Colorado Preps Weekly

State wrestling took center stage last week, with championships decided at Ball Arena. Lots of hardware is making its way back out to the eastern portion of the state, including a team title.

After a third place finish last season, Wray is back atop the Class 2A standings, as the Eagles beat second place Meeker 167.5 to 146. Rocky Ford (6th) and Fowler (7th) also took top-ten finishes in the team race, while Wiggins tied for 10th.

Traven Sharon of Fowler out-dueled Holly's Tripp DuVall 9-5 in the 106 pound championship and the two could have quite the rivalry over the coming years, as both are just freshmen. It was nearly a night for the ages for the Sharon clan, as sophomore Waitley finished second in the 113 pound class.

Rocky Ford had two finalists, with Dezmon Reyes winning the 120 pound title with a 6-2 decision, and Joe Zamora finishing second at 132. Zamora was pinned by Brady Collins from Wray in 4:22. Collins finished his junior season with a 43-0 mark. His teammates Caeden Bauer (182) and Tell Wade (285) both dropped decisions in their title matches. Bauer fell 5-4, while Wade was defeated by Laith Ibrahim from Wiggins, 5-1. It was Ibrahim's second straight title.

Hayden Burr completed a stellar senior campaign, winning the 160 pound title for Sedgwick County/Fleming with a pin in 89 seconds. Burr went 49-1 this year.

Brush was the top area team in 3A, with the Beetdiggers finishing in 18th place. Sterling was 21st and La Junta brought home 29th. Casteus Combs from Sterling was the lone area competitor to make a final in 3A, and he eked out an 8-7 win in the 152 pound class, beating Valley's Colin Brown on a late takedown.

None of the area ladies made the finals in the first state tournament held on the big scene, but Yuma's Mia Dischner wrapped up her outstanding career with a third place finish at 185 pounds. Dischner pinned her opponent in 4:57 to reach the podium.

Lamar's Crystalyn Felan burst on the scene as a freshman and she capped her high school career on Saturday with a sixth place finish at 127 pounds. Felan, a four-time state qualifier, dropped her final match in a 9-5 decision.

One powerful moment from the championship rounds that did not include any local wrestlers, but it was an accomplishment that all aim for, as Pomona's Daniel Cardenas became just the 30th four-time champion in state history. Cardenas capped an undefeated senior season by pinning his title match opponent at 152 pounds in Class 5A. Cardenas already had titles at 120, 138 and 145. He's the first four-time champion in the history of the powerhouse Pomona program.

Postseason basketball is already underway, as many 3A leagues started their tournaments last week. Sterling's boys are in the semifinals after the Tigers picked up a second win over Eaton (65-42) in the span of a couple days. Brush, who fell to University 52-32 last Friday, is in the consolation semis. Both games will be on Thursday.

In the Tri-Peaks, #9 seeded La Junta bumped #8 Ellicott 77-44 in the opening round. That sets up a quarterfinal meeting with #1 St. Mary's on Wednesday. Lamar, seeded 12th, was eliminated in the first round by #5 Woodland Park, 53-24.

The Class 4A state brackets were released on Sunday and Fort Morgan was awarded the #33 seed. That has the Mustangs visiting #32 Sand Creek for a first round contest on Wednesday. The winner faces #1 Lewis-Palmer on Saturday.

Yuma is the top seed in the Class 2A District 2 field, earning a bye into the semifinals of the seven team bracket. The Indians get the winner of #4 Holyoke and #5 Akron in Friday's semis, while the winners of #2 Wray and #7 Burlington and #3 Wiggins and #6 Sedgwick County, will meet in the other half of the bracket.

Limon is seeded second in the District 4 field, and the Badgers await the winner of the opening round game between Platte Canyon and Denver Academy in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Byers is the #4 seed, with a quarterfinal match-up against Golden View Classical. Denver Christian is the top seed.

The first round of the District 6 tournament was played last Thursday, with Hoehne dispatching Rocky Ford. That earned the Meloneers a quarterfinal date with Holly on Monday. Other quarterfinal contests had Rye facing Swink, Crowley County against Swallows Charter, and Fowler hosting Las Animas. Semifinals are Thursday and the placing games are on Friday, all at La Junta High School.

