

    Wrestler of the year: TJ Shelton, Meeker

    Coach of the year: JC Watt, Meeker

    First Team
    Name School Year Weight
    Brandon Anderson Sedgwick County/Fleming Senior 195
    Sabyn Diamond Buena Vista Senior 160
    Keith Dunagan Crowley County Junior 285
    Morgan Fogg Highland Senior 126
    Jeremy Fraser Rocky Ford Senior 132
    Britton Holmes Peyton Junior 138
    Quinton Montague Centauri Junior 120
    Bo Pipher Paonia Senior 145
    Devon Pontine Meeker Senior 182
    Jacob Rodriguez Rocky Ford Junior 106
    TJ Shelton Meeker Senior 170
    Casey Turner Meeker Junior 152
    Tanner Watson Akron Senior 113
    Keegan Wentz Buena Vista Senior 220

  • Photos: Boade helps Valor Christian girls basketball reach 4A Great 8

    HIGHLANDS RANCH — Top-seeded Valor Christian girls basketball had four players in double figures as the Eagles returned to the Class 4A Great 8 with a 68-36 win over No. 4 Berthoud.

    Tess Boade had 15 points to lead Valor Christian, Heidi Hammond added 14, Kim Childress had 11, and Madison McCoy scored 10.

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  • 3A wrestling: Robertson, Fate claim third championships; Valley claims team title

    Dalton Robertson Weld Central state wrestling
    Weld Central’s Dalton Robertson. More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    DENVER — After securing the 106-pound state championship in Class 4A as a freshman, Weld Central’s Dalton Robertson had an ambitious vision.

    As wrestlers mature over the course of their prep careers, naturally they tend to move up in weight classes. But Robertson wanted to go from one extreme to the other.

    “My goal since my freshman year after winning 106 was, for my senior year, to win that heavyweight,” the senior said. “I wanted to be the first person to win the lightest weight and then the heaviest weight. I fell a little short, but I guess 182 isn’t bad.”

    Robertson, a soon-to-be Northern Colorado Bear, won bookend state crowns, along with another his junior season, to cap off a storied career with three state championships in four seasons by defeating La Junta’s William Tyler 3-0. He also placed fifth in the 126-pound division in 4A in 2014 and won the 160-pound division in 3A in 2015.

    While Robertson wasn’t the only state champion to repeat on Saturday at the Pepsi Center — five of six defending champions won again in 3A — Robertson’s wrestling journey has been particularly uncommon.

    “It’s something that’s very unheard of,” Weld Central coach Jason Schellenberg said. “I think there’s a kid in California that graduated a few years back that jumped from 106 to 182, but I don’t think it’s ever happened in Colorado with that big of a jump — with undefeated seasons especially.”

    Just as Robertson crossed classifications and won at multiple levels, Berthoud senior Jimmy Fate did the same during his illustrious career for the Spartans. As a sophomore, he topped all competitors in the 138-pound division in 4A. As a junior, he conquered 145 in 3A.

    Finally, in his state tournament finale, Fate pinned Steamboat Springs sophomore Hayden Johnson in a mere 55 seconds for the 160-pound title to solidify his place in history as a three-time state champion.

    “It’s probably the weirdest one that I’ve won just because I’m actually done now,” Fate said. “It feels great. I’m just kind of reflecting on all the people that have helped me get to where I am today. It chokes me up a little bit.”

    Fate, another University of Northern Colorado signee, posted a 44-2 record in his senior year for Berthoud.

    “The first one was real sweet, but I’m glad to get this one taken care of,” he said. “It just feels good to get this third one and close it out right.”

    Alamosa junior Isaiah DeLaCerda (38-5, 113), Fort Lupton junior Jody Sandoval II (42-2, 120) and Berthoud senior Chad Ellis (33-2, 195) filled out the group of five that won at least back-to-back crowns. Dolores Huerta senior Marcus Garcia was the only defending champion to get taken down as he was defeated 3-2 by Sheridan junior Ricky Ayala (42-3) at 220. Freshman Brendon Garcia of Dolores Huerta went unbeaten, 41-0, with an 8-1 decision over Brush’s Caleb Cox at 106.

