A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from March with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features state wrestling action where Pomona came away with another Class 5A team title, along with three individual crowns and Jefferson captured a pair of individual titles. The spring season got underway despite the ‘Bomb Cyclone’. Green Mountain scored a shutout victory over area-rival Lakewood in girls soccer action at Lakewood Memorial Field. At Trailblazer Stadium, Wheat Ridge boys lacrosse suffered a tough overtime loss and Conifer girls lacrosse dominated Summit. We finish with action from the 2019 Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Games at the Gold Crown Field House.
Tag: Jefferson
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All-state boys basketball teams for the 2018-19 season
The 2018-19 all-state boys basketball teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a week-long vote of coaches.
A specific player of the year vote was held in each class, as was a vote for coach of the year.
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Class 5A
(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com) Player of the year: Kenny Foster, Smoky Hill
Coach of the year: Shawn Palmer, Rangeview
First Team Name School Year Pos. Kenny Foster Smoky Hill Senior G Quincey Jewett Rangeview Senior P Luke O’Brien Columbine Junior SG Dayne Prim Grandview Senior C/F Kobe Sanders Chaparral Junior PG/SG Second Team Name School Year Pos. Daniel Carr Regis Jesuit Senior C Jodaun Dotson Rangeview Senior PG/SG Austin Holt ThunderRidge Senior PG Graham Ike Overland Junior C/PF Christopher Speller Rangeview Junior SG Honorable mention: Tyce Baldwin, Fossil Ridge, Sophomore; Ian Barnes, Fruita Monument, Junior; Rashon Barron, Fountain-Fort Carson, Senior; Aaron Bokol, Eaglecrest, Senior; Mark Dolan, Fairview, Senior; Jaylen Eikenberg, Rock Canyon, Senior; Ben Grusing, Mountain Vista, Senior; Julian Hammond III, Cherry Creek, Sophomore; Chase Hettinger, Castle View, Senior; Kendale Johnson, George Washington, Sophomore; Grant Karger, Bear Creek, Senior; Keyshawn Maltbia, Fountain-Fort Carson, Junior; Kwane Marble, Denver East, Senior; Bryce Matthews, Chaparral, Senior; Simon May, Mountain Vista, Senior; Caleb McGill, Grandview, Junior; Darien Meyers, Palmer, Senior; Isaac Ondekane, Mullen, Junior; Josh Rogers, Arvada West, Senior; Roger Rosengarten, Valor Christian, Junior; Brayden Schlitt, Brighton, Senior; Andre Sepeda, Greeley West, Senior; Hezekiah Swanson, Overland, Junior; Brendan Temple, Douglas County, Senior.
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Class 4A
(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com) Player of the year: Joel Scott, Lewis-Palmer
Coach of the year: Bill Benton, Lewis-Palmer
First Team Name School Year Pos. Javonte Johnson Cheyenne Mountain Junior SG/SF Matthew Ragsdale Lewis-Palmer Senior SG/PG Brady Renck Longmont Senior PG Mac Riniker Steamboat Springs Senior G/PF/PG Joel Scott Lewis-Palmer Senior F/G Second Team Name School Year Pos. Noah Baca Lewis-Palmer Senior PG/SG Tanner Baird Holy Family Senior SG/PG Donta Dawson Harrison Sophomore SF/PF Kain Medrano Pueblo East Senior G Beck Page Longmont Senior SG/SF Honorable mention: Kevin Ayon, Glenwood Springs, Senior; Ilja Bubukin, Golden, Senior; Wyatt Buller, Summit, Senior; Sebastian Campbell, Palisade, Senior; Skye Ciccarelli, Woodland Park, Senior; Spencer Conway, Greeley Central, Senior; James Felton, Lincoln, Senior; Ty Foster, Lincoln, Junior; Angel Garcia, Glenwood Springs, Senior; Logan Garcia, Pueblo West, Senior; Taylor Harris, Pueblo West, Junior; Jackson Hayslip, Greeley Central, Senior; Kyle Helbig, Holy Family, Senior; Connor Imus, Montrose, Junior; Adam Jolly, Holy Family, Senior; Owen Koonce, Centaurus, Junior; Griffin Lauritano, Evergreen, Sophomore; Joe Lombardelli, Northridge, Senior; Kevin Loy, Erie, Sophomore; Nico Martin, Pueblo Central, Senior; Blair McVicker, Wheat Ridge, Senior; Gabe Rall, Canon City, Senior; Calvin Seamons, Longmont, Senior; Noah Sena, Weld Central, Junior; Lane Sherwood, Pueblo County, Senior; Kade Walker, The Classical Academy, Junior; Landon Wallace, Conifer, Junior; Jax Wilke, Mead, Senior.
