Colorado Preps Weekly

An incredibly busy week is already underway, with Sate basketball tournaments getting started back on Tuesday and state wrestling on tap for the weekend. Championship dreams will either be realized or dashed in just a matter of days.

Girls wrestling gets the spotlight on Thursday, as young ladies from around the State will compete in 10 weight classes at the Southwest Motors Events Center in Pueblo. Only three area wrestlers will be participating, but all three have a strong shot at reaching the podium.

Stratton's Kaitlyn Louthan is one of the challengers at 111 pounds after finishing second in regionals. Louthan received an opening round bye, and then pinned her way into the championship match. Unfortunately, she had to medically forfeit the title match. She takes an 11-3 mark into her first contest against Journey Ruiz (14-2) from Chatfield.

To no one's surprise, Lamar's Crystalyn Felan is one of the top seeds in the 118 pound bracket. Felan, a two-time State placer, took fourth in a loaded regional field last weekend. The junior earned a first round pinfall victory and then went against Alexys Jacquez from Mesa Ridge and defeated her by pin. That set up a clash Shayla Gallegos from Denver East in the semifinals. Gallegos, a freshman who was undefeated entering the match, pinned Felan in the final 30 seconds of the match to send her into the consolation bracket. Felan pinned her opponent from Dolores Huerta Prep to set up a third place contest with Jacquez, got revenge with a 8-6 decision. Felan starts her state run against unbeaten Alexis Segura from Regis Jesuit.

Mia Dischner from Yuma is the final area wrestler in the field. Dischner made quick work of her first two opponents at regionals, pinning both in under two minutes. The junior the suffered a pinfall defeat in the final minute of her semifinal contest. She would go on to finish third at 185 pounds after a victory by pin in the consolation semifinal, and a 6-5 decision in the third place match. She will open State with a match against Cree Moo from Far Northeast.

Class 2A and 3A boys get their chance to shine on Friday and the area will be nicely represented. In Class 2A, Fowler will be sending three wrestlers to the mats, led by JJ Horn, who is the top seed at 220 pounds. Jasper Smith and Waitley Sharon will also represent the Grizzlies.

Rocky Ford is sending five members of its squad to the tournament, and several are considered top contenders. Unbeaten sophomore Joe Zamora (23-0) is one of the top challengers at 120 pounds, and senior Peyton Froman (18-4) is the top seed at 285 pounds.

Adam Schultz from Crowley County is the top seed at 195 pounds, while Merino's Trent Elliott has that honor at 182 pounds. Rye's Michael Atencio, the top seed at 132, is trying to win his third title in as many years, at a third different weight. Atencio took the crown at 113 as a sophomore, and was the best in the State at 120 last year.

Burlington's Michael Gutierrez takes a 19-2 mark into the 160 pound bracket, while teammate Isaac Mantey (17-3) will be part of a very deep bracket at 220. Half of the contestants at that weight have three or fewer losses on the season.

Moving up to Class 3A, many eyes will be on the 145 pound class, where Lamar's Zane Rankin will be the top seed. Rankin is shooting to be Lamar's first-ever three-time champion. He'll face tough competition, as no one in that bracket has more than three losses entering the tournament. His teammates Caleb Rigsby (106), Cade Wurst (120), and Anthony Martinez (182) will also be competing for the Savages in Pueblo.

La Junta will have two wrestlers in action on Friday and both have tough first round match-ups. Benny Diego Gonzales (19-4) squares off against an unbeaten freshman from Gunnison in his first match at 113 pounds, and Jeremiah Martinez faces the top seed, Zach Marrero of Strasburg, to open the 132 pound bracket. Marrero was runner-up to Rankin last season at this weight.

The opening round of the 160 pound bracket will see two Morgan County matmen squaring off for the opportunity to advance. Cael Langford, last year's fourth place finisher for Fort Morgan at 145, will face off against Brush's Cole Curtis. Curtis was second in Region 2, while Langford claimed the title at Region 1.