    State wrestling
    Valley won the 3A team championship. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    As for the chase for the team title, Valley overcame all challengers for their third consecutive 3A championship with 144 points.

    Dolores Huerta was the runner-up with 119.5 points, Berthoud was third with 97.5, and Olathe was fourth with 94.

    The Vikings from Gilcrest, coached by veteran Mike Caciari, have now won three titles in wrestling and 16 total titles in the school’s history.

    The championship finals actually began with a defeat for Valley, sophomore Brandon Damian was beaten by Lamar senior Michael Johnson 9-7 in the 132-pound class, but the Vikings remained poised.

    In the 170 finals, senior Macoy Flanagan tied the Colorado record for most wins in a single season by going 51-0 with an 8-5 victory over Holy Family junior Kolsen Welham.

    “He’s just been dominating all year,” Caciari said. “I don’t think he’s been taken down once. He’s a great leader. That’s one of the reasons we win all these things, because he’s such a great leader.”

    “It’s truly cool,” Caciari added about a trio of titles. “Every one of them has been a little different. This wasn’t decided until the finals.

    “I think we just have a lot of kids who really buy in. They work really hard and they are tough, so they can be pushed hard and won’t quit. Not all kids are like that, so we have special boys.”

    Junior Aaron Trujillo (48-3, 138) and senior Zach Damian (35-8, 145) also completed their weekends with gold medals for Valley. Kyle Cisneros of Jefferson (126), Jacob Jimenez of Olathe (152) and Sam deSeriere of Mullen (285) triumphed in 3A as well.

  • State wrestling semifinals: T.J. Shelton set to wrestle for a fourth title

    TJ Shelton Meeker wrestling
    Meeker’s T.J. Shelton, left, will wrestle for a fourth state title on Saturday night after winning in the semifinals on Friday. More photos. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    DENVER — T.J. Shelton will have a shot at a fourth-straight wrestling championship on Saturday night.

    Shelton, the Meeker senior who has won titles his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, pinned Paonia’s Jeramiah Hillman in the semifinals of the Class 2A 170-pound bracket at the state wrestling tournament on Friday night. The match lasted 3 minutes and 58 seconds.

    Now, Shelton has a chance to join elite company and become the state’s 19th four-time champion. He will face Centauri’s Chris Martin in the final.

    Shelton has advanced to the finals with three pins, including a match earlier Friday in the quarterfinals.

    Two sets of twin brothers advance to Saturday’s finals

    Matt Finesilver Cherry Creek state wrestling
    Matt Finesilver gets his arm raised after winning his 152-pound semifinal match. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    The first person ton congratulate Cherry Creek senior Matt Finesilver on his win in the 5A 152-pound semifinal match was his twin brother, Josh.

    Both Finesilver brothers will be wrestling for state titles Saturday night. Josh had advanced earlier in the 126-pound bracket and is looking to win his first championship.

    Matt won the 152-pound title last year.

    “It’s pretty awesome,” Matt said. “I probably get more nervous to watch his matches than I do to wrestle in mine.”

    If the post-match behavior is any indicator, Josh probably feels the same way. Having already advanced, Josh was pacing around like a madman as he waited on his brother.

    In 4A, another set of twin brothers will be trying to bring home individual titles. Grant and Hunter Willits each won state championships in 2014, but Grant was disqualified last year after missing weight the morning of quarterfinals.

    On track for three titles

    Heading into Friday night’s semifinals, there were eight wrestlers who had a chance to win three titles. After the semis, all eight of those remain on track.

    John Mall junior Jonathan Andreatta narrowly advanced to the championship match in 2A 120 with a 6-3 win over Moises Juarez of Monte Vista.

    Pueblo County’s Hunter Willits, another junior, also won, as mentioned above via his 14-1 major decision.