The High Plains league in Class 1A came down to the final game and resulted in a three-way tie for the title. Granada, who defeated Wiley and then lost to McClave, ended up as the top seed for the District 2 bracket, followed by Wiley, McClave and Cheyenne Wells.

Kim/Branson won the Arkansas Valley title and with it, the top seed in District 3. The Mustangs took a bye into the semifinals, with Springfield, Primero and La Veta rounding out the top four seeds in the field.

Briggsdale needed a buzzer-beating three to claim a 62-59 win over Prairie last Friday. Malik Carlson's shot secured the top seed for the Falcons in District 4. They await the winner of the pigtail between Peetz and Weldon Valley, as the quarterfinals will play out on Wednesday at NJC. Haxtun, Merino and Prairie also earned top four seeds.

Genoa-Hugo/Karval got the #1 seed in District 5, but the Pirates got a good scare in their regular season finale from a possible semifinal opponent. Otis, the #4 seed, pushed GH/K last Saturday, falling 45-41. Idalia wrestled the #2 seed away from Stratton in the closing week, defeating the Eagles 65-30 last Thursday. Those two could meet again in Friday's semifinal, if both survive the quarterfinal round. Brush High School hosts the weekend games.

Sterling's girls were eliminated in the first round of the Patriot League tournament last week, as they fell to Valley 34-25. Despite a 47-29 loss to Resurrection Christian in the quarterfinals, Brush is still alive on the consolation side of the bracket, and faces Strasburg on Wednesday.

Lamar dominated James Irwin 57-10 in the opening round of the Tri-Peaks tournament, and has a Tuesday quarterfinal date at #4 seed Ellicott. La Junta was upset by #10 Manitou Springs, 57-51 in the opening round.

There was little drama atop the 2A District 2 bracket, as LPAA champion Holyoke claimed the #1 seed. However, confusion reigned behind the Dragons. Yuma, Sedgwick County, Wray, and Akron all tied for second, and were seeded 2-5 in that order after the tiebreaker. Yuma hosts Burlington in the quarters, while Sedgwick County gets #6 Wiggins and Akron travels to Wray. Semifinals and placing games take place over the weekend at NJC.

Limon is the favorite in District 4, after the Badgers won the Union Pacific crown. They await the winner of the pigtail between Clear Creek and Golden View Classical. Quarterfinals begin on Wednesday. Byers hosts Lotus School for Excellence, with the winner likely seeing Limon in the semifinals on Thursday at Vista PEAK High School.

Swink and Rye both got #1 seeds in the District 6 field, as each won its half of the Santa Fe. Swink opens the tournament with Crowley County, while Rye has Las Animas. Other quarterfinal contests have Hoehne facing Rocky Ford, and Holly meeting up with Fowler.

Thanks to their regular season High Plains title, McClave is the top seed in the 1A District 2 bracket. The Cardinals had a bye into the semifinals, where they will either face #4 Cheraw or #5 Granada. The bottom half of the draw sees #2 Cheyenne Wells squaring off against Wiley and #3 Kit Carson getting Eads. All games in that tournament happen at the Lamar Community Building.

South Baca earned the championship in the Ark Valley and received a bye into the District 3 semifinals. The Patriots will lead the final four into the weekend at Las Animas High School. Second-seeded Springfield opened with Primero on Monday, and #4 La Veta hosted Walsh. The other quarterfinal, to be played on Tuesday, has #3 Kim/Branson hosting Manzanola.

With just seven teams in the District 4 bracket, top-seeded Briggsdale is already into the semifinals. The top-ranked Falcons will either get Haxtun or Caliche in Thursday's semis. Fleming (#2) and #7 Weldon Valley meet in one quarterfinal on the bottom of the bracket, while Merino and Caliche meet in the other. Every game in this tournament is played at NJC, with placing games on Saturday.

Lone Star finished the regular season with a tough 42-37 loss at Haxtun, but the Longhorns had already locked up the #1 seed for District 5. They will host one quarterfinal pod on Tuesday, against either Deer Trail or Genoa-Hugo/Karval. Also in that pod are Arickaree/Woodlin and Hi-Plains. Despite a loss to Idalia last Thursday, Stratton was able to hold off the Wolves for the #2 seed. The Eagles host the other quarterfinal pod, where they will face the winner of Bethune and Flagler. Idalia meets Otis. Semifinals and placing games will be in Brush this weekend.