State wrestling finals: Eaton, Highland win team titles ...Saudi Arabia

DENVER — You can’t spell “dominance” without an “E”.

As at home as that “E” is on the Eaton boys wrestling team’s singlets, that word is just as fitting when describing the Reds’ approach to the Class 3A boys state tournament this past weekend at Ball Arena.

Eaton secured its fourth team state title this decade before the finals even began Saturday night.

The Reds ultimately finished with 149 points, easily topping their three most formidable competitors: Alamosa (119.5), Fort Lupton (100) and Mullen (98.5).

Eaton went 3-0 in a trio of title matches.

Senior Blake Hawkins (45-9) defended his state title by defeating Fort Lupton sophomore Isaiah Rodriguez (38-12) via a 7-0 decision in the 120-pound final.

Hawkins didn’t give up a point all tournament.

Reds freshman Parker Wickam (37-3) was just as dominant in his 8-2 win over Bennett senior Caycen Scholz (51-13) in the 132-pound title match.

To cap off Eaton’s incredible three-day performance, junior Paxton Pettinger (39-5) narrowly defeated Brush senior Austin Ley (53-3) in the 3A 165-pound championship in thrilling fashion.

Pettinger won 2-1, scoring the winning reversal with just 36 seconds left.

“Just their mental headspace coming into the state tournament was great,” Reds coach Tony Mustari said of his battle-tested team. “We had a lot of veteran guys and some experienced freshmen. They were just in a really good mental headspace coming in on Thursday.”

Historic Huskies

While Eaton accomplished something it has done with regularity this decade, nearby Highland achieved something it had never done in the school’s history.

With 111 points, the Huskies won the 2A boys team title for the first time, topping a highly competitive field that included runner-up North Fork (105.5) and third-place finishers Burlington and Rocky Ford (94.5).

Six teams scored 88 or more points in what was undeniably the tightest team race of the six classifications.

Highland went 3-0 in Saturday night’s finals with senior Wyatt Chase (190 pounds), junior Carter Jensen (132 pounds) and senior Tyler Varra (144 pounds) each earning state titles.

The finals began at 190 pounds, and it was then in which Chase (46-4) ignited the Huskies’ dominant round.

Just 1:30 into the title match, Chase took down Yuma senior Daden Beauprez (34-5) and recorded the pin to claim a state title after being a state runner-up a year ago.

“Not a lot of people can say they’ve pinned their opponent in their state title match,” Chase said. “So, it was a great feeling to be able to be that guy. … I didn’t want to be that guy who made it to the state finals but never won a state championship.”

Chase utilized what he calls an “underhand, overhand throw” to win the match — a move he’s used a bit this season but one he didn’t break out in the state tournament until the finals.

Chase’s pin gave the Huskies a one-point lead in the team title race over North Fork.

Jensen (44-11) kept things going for Highland with a 16-3 major decision over Dayspring Christian senior Liam DeBoer (34-12) in the 132-pound title match.

Varra (48-2) put emphatic finishing touches on the Huskies’ dazzling finals round with a 16-0 technical fall in 3:09 against Akron senior Kaleb Grauer (55-13) in the 144-pound title match.

Dual gold for Silver Knights

Severance’s boys team advanced a trio of wrestlers into the 4A state finals, and two of those three walked away with state titles.

Silver Knights sophomore Simon Carter (30-4) maintained complete control against Pueblo South junior Elijah Algien (42-4) in the 106-pound final, locking up a 13-1 major decision.

Moments later, Severance junior Drake VomBaur (42-3) earned the third state title of his high school career with a 7-1 win against Air Academy freshman Dylan Saba (44-6) in the 120-pound title match.

“He was legit,” VomBaur said of Saba. “I loved it. I was grateful. He was a legitimate wrestler. That’s why you wrestle. The state championship wouldn’t have meant anything if I went out and pinned everybody. I’m glad I got two really hard ones out here.”

VomBaur had two pins and two hard-fought victories via decisions in the tournament.

The Silver Knights’ rapidly growing girls wrestling program broke new ground with their first two-time state champion.

Sophomore Eila Schultz (29-3) controlled her 4A 130-pound championship match against Sedgwick County/Fleming freshman Brooklyn Glende (41-3), winning 8-1.

Schultz didn’t waste much time after her win shifting focus to a potential third consecutive title next season.

“Right now… right after I won that match, I was already thinking about it,” she said.

Roosevelt rides to second place

Roosevelt, and the rest of the 4A field, may not have been able to overcome a defending boys state champion juggernaut.

But, the Rough Riders did accomplish the next best thing.

With an impressive 141 points, Roosevelt placed second behind Pueblo East (158.5).

Rough Riders junior Michael Garcia (44-4) claimed his first state title via a 15-0 technical fall against Pueblo East junior Michael McCullough (36-7) in the 4A 215-pound final.

Sophomore Malakii Martin (32-3) topped the podium after being a state runner-up a year ago. He defeated Severance sophomore Jaxon Felker (20-4) in the 132-pound title match via a 14-2 major decision.

Sophomore Kash Long (44-9) became the third Roosevelt wrestler to top the podium Saturday, defeating Sand Creek sophomore Rayce Schriever (36-10) in the 138-pound championship with a pin in 5:17.

Champions galore

In addition to the 12 champions from Eaton, Highland, Roosevelt and Severance alone, five other local wrestlers topped the podium Saturday night.

Resurrection Christian senior Samuel Stockton capped his undefeated season(35-0) with a second consecutive state title.

He dominated Mullen junior Champion Dyes (38-5) in the 3A 285-pound final, walking away with a pin in 4:42 after jumping out to a 7-0 lead.

Greeley Central senior Daniel Romero (42-5) recorded his third consecutive energetic pin to cap his tournament run with the 4A 113-pound title. He pinned Pueblo East freshman Urijah Duran (25-2) in 2:55.

Fort Lupton sophomore Alyssa Ornelas (49-5) racked up points in short order in her girls 125-pound state title win against Holy Family junior Breezy Johnston (32-2).

Ornelas won via a 17-1 technical fall in 3:12.

In a fitting finale to the night, two local wrestlers won titles at 175 pounds.

Dayspring Christian senior Joseph Noce (50-4) picked up a 2A 175-pound title with hard-fought 8-5 decision against Crowley County freshman Levi Gibson (37-5).

And, in arguably one of the most dominant performances Saturday night, Windsor senior Robert Kendall (48-2) won his second consecutive state title by claiming the 4A 175-pound title.

Kendall pinned Widefield sophomore Ricky Aulava (27-6) in just 1:44. Kendall raced out to a near-instant 12-3 lead before securing the pin with 16 seconds left in the opening period.

More to come

For more results from the final day of state wrestling, including features about the top local performers, continue to check greeleytribune.com and read print editions in the coming days.

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