    The six others? Well, all pinned their respective opponents:

    • Paonia’s Bo Pipher (2A 145) over Highland’s Bryson Fogg in three minutes.
    • Berthoud’s Jimmy Fate (3A 160) beat Sergio Campos of Hotchkiss in 1:16.
    • Dalton Robertson of Weld Central (3A 182) pinned Sterling’s Patrick Holtzhauser in 1:49.
    • Sam Turner of Discovery Canyon (4A 138) beat Thompson Valley’s Braydon Besse in 1:04.
    • Fort Morgan’s Toby McBride (4A 285) fell Montrose’s Sam Distel in 29 seconds.
    • Parker Simington of Thompson Valley (4A 160) over Pueblo East’s Zion Freeman in 2:25.

    Pomona’s Tomas Gutierrez also entered the tournament with two previous championships, but he fell in the quarterfinals of 5A’s 120-pound bracket.

    How other returning champions fared

    Aside from that group, every other returning champion that was alive entering the semifinals advanced to a final.

    That means that on Saturday evening, a total of 24 wrestlers will have a chance to repeat as champions. The breakdown is as follows: There are six returning wrestlers still alive in both 2A and 3A, nine from 4A, and three remaining in 5A.

    Barker’s tournament comes to an end

    Kaley Barker, the seventh girl to qualify for the state wrestling tournament, was eliminated from the competition with a loss to Thompson Valley’s Kasey Gault in the second round of the consolation bracket of the 4A 106 field.

    Gault won, 11-5.

    Barker became just the fourth girl to win a match at the tournament in the first round of the consolation bracket on Friday morning.

    Team race update

    The closest race is shaping up to be in 2A, where Centauri and Meeker head into Saturday tied with 110 points. Centauri has four finalists, and Meeker has three. And, of course, the two teams will face off in the 170-pound final as Shelton seeks his fourth championship.

    Narrowly behind them in third place is Rocky Ford with 104.5 points.

    In 3A, two-time defending champion Valley looks to have a firm grip. The Vikings lead the field with 112 points, ahead of second-place Dolores Huerta’s 91.5.

    Pueblo County continues to head the 4A race, and now has 157 points. Greeley Central is second with 105.

    Likewise, Pomona has held firm in 5A with 100 points. Pine Creek has 78 points, and is second. Legacy is third with 74.

    Notables

    • Highland senior Morgan Fogg advanced to the final in 2A’s 126-pound bracket with a pin of Paonia’s Sackett Chesnik in 3:46. He is actually a defending champion, having won 4A’s 113 title last season while at Thompson Valley. Fogg transferred to Highland.
    • Buena Vista’s Keegan Wentz pinned his opponent, Ethan Barnes of Norwood/Nucla in 15 seconds in the 2A 220 semifinals to reach the final. Wentz is a returning champion, having won 2A’s 182 title last season.
    • Centauri’s Zach Martin ended a perfect season for Merino’s Trevor Elliott in the 2A 106 semifinals with a 6-0 decision. Elliott is now 33-1. Martin will wrestle for a title on Saturday.
    • Another unbeaten lost for the first time when Widefield’s Kris Davis beat Aron Pino Valenzuela of Littleton in sudden victory. Davis will wrestle for a title in 4A’s 220-pound division.
    • Here is a look at Saturday’s schedule.

    More coverage

  • State wrestling notebook: Shelton, seeking fourth title, wins first match

    Meeker's T.J. Shelton. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    Meeker’s TJ Shelton, pictured shortly after his opening-round win on Thursday. More photos from the first day of state wrestling. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    DENVER — Meeker’s TJ Shelton opened his quest for a fourth title with a pin of Wiggins’ Dillon Donaghy in 49 seconds in the first round of Thursday’s Class 2A state wrestling tournament.

    Shelton, who wrestles at 170 pounds, will face Edgar Pedigo of Custer County in Friday’s quarterfinals. Pedigo pinned Rhett Uhland of Eads in 4:22.

    Shelton won 2A’s 170-point title as a freshman, 160 pounds as a sophomore, and 170 again as a junior last season.