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Class 3A
(David Harvey/ImageProPhotography.com) Player of the year: Jaedon Bowles, Manual
Coach of the year: Omar Henry, Manual
First Team Name School Year Pos. Jaedon Bowles Manual Senior SF/SG Dominique Clifford The Vanguard School Junior – Seth Fuqua The Vanguard School Senior – Jaden Stoffell Manual Junior PG/SG Andray Thomas Jr. DSST: Stapleton Senior SG/PG Second Team Name School Year Pos. Andrew Baier Delta Senior – Amerie Collins Bruce Randolph Senior – James Doyle Kent Denver Senior – Carter Keil Sterling Senior SG/PG Matt Thompson Lutheran Senior – Honorable mention: John Ames, Delta, Senior; Cordell Baer, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior; Bryson Becker, Platte Valley, Senior; Jonathan Cosme, KIPP Denver Collegiate, Junior; Brenden Crowther, Alamosa, Junior; Damion Daniels, Ridge View Academy, Senior; Davion Davis, Manual, Senior; DeAnte Dennis, Colorado Academy, Senior; Kevin DiMarco, Coal Ridge, Senior; Hayden Farmer, Bayfield, Senior; Jayson Frank, Sterling, Senior; Isaac Gallegos, The Academy, Senior; Martin Garcia, Centauri, Senior; Myles Godina, Salida, Sophomore; Timothy Huston, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, Junior; Reece Johnson, Resurrection Christian, Junior; Elijah Jones, Sheridan, Junior; David Mascarenas, Monte Vista, Senior; Connor Murphy, Moffat County, Senior; Keon Nieto, The Pinnacle, Senior; Jon Nuschy, La Junta, Senior; Jeet Pathak, Lutheran, Senior; Nathaniel Plaisted, James Irwin, Senior; Keyon Prior, Bayfield, Senior; Ivan Quezada, Fort Lupton, Senior; Kurvonte Rice, Jefferson, Senior; Jackson Romero, Resurrection Christian, Junior; Caleb Ruter, Faith Christian, Junior; Colton Shalla, Sterling, Senior; Mason Snarr, Pagosa Springs, Junior; Elijah Thatch, DSST: Byers, Junior; Kyrie Thomas, DSST: Byers, Junior; Kolby Walker, Colorado Springs Christian, Senior; Hunter Wood, Gunnison, Junior.
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Class 2A
(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com) Player of the year: Jakob Chrisman, Yuma
Coach of the year: Dave Sheffield, Yuma
First Team Name School Year Pos. Koby Anderson Highland Senior SF Tate Bessire Highland Junior PG/SG Jakob Chrisman Yuma Senior C Val Leone Fowler Sophomore G/P Jarett Rushton Holly Senior – Second Team Name School Year Pos. Zane Denton Fowler Senior G/P Chase McCreath Yuma Junior SF Clay Robinson Yuma Freshman G Camden Smithburg Limon Sophomore – Rhett Tristan Davis Byers Senior PF Honorable mention: Josiah Bowsher, Heritage Christian, Senior; Matt Chavez, Colorado Springs School, Senior; Kade Glover, Del Norte, Senior; David Lozano, Paonia, Senior; Brad Mazerall, Simla, Senior; Hayden McCuen, Byers, Senior; Zack McKeever, Vail Christian, Senior; Johnathan Mobbley, Fowler, Junior; Alec Moritz, Vail Christian, Junior; Brigden Parker, Holly, Sophomore; TJ Peter, South Park, Senior; Jakob Peterson, Sanford, Senior; Devin Porres, Center, Junior; Stevenson Reynolds, Plateau Valley, Junior; Michael Rushton, Holly, Senior; Angel Salinas, Dolores Huerta Prep, Senior; Brady Shelley, Byers, Senior; Caden Showalter, Mancos, Junior; Christian Still, Dayspring Christian Academy, Sophomore; Tristen Swagerty, Dolores, Senior; Kory Tacha, Limon, Sophomore; Quamon Williams, Crowley County, Junior.