This week also sees the culmination of the girl's swimming and diving season. Class 3A will hit the pool at the VMAC in Thornton on Saturday. Holyoke and La Junta will compete in that meet. Final heat seeding was being established on Monday by CHSAA.

Basketball got its State tournaments underway earlier this week. Boys’ and girls’ teams in all five classes started their push to a state title on Tuesday with opening round games. The top eight seeds in each class drew first round byes and will be hosting their first games on Thursday.

In Class 1A girls, Briggsdale, Kit Carson, Kim/Branson, Fleming and South Baca were among the teams receiving that first round bye. McClave, Merino, Lone Star and Haxtun all hosted first round games on Tuesday, while Idalia, Springfield and Eads were on the road. Entering last weekend, Eads was a long-shot to make the field, but their 39-37 upset of South Baca on Saturday vaulted the Lady Eagles into the top 20.

Haxtun hosted Idalia on Tuesday, with the winner moving on to face top-seeded Briggsdale on Thursday. South Baca, the #8 team, will host either Shining Mountain or Manzanola. Kim/Branson gets either Cotopaxi or Evangelical Christian on Thursday. Merino and Eads squared off on Tuesday and the victor travels to Flatirons Academy on Thursday. Springfield was on the road in the opening round at Elbert. The winner makes the long trek to Sangre de Cristo for the second round. McClave hosted Belleview Christian in the opening round and the winner travels to Dove Creek on Thursday. Kit Carson awaits the winner of Lone Star and Kiowa.

First round byes in Class 1A boys went to Merino, Granada and Cheraw for area teams. Granada defeated Cheraw 48-31 last Friday to claim the High Plains title. Merino will host the winner of Tuesday's game between Kim/Branson and Cheyenne Wells on Thursday. Granada will get either Evangelical Christian or Hi-Plains and Cheraw hosts either Sangre de Cristo or Pikes Peak Christian. Genoa-Hugo/Karval, the #14 seed, hosted Longmont Christian on Tuesday, with the winner making a trip to #3 De Beque on Thursday. Eads was the #16 seed and the Eagles hosted #17 Denver Waldorf. The winner faces top-seeded Belleview Christian. Haxtun hosted Simla on Tuesday and the winner is headed to Primero.

Class 2A girls saw Holyoke earn the top overall seed and with it a first round bye. The Lady Dragons open play against either Lotus School for Excellence or Hotchkiss on Thursday. Rocky Ford and Rye both received first round byes and could meet in the Great Eight on Saturday. Rocky Ford draws either Ignacio or Hoehne on Thursday, while the Lady Thunderbolts will host either Burlington or Center. Limon is the #10 seed and the Lady Badgers hosted Gilpin County. The winner travels to Heritage Christian on Thursday.

Wray pulled the #1 seed in the 2A boys’ bracket and the Eagles will open things on Thursday against either Monte Vista or Lyons. Fellow LPAA foe Sedgwick County is also in that quadrant and the Cougars host the winner of Mancos and Custer County. Limon, who's only loss is to Wray, is the #2 seed and the Badgers await the winner of Lake County and Atlas Prep. Holly gets either Wiggins or Vail Christian on Thursday, while Fowler heads to Yuma if the Grizzlies got past Vail Mountain in the opening round. Holyoke needed to upset #14 Meeker to move on to face #3 Peyton in the second round.

In Class 3A girls, Lamar could have a rematch with #1 Vanguard School in the second round. The Lady Savages hosted Basalt in the opening round and would get that rematch with a win. Brush is also in that portion of the bracket, with the Lady 'Diggers earning the #8 seed and a first round bye. They host the winner of Pagosa Springs and Grand Valley.

Brush's boys found themselves on the round in the opening round of the 3A tournament. As the #17 seed, the Beetdiggers visited Kent Denver on Tuesday. The winner moves on to face #1 St. Mary's in the second round.