    He is aiming to become the state’s 19th four-time champion.

    Last season, Paonia’s Jesse Reed won a fourth championship, and Broomfield’s Phil Downing did the same in 2014. Only once before has the state has had a four-time champion in three-consecutive tournaments. The came in 2003-05, when a total of five wrestlers accomplished the feat.

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    Willits makes triumphant return to state

    Pueblo County Grant Willits wrestling
    Grant Willits. More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Grant Willits has a lot to prove this year.

    The junior from Pueblo County came into the 2015 state wrestling tournament with his eyes on taking his second state championship. But when weigh-ins took place, Willits missed his cut by a tenth of a pound and was disqualified.

    Thursday he made a triumphant return to the floor at Pepsi Center and pinned Littleton’s Poe Di in the 4A 126-pound bracket.

    “It feels nice,” Willits said. “I definitely feel like I have a chip on my shoulder. This whole summer I just thought about it all the time and worked harder and harder to make up for what happened last year and try to chase a title this year.”

    Willits will face Riley Prough from Glenwood Springs in Friday’s quarterfinals.

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    Returning champions, unbeatens roll on

    • In addition to Shelton, each of the other returning champions in every class advanced to the quarterfinals during the first session at the Pepsi Center. There are a total of 26 — six each in class 2A and 3A, nine in 4A, and five in 5A.
    • Included in that group are two juniors who have each won championships in their first two seasons: John Mall’s Jonathan Andreatta (2A 120), and Pueblo County’s Hunter Willits (4A 152).
    • Likewise, all wrestlers who entered the day unbeaten stayed that way. There are five undefeated wrestlers in both 2A and 4A, and three in 3A. The 5A tournament does not have an unbeaten in its field.

    Quick pins, total pins

    • 40 wrestlers finished with pins in less than a minute during the first round on Thursday. Of those, 12 came in less than 30 seconds.
    • The quickest pin of the day belonged to Sergio Campos of Hotchkiss, who took down Calhan’s Matthew Heitmann in 15 seconds at 2A 106. The record for the quickest pin is four seconds.
    • In the first round of each of the four tournaments, there were a total of 213 pins. By class, 2A had the most first-round pins with 68, 4A had 52, 3A had 51, and 5A had 42

    Team races

    • In 2A, defending champion Rocky Ford leads the field at Round 1 with 30.5 points. Meeker, runner-up a year ago, was second with 28. Centauri is third with 25.
    • The 3A race is also being led by a defending champion in Valley, which sits at 30 points after the first round. Berthoud is currently in second (24 points), and Dolores Huerta is third (22).
    • Pueblo County jumped out ahead in the 4A team race, and leads with 34.5 points. The Hornets were runner-up last season. Greeley Central is second with 29.5, Cheyenne Mountain is third with 25, and defending champion Thompson Valley sits fourth with 19.5.
    • Pomona heads the 5A race with 27 points. Legacy and Pine Creek sit in a tie for second with 21 points, Ponderosa is fourth with 16.5, and Poudre is fifth with 15.5.

    Friday’s schedule

    • The 2A/3A championship quarterfinals will begin at 10 a.m. at the Pepsi Center, with first-round consolations immediately following.
    • The 4A/5A championship quarterfinals are scheduled for 12:45 p.m., against with first-round consolations immediately following.
    • Semifinals in all classes are scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
    • Find a complete schedule here.

    Notables

    • Berthoud’s Christian Kalinoski beat Eaton’s Hayden Gavette 2-1 in a match that went three overtimes in the 3A 106-pound bracket.
    • Estes Parks’ Eric Todd also had a three-OT win, beating Coal Ridge’s Jacx Power 8-7 in 3A 160.
    • One other match went to overtime: Highland’s Bryson Fogg beat Meeker’s Hunter Garcia in 2A 145.
    • Fort Morgan’s Toby McBride, a CSU football recruit, pinned Wheat Ridge’s Nikolos Schnebly in 27 seconds. McBride is a two-time champion.