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Class 1A
(Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com) Player of the year: Wes Ryan, De Beque
Coach of the year: Jake Higuera, De Beque
First Team Name School Year Pos. Nathan Batt Merino Senior – Cole Christensen Sangre de Cristo Junior – Joey Gerk Haxtun Senior – Brennan Rigsby De Beque Sophomore – Wes Ryan De Beque Sophomore – Second Team Name School Year Pos. Braden Anderson Haxtun Senior – Dillon Bumgardner De Beque Senior SG/SF Braydan Hekkers Evangelical Christian Senior SF Jason Holt Evangelical Christian Junior PG Jayden McCombs-Farmer Kit Carson Junior PG/SG Honorable mention: Bryce Carlstrom, North Park, Senior; Jade Cass, Prairie, Senior; Antonio Cordova, Primero, Sophomore; Beau Dukes, Springfield, Senior; Blake Essex, Mile High Academy, Sophomore; Casper Freedle, Creede, Senior; Whitt Freeman, Edison, Senior; Cullen Glosson, Otis, Senior; Chance Gulliford, Cotopaxi, Junior; Ty Hunt, Otis, Senior; Devin Littlefield, Prairie, Senior; Bryson Long, Peetz, Senior; Manuel Lopez, Sangre de Cristo, Senior; Ben Miller, Genoa-Hugo/Karval, Senior; Bryar Morgan, Kiowa, Senior; Logan Owen, Belleview Christian, Sophomore; Wyatt Patton, Briggsdale, Junior; Quade Pelton, Cheyenne Wells, Junior; Kevin Ramirez, Arickaree/Woodlin, Senior; Dylan Renquist, Walsh, Junior; Jake Slane, Sangre de Cristo, Senior; Sam Smith, Pikes Peak Christian, Senior; David Snare, Cripple Creek-Victor, Senior; Shadow Varnado, South Baca [Campo/Vilas/Pritchett], Junior; Josiah Vasquez, Cheraw, Senior; Brandt Vos, Cornerstone Christian Academy, Senior; Deric Woods, Front Range Baptist, Senior.
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Rivals become teammates in Jeffco senior boys hoops all-star game
LAKEWOOD — For at least one night, Columbine boys basketball coach Clay Thielking could fist pump when Dakota Ridge guard Alex Overlie buried a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Green Mountain’s Miles Dempsey, right, gets off a shot over Arvada West’s Joey Call on Monday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “That was a little uncomfortable for me,” Thielking said with a laugh when asked about relying on a rival player in the fourth quarter Monday night at the 2019 Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Game. “If he (Overlie) is going to score for us that is fine. He can be from anywhere.”
Overlie’s 3-pointers in the final quarter helped secure a 113-102 victory for Thielking’s Blue team at Gold Crown Field House.
“It was fun to see these guys play with each other instead of against each other,” Thielking said. “Just let the kids loose and let them show off their skills and abilities.”
One of Thielking’s own players from Columbine that won the 5A Jeffco League title this winter was named the MVP. Sharp-shooting guard Cameron Dean was given the MVP honor, but still it was a little weird for him to be cheering on some of his old rivals and suddenly becoming teammates.
Columbine senior Cameron Dean, right, plays defense on Pomona senior David Ross. Dean was named MVP of the 2019 Jeffco HS Senior Basketball Game. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “I don’t think I ever thought that would be a possibility, but here we are,” Dean said with a smile about rooting for a rival to knock down a couple of 3-pointers in the final quarter.
While the game will likely be the last big stage for most of the seniors, Dean is focused on playing at the next level. Since Columbine was bounced out of the playoffs by Cherry Creek nearly a month ago, the guard has been focused on staying sharp.
“I’m looking for a college,” Dean said. “I honestly don’t want my basketball career to be over. Wherever I need to go I’ll go.”
Chatfield senior Connor Vernon has unfortunately had a high school career plagued by injuries. Vernon suffered broken bones in his left hand just before the start of 5A Jeffco League play this season. He missed nearly two months of action before returning for the Chargers’ final three games of the season.