    More coverage

  • Meeker’s T.J. Shelton chasing opportunity to join elite four-time champions club

    Colorado state wrestling
    T.J. Shelton of Meeker (top) has a chance to become Colorado’s 19th four-time wrestling champion this weekend. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    [dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne year ago, Meeker’s T.J. Shelton had the opportunity to witness the whirlwind weekend belonging to Jesse Reed.

    Reed had the spotlight shining bright upon him last February at the state wrestling tournament in Denver. The Paonia senior became the 18th individual to capture four state championships, and moments after winning, received a standing ovation while accepting his medal.

    Not long after, Shelton further cemented his own bid to join the four-timers club by capturing his third consecutive crown on the very same mat. Now, headed into this weekend’s state tournament at Pepsi Center in Denver, Shelton is just four victories away from joining Reed and 17 others in cementing his name into the record books.

    “I’m sure its been in the back of his mind, probably since he won it as a freshman,” Meeker coach JC Watt said. “I think anytime anyone wins state as a freshman the four-time talk certainly creeps into your head.”

    Shelton brings a 38-1 record into the Class 2A 170-pound bracket. The tournament gets underway Thursday afternoon with 3A and 2A running first-round matches at 3 p.m., followed by the 5A and 4A classes at 7:15 p.m.

    Quarterfinals are Friday morning, with the semifinals running at 7:15 that night. The Parade of Champions, which precedes the championship finals, is at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

    The previous two state tournaments have each seen a wrestler claim a fourth title. Broomfield’s Phil Downing accomplished the feat in 2014, and Reed did the same a year ago.

    Since 2003, 10 wrestlers have joined the four-timers club. In 2004 and 2005, a pair of four-time champions were crowned.

    That said, winning four in a row is a hurdle most do not get the chance to clear. After all, it says something that only 18 individuals have wrestled their way to the top since Montrose’s Bob Thompson first did it from 1956-59.

    “There’s just so many things – injuries, grades, all kinds of stuff has to be taken into account,” Watt said. “Winning one of them is hard. Winning four of them is a monumental task.”

    Meeker brings 10 state qualifiers to Denver this weekend. The Cowboys finished second to Rocky Ford a year ago by just three points.

    Watt said the squad isn’t going to be consumed by how many points are accumulated during the tournament.

    “We kind of look at it a little different. Each kid does their best,” Watt said. “We don’t put a lot of pressure on the kids over the team title. We just ask each kid to go out and do their best and the team score takes care of itself.”

    Rocky Ford leads 2A with 12 state qualifiers headed into Pepsi Center. Hotchkiss brings 11, followed by Centauri and Meeker with 10 each. John Mall junior Jonathan Andreatta (120 pounds) and Paonia senior Bo Pipher (145) are each seeking a third state title.

    [divider]

    Class 5A

    After finishing as the runner-up in each of the previous two state tournaments, Pomona is in a good position to come away with its first crown since 2013. The Panthers lead all 5A programs with 12 state qualifiers, followed by Adams City with 10.

    Pomona has a pair of returning state champions in Tomas Gutierrez (120) and Dayton Marvel (132). Gutierrez will be pursuing a third state championship.

    Class 4A

    Maybe the most intriguing classification comes in 4A, where four individuals have the opportunity to claim a third state title in a row.

    Discovery Canyon’s Sam Turner (138), Pueblo County’s Hunter Willitts (152), Thompson Valley’s Parker Simington (160) and Fort Morgan’s Toby McBride (285) each have two titles under their belts. Willitts is the only junior in the group.

    Five wrestlers are undefeated on the season, and seven schools have at least 11 state qualifiers. Defending champion Thompson Valley qualified nine and has two returning champions; 2015 runner-up Pueblo County is bringing 12 and has four state champions in the lineup.

    Greeley Central and Pueblo West qualified 13 individuals each.

    Additionally, Mountain View sophomore Kaley Barker is set to become the seventh girl to compete at the state wrestling tournament. She’ll compete in the 106-pound bracket.