Vernon was selected by Chatfield coach Stephen Schimpeler to participate in the senior all-star game.
Arvada West’s Joey Call, left, faces some tight defense by Jefferson’s Kurvonte Rice on Monday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “It get back on the court with these guys who I’ve played with and against for four years was amazing,” said Vernon, who added that he felt very privileged to play in the game. “It’s fun to see how far we’ve come and grown.”
Vernon had the highlight play of the night with a coast-to-coast dunk in the third quarter.
“Coming into this game all I really wanted to do was dunk,” Vernon said with a smile. “It felt amazing.”
Wheat Ridge coach Tommy Dowd, who guided the Farmers to the 4A Jeffco League title this winter, coached the White team. Wheat Ridge’s Julian Claussen had a nice game for his coach. Chatfield’s Luke Carlson and Arvada West’s Oliver Lindblad — both replacements for players who couldn’t play — had nice games also.
Mark Rusch, Sports Program Director/Outreach for Gold Crown, said that 44 of the 47 boys and girls that played in the 2019 High School Senior Basketball Games on Monday also participated in Gold Crown’s basketball program growing up.
The 2nd annual Jeffco High School Senior Basketball Games hosted by the Gold Crown Foundation, Jeffco Public Schools and sponsored by FirstBank were played Monday night at the Gold Crown Field House in Lakewood. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) -
All-state wrestling teams for the 2018-19 season
The 2018-19 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 and wrestlers of the year were selected by the Colorado High School Coaches Association at the state meet.
Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.
[divider]Class 5A
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) Wrestler of the year: Cohlton Schultz, Ponderosa
Coach of the year: Sam Federico, Pomona
First team Name Year School Weight Daniel Cardenas Freshman Pomona 120 Vince Cornella Sophomore Monarch 113 Franklin Cruz Sophomore Pomona 182 Alec Hargreaves Junior Rocky Mountain 195 Austin McFadden Senior Prairie View 152 Justin Pacheco Senior Pomona 132 Kenny Sailas Sophomore Brighton 106 Marquez Salazar Senior Adams City 160 Fabian Santillan Senior Grandview 138 Cohlton Schultz Senior Ponderosa 285 Mosha Schwartz Senior Ponderosa 126 Antonio Segura Sophomore Regis Jesuit 145 Jay Skalecki Senior Grand Junction 170 Hunter Tobiasson Senior Grand Junction 220 Second team Name Year School Weight Joey Airola Freshman Boulder 106 Keegan Bailey Senior Fruita Monument 195 Tyson Beauperthuy Junior Doherty 152 Kai Blake Senior Cherry Creek 170 Joshua Deaguero Junior Adams City 138 Armando Garcia Sophomore Denver East 113 Sam Hart Sophomore Cherokee Trail 220 Joey Joiner Junior Legacy 145 Austin Kelchen Senior Douglas County 160 Colin Lavell Senior Legend 285 Jaron Mahler Sophomore Ponderosa 120 Randy Myers Sophomore Castle View 132 Jake Welch Senior Valor Christian 182 Wyatt Yapoujian Junior Pomona 126 [divider]
Class 4A
(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com) Wrestler of the year: Andrew Alirez, Greeley Central
Coach of the year: Pat Laughlin, Pueblo East