    Class 3A

    Two-time defending champion Valley taking will be taking 12 individuals to the tournament. One of those representing the Vikings though is senior Macoy Flanagan (170), who brings a 47-0 mark into the tournament. With four victories, he would tie the state record held by Bennett’s Josh Miller for the most wins in a season at 51.

    Berthoud’s Jimmy Fate (160) and Weld Central’s Dalton Robertson (182) are each chasing a third state title. Berthoud qualified 13 individuals, including defending champions Fate and Chad Ellis (195). Eaton and Platte Valley each qualified 11 and Lamar will bring 10.

  • Week 9 wrestling rankings from On The Mat

    Below are this week’s wrestling rankings from On The Mat.

    [divider]

    On The Mat Wrestling Rankings

    Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.

    To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.

    To purchase individual weeks of the rankings (as opposed to the entire season), you will need to use the printable subscription form and pay by check. The season ranking subscriptions are offered at a discounted rate.

    [divider]
    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Pomona 1
    2 Legacy 3
    3 Pine Creek 2
    4 Poudre 4
    5 Ponderosa 5
    6 Cherokee Trail 6
    7 Castle View –
    8 Fruita Monument 9
    9 Grandview 7
    10 Adams City –
    Dropped out
    Grand Junction (8), Broomfield (10).

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Pueblo County 1
    2 Greeley Central 2
    3 Windsor 3
    4 Cheyenne Mountain 6
    5 Discovery Canyon 5
    6 Mesa Ridge 7
    7 Thompson Valley 4
    8 Pueblo East 8
    9 Pueblo West –
    10 Fort Morgan 10
    Dropped out
    Longmont (9).

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Valley 1
    2 Dolores Huerta 2
    3 Berthoud 3
    4 Lamar 5
    5 Olathe 4
    6 La Junta 6
    7 Delta 7
    8 Alamosa 10
    9 Sheridan 8
    10 Sterling 9
    Dropped out
    None.

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Rocky Ford 1
    2 Meeker 3
    3 Centauri 2
    4 Buena Vista 6
    5 Highland 8
    6 Hotchkiss 4
    7 Paonia 7
    8 Sedgwick County/Fleming 10
    9 Ignacio –
    10 Akron –
    Dropped out
    Norwood/Nucla (5), Crowley County (9).

  • Week 8 wrestling rankings from On The Mat

    Below are this week’s wrestling rankings from On The Mat.

    [divider]

    On The Mat Wrestling Rankings

    Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.

    To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.

    To purchase individual weeks of the rankings (as opposed to the entire season), you will need to use the printable subscription form and pay by check. The season ranking subscriptions are offered at a discounted rate.

    [divider]
    Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A

    Class 5A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Pomona 1
    2 Pine Creek 2
    3 Legacy 3
    4 Poudre 4
    5 Ponderosa 5
    6 Cherokee Trail 6
    7 Grandview 7
    8 Grand Junction 8
    9 Fruita Monument –
    10 Broomfield 10
    Dropped out
    Brighton (9).

    Class 4A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Pueblo County 1
    2 Greeley Central 2
    3 Windsor 3
    4 Thompson Valley 4
    5 Discovery Canyon 5
    6 Cheyenne Mountain 6
    7 Mesa Ridge 7
    8 Pueblo East 8
    9 Longmont 9
    10 Fort Morgan 10
    Dropped out
    None.

    Class 3A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Valley 1
    2 Dolores Huerta 2
    3 Berthoud 3
    4 Olathe 4
    5 Lamar 5
    6 La Junta 6
    7 Delta 10
    8 Sheridan 7
    9 Sterling 8
    10 Alamosa 9
    Dropped out
    None.

    Class 2A
    RK TEAM PVS
    1 Rocky Ford 1
    2 Centauri 2
    3 Meeker 3
    4 Hotchkiss 4
    5 Norwood/Nucla 5
    6 Buena Vista 8
    7 Paonia 6
    8 Highland 7
    9 Crowley County –
    10 Sedgwick County/Fleming –
    Dropped out
    John Mall (9), Ignacio (10).