First team Name Year School Weight Andrew Alirez Senior Greeley Central 152 Patrick Allis Senior Discovery Canyon 126 Drake Engelking Senior Longmont 170 Christopher Fasano Senior Pueblo County 160 Zion Freeman Senior Pueblo East 195 Andy Garcia Junior Pueblo East 285 Brendon Garcia Senior Pueblo County 113 Jaxon Garoutte Junior Pueblo County 145 Darren Green Junior Broomfield 138 Brady Parker Junior Windsor 106 Dominic Robles Senior Pueblo East 220 Isaiah Salazar Junior Windsor 182 Dominick Serrano Junior Windsor 132 Will Vombaur Senior Windsor 120 Second team Name Year School Weight Tyler Carpenter Junior Broomfield 285 Dominick Castro Sophomore Pueblo Centennial 106 Malachi Contreras Junior Mountain View 120 Jayson Davis Senior Pueblo County 182 Cody Eaton Junior Windsor 170 Xavier Espinoza Senior Pueblo East 113 NIco Gagliardi Freshman Cheyenne Mountain 195 Cole Hernandez Senior Pueblo Centennial 145 KJ Kearns Senior Pueblo County 160 Gage Pruitt Senior Canon City 220 Ryan Roth Senior Pueblo East 126 James Ruona Senior Canon City 132 Trevor Singleton Senior Pueblo County 152 Aaden Valdez Junior Pueblo East 138 [divider]
Class 3A
(Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com) Wrestler of the year: Joe Chavez, Alamosa
Coach of the year: Gary Ramstetter, Alamosa
First team Name Year School Weight Joe Chavez Senior Alamosa 126 Nick Gallegos Junior Jefferson 152 Isaiah Gamez Junior La Junta 120 Ty Garnhart Senior Eaton 170 Brady Hankin Freshman Woodland Park 106 Nathan Johns Senior The Classical Academy 182 Abe Leonard Senior Elizabeth 195 Angelo Lozado Freshman Jefferson 113 Cameron Lucero Sophomore Pagosa Springs 145 Emanuel Munoz-Alcala Junior University 285 Zane Rankin Sophomore Lamar 132 Isaiah Rios Sophomore Valley 138 Eli Smith Senior Salida 220 Jaziah Whaley Junior Valley 160 Second team Name Year School Weight Ethan Andrade Senior Lamar 120 Austyn Binkly Senior Berthoud 145 Holt Brashears Senior Salida 195 Davion Chavez Sophomore Alamosa 106 Lucas Comroe Junior Eagle Valley 132 Toby Gavette Senior Eaton 113 Jimmy Gonzales Senior Pueblo Central 126 Oswaldo Nunez Senior Brush 152 Wyatt Pfau Senior Brush 170 Cody Ponce Junior Eagle Valley 220 Logan Thompson Senior University 285 Amos Wilson Junior Glenwood Springs 182 Dylan Yancey Senior Eaton 138 Josh Yancey Junior Platte Valley 160 [divider]
Class 2A
(Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com) Wrestler of the year: Seth McFall, Fowler
Coach of the year: Matt Brown, Wray
First team Name Year School Weight Louis Aguilar Senior Burlington 152 Anthony Aldretti Sophomore John Mall 132 Michael Atencio Sophomore Rye 113 Bennie Chacon Senior Centauri 285 Will Gabriel Senior Nucla 182 Trey Geyer Sophomore Cedaredge 120 Micah Hertrich Junior Buena Vista 160 Oran Huff Sophomore Lyons 126 Jace Logan Senior Soroco 170 Zach Martin Senior Centauri 145 Seth McFall Senior Fowler 106 Jesse Tapia Junior Rocky Ford 195 Taj Van der Linde Senior Cedaredge 220 Wesley VanMatre Junior John Mall 138 Second team Name Year School Weight Jayce Bauer Senior County Line 220 Ethan Burns Junior Holly 152 Sergio Campos Senior Hotchkiss 132 Eyan Chavez Freshman Centauri 126 Tyler Collins Sophomore Wray 138 Anthony Felice Senior Paonia 195 Cade Hillman Senior Wray 160 Dillon Jaramillo Senior Rocky Ford 120 Tannen Kennedy Senior Meeker 145 Cole Miller Freshman Rye 106 Levi Peterson Junior Paonia 285 Hunter Planansky Junior Hayden 182 Cade Rockwell Junior Wray 113 Carlos Tarin Senior Wray 170 -
Video: Pomona and Jefferson shine during final night of state wrestling tournament
Jack Maher, Jeffco Public Schools multimedia specialist, gives one last look at the final night of the Colorado High School Activities Association’s state wrestling tournament Feb. 23 at Pepsi Center.
Along with Pomona winning its third Class 5A team title in four years, the Panthers grabbed three individual state crowns with freshman Daniel Cardenas (120 pounds), senior Justin Pacheco (132 pounds) and sophomore Franklin Cruz (182 pounds) finishing on top of the podium.
Jefferson worked its way into the Class 3A spotlight with freshman Angelo Lozado (113 pounds) and junior Nick Gallegos (152 pounds) both capturing their first state titles. Lozado became the first Saint to win a state wrestling title as a freshman.
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3A wrestling: Alamosa claims second straight title, 13th overall
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) DENVER — If Alamosa is not already thought of as a bona fide Colorado wrestling dynasty, it is time to start. Since dropping down to the ranks of Class 3A, the Mean Moose has won five of the last nine 3A titles.
As of Saturday, that includes the 2019 title.
Alamosa did it with numbers. Of the 11 boys Alamosa qualified for the state tournament, Alamosa put eight on the podium — one first, two seconds, one third, two fourths, and two sixths. It is the program’s 13th wrestling title, the most of any school in the state.
The pace of placing was too much for the rest of the field to keep pace. There were schools with more first-place finishes than Alamosa, but none that scored up and down the order like the Mean Moose.
(Alan Versaw/CHSAANow.com) Winning Alamosa’s lone state title this year was 126-pounder Joe Chavez. Chavez ended his high school career with his third consecutive individual title, a 7-2 decision over Jimmy Gonzales of Pueblo Central.
Part of getting there for Chavez was not spending much time looking back at past titles.
“I don’t compare one year to previous years,” offered Chavez. “I start each year with a new set of expectations.”
Among other things, that helps it keep from feeling like there’s a target on his back.
The demeanor of Alamosa coach Gary Ramstetter also helps to keep things on a steady course. In a wrestling world overflowing with emotive coaches, Ramstetter is a rock. He watches each match from his chair, but rarely has much to say during the match.
That calmness translates to his wrestlers. You don’t see Alamosa wrestlers wasting energy. You don’t see Alamosa wrestlers lurching into a panic when something doesn’t go right. And, way more often than not, the Mean Moose is in control of things when the match is over.
“I’ve been at it a long time, and [staying calm] is easier the longer you’ve been at it,” Ramstetter said.
And, what’s the most important thing that goes on at Alamosa practices? Ramstetter has an easy answer for that as well: “Drilling. I probably drill more than anybody.”
A younger coach might be inclined to worry about athletes losing interest with all the drilling. Ramstetter simply understands it’s part of a winning plan, so he’s stuck with it for better than 40 years now.
So, while a lot of programs emphasize the flash and fire, Alamosa is much more about getting one job done and moving to the next. It’s proven to be a successful approach to high school wrestling.
Alamosa’s 141.5 points put them easily in the driver’s seat for the team title. Eaton was second with 105. Eagle Valley and Jefferson tied for third at 97.5
While Eaton’s second-place finish evoked memories of last year, Eagle Valley and Jefferson were both vastly improved over last year. Last year, Eagle Valley tallied 35.5 points and Jefferson only 16.
Jefferson took Angelo Lozado (113) and Nick Gallegos (152) to finals. Both left with state titles, ones they weren’t favored to win. The Saints put two more wrestlers on the podium and left no doubt about 3A’s most improved program.
Eagle Valley also took two to finals but left without an individual title as Lucas Conroe was decisioned by Lamar’s Zane Rankin at 138, and Cody Ponce lost an overtime affair to Salida’s Eli Smith at 220.
(Alan Versaw/CHSAANow.com) Two undefeated wrestlers fell in the finals. Nathan Johns of The Classical Academy earned his second consecutive title by defeating previously unbeaten Amos Wilson of Glenwood Springs at 182. Then, at 195, Salida’s undefeated Holt Brashears fell to a more deeply experienced Abe Leonard of Elizabeth in a 4-2 decision.
Pins, a staple of wrestling, were nearly impossible to come by.
After Woodland Park’s Brady Hankin pinned Davion Chavez of Alamosa at 106, no other 3A finals matches were decided by pin. In fact, there were neither technical falls nor major decisions to be found in the next 13 matches.
The 3A mat was rather consistently the last or next to last mat to finish at each weight class once Hankin had done his thing.
Quite possibly the most exciting 1-0 match you’ll ever see put Isaiah Gamez of La Junta ahead of Ethan Andrade of Lamar for the title at 120 pounds. Andrade had bested Gamez in two previous matches this season, but not this time.
Valley got a pair of individual titles from Isaiah Rios at 138 and Jaziah Whaley at 160. Pagosa’s Cameron Lucero, wrestling down a class from what he wrestled much of the season, won the title at 145. Eaton’s Ty Garnhardt bested Wyatt Pfau of Brush at 170 in a war of attrition that went to overtime. And University’s Emanuel Munoz-Alcala took the crown at 285 pounds.
Earlier in the day in 3A, Valley’s Angel Rios and Skyviews Jasylnn Gallegos became the first girls to ever place at the state tournament.
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Jefferson marches a trio of wrestlers to regional titles
EDGEWATER — Wrestlers from across the state traveled the final pathway Saturday toward Pepsi Center and the state tournament.
Sixteen regional tournaments in the four classifications spread out throughout Colorado took to the mats Saturday with a grand total of 896 wrestlers punching their ticket to the 3-day state tournament (Feb. 21-23) in downtown Denver.
The journey for Jefferson junior Nicholas Gallegos has had its fair share of peaks and valleys. As a freshman, Gallegos placed third at 138 pounds during the Class 3A state tournament in 2017. He appeared poised to be on the podium against last year, but was in a bad car accident days before the state tournament.
Jefferson junior Zander Condit, right, tries to get the upper hand on Eaton senior Dylan Yancey during the 138-pound title bout Saturday at Jefferson High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “When I got in the car accident I tore my groin and severed a couple of disks in my back,” said Gallegos, who did give it a go at state despite the injuries. He lost 2-0 in his opening match and bowed out of the tournament with an injury default. “I think I’ll be taking a bike from now on.”
While Gallegos can make light of the tragic injury from last year, he was clearly focused during the Northwestern Mutual Wagner Health Management 3A Region 3 tournament at Jefferson High School on Friday and Saturday. He went 4-0 over the two-day regional tournament with three pins that totaled 71 seconds and a technical fall victory.
“I didn’t really break a sweat, but competition is competition,” said Gallegos, who pinned Weld Central sophomore Braden Baumgartner in 22 seconds in the 152-pound title bout Saturday night.
Gallegos will take a 39-7 record, along with his No. 1 ranking by On The Mat into the state tournament.
“He (Gallegos) will even be better next week,” Jefferson coach Oscar Fonseca said. “He is hungry. He is humble and he knows the hardships. He knows nothing is going to be given to you. He’ll have to earn it next week.”
Jefferson senior Andrew Sansburn earned himself a regional title at 132 pounds. Sansburn, also ranked No. 1 in his weight class, got a takedown with 20 seconds left in the third period against Eagle Valley junior Lucas Comroe, No. 2 ranked, to take a 9-7 victory.
“It was fun. I had fun out there,” said Sansburn, who never lost a match on the Saints’ home mats during his two years at Jefferson. “I started out a little chippy, but I finished out strong. I’m ready for next week.”
Sansburn started his high school career at Bear Creek, but decided to transfer over the Jefferson after his sophomore year. The change has paid off for the senior. Sansburn placed third at state at 126 pounds last year.
“It was a good move,” Sansburn said of transferring to Jefferson. “I moved in with my mom who lives in the district. The coaches and my wrestling partners are just amazing.”
Jefferson freshman Angelo Lozado, top, took the 113-pound regional title in the Class 3A Region 3 tournament Saturday at Jefferson High School.
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)The third Saint to take a regional title was freshman Angelo Lozado. The No. 2 ranked wrestler at 113 in 3A edged Elizabeth senior Kris Kramer 8-7 in the championship bout.
“He (Lozado) is a pretty tough kid,” Fonseca said. “He is going to come at you and keep going. I really like where he is at right now.”
Jefferson junior Zander Condit was the lone Saint in the finals who didn’t come away as a regional champion. Eaton senior Dylan Yancey pinned Condit in the third period.
“Zander will be 100 percent next week,” Fonseca said.
Condit battled through an injury last year at the state meet to place fifth at 132 pounds while wrestling for Conifer. The Lobos dropped their wrestling program this year so Zander and his younger sister Cayden wrestled for Jefferson this year.
Cayden, a sophomore, was attempting to become a back-to-back state qualifier. However, she lost both her of matches at regionals to fall short of her goal.
Skyview senior Jaslynn Gallegos (facing) hugs Eagle Valley junior Matthew Media after Gallegos took an 8-2 victory in the 106-pound third-place match. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) Skyview senior Jaslynn Gallegos was able to successfully maneuver her way through the tough 106-pound weight class.
“I looked at the bracket, I’m a big nerd like that who likes to look at those things,” Jaslynn Gallegos admitted. “I knew it would be kind of tough, but I knew if I wrestled like I know how to wrestle I knew I’d be OK.”
She won three straight consolation matches to place third at 106 pounds to join the ranking of female wrestlers who have qualified in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s boys state wrestling tournament.
“I’m hoping. That’s my goal,” she said of her chance to be the first female wrestler to place at state. “My goal since I was really little was to make it to the boys state (wrestling) tournament. Now the new goal is to place.”
Jaslynn Gallegos came in ranked No. 8 at 106 pounds in 3A. She defeated Eaton’s Alex Castaneda (No. 6) and Eagle Valley’s Matthew Medina (No. 5) on her way to advancing to her first state tournament.
Eaton did come away with the regional team title. The Reds racked up 212.5 team points. Jefferson placed fourth, but it had a similar finish at regional two years ago before going on to finish as the 3A state runner-up.
“It’s a possibility,” Fonseca said of the Saints having a shot to repeat their second-place team finish from 2016. “What I personally want is the kids to go out there, go hard and whatever shakes out shakes out. As long as we have good attitudes I like our chances.”
Arvada junior Enoc Macias-Castilo, bottom, attempts a bridge in his effort to not get pinned by Eaton junior Logan Bean during the 195-pound third-place match Saturday during the Class 3A Region 3 tournament. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) -
Photos: First day of the 3A Region 3 wrestling tournament
EDGEWATER — The first day of the Class 3A Region 3 wrestling tournament was held on Friday.
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Wrestling rankings: County Line, Pueblo South and Poudre join
Below are this week’s wrestling rankings from On The Mat.
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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.
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Class 2A RK TEAM PVS 1 Wray 1 2 Rocky Ford 2 3 Paonia 3 4 Cedaredge 4 5 Centauri 8 6 John Mall 6 7 Hotchkiss 9 8 Highland 5 9 County Line – 10 Crowley County 7 Dropped out Lyons (10). Class 3A RK TEAM PVS 1 Alamosa 1 2 Jefferson 3 3 Eaton 2 4 Pagosa Springs 5 5 Eagle Valley 4 6 Valley 8 7 Brush 9 8 Lamar 6 9 Fort Morgan 7 10 Berthoud 10 Dropped out None. Class 4A RK TEAM PVS 1 Pueblo East 2 2 Pueblo County 3 3 Windsor 1 4 Broomfield 4 5 Pueblo Centennial 5 6 Grand Junction Central 7 7 Pueblo South – 8 Thompson Valley 8 9 Longmont 9 10 Pueblo West 10 Dropped out Cheyenne Mountain (6). Class 5A RK TEAM PVS 1 Pomona 1 2 Ponderosa 4 3 Grandview 2 4 Grand Junction 3 5 Brighton 5 6 Legacy 8 7 Rocky Mountain 7 8 Poudre – 9 Monarch 6 10 Castle View 9 Dropped out Arvada West (10). -
Wrestling rankings: Pueblo West joins in 4A
Below are this week’s wrestling rankings from On The Mat.
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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.
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Class 2A RK TEAM PVS 1 Wray 1 2 Rocky Ford 2 3 Paonia 3 4 Cedaredge 4 5 Highland 5 6 John Mall 6 7 Crowley County 7 8 Centauri 8 9 Hotchkiss 9 10 Lyons 10 Dropped out None. Class 3A RK TEAM PVS 1 Alamosa 1 2 Eaton 3 3 Jefferson 2 4 Eagle Valley 4 5 Pagosa Springs 5 6 Lamar 6 7 Fort Morgan 7 8 Valley 8 9 Brush 9 10 Berthoud 10 Dropped out None. Class 4A RK TEAM PVS 1 Windsor 1 2 Pueblo East 2 3 Pueblo County 3 4 Broomfield 4 5 Pueblo Centennial 6 6 Cheyenne Mountain 8 7 Grand Junction Central 5 8 Thompson Valley 9 9 Longmont 10 10 Pueblo West – Dropped out Discovery Canyon (7). Class 5A RK TEAM PVS 1 Pomona 1 2 Grandview 2 3 Grand Junction 3 4 Ponderosa 4 5 Brighton 5 6 Monarch 6 7 Rocky Mountain 7 8 Legacy 10 9 Castle View 8 10 Arvada West 9 Dropped out None.