Life isn’t big enough for Henry Cejudo.
The 125-pound senior phe- nom from Coronado can’t get enough wrestling. He also can’t wait to get on to bigger and better things, like world championships, defeating an archrival from Russia and winning an Olympic gold medal in 2008.
But life right now demands Cejudo take care of his local business – namely his quest for a fourth state championship to cap off his second consecutive undefeated season since he relocated to Colorado Springs from Phoenix before his junior season.
In his weight class, Cejudo is ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and recently was ranked No. 1 in the world in the junior division and No. 5 in the open, senior class. He has 15 national championships from various wrestling disciplines to his name.
He also has a hard time convincing himself the state tournament, which starts today, is the biggest thing in his career.
“It meant a lot when I was a kid,” Cejudo, 18, said of winning four state titles. “Now, it’s just kind of like, ‘Wow, another tournament.’ It’s exciting, but at the same time, I’d rather have a world title.”
And that discussion is quick to fill Cejudo’s mind and ears with the name of his nemesis: Russian world champion Besik Kudukhov.
Cejudo is 2-2 most recently against Kudukhov. It’s a battle Cejudo family friend Dave Hurtado thinks might not be settled until the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
“He’s in my head a lot. I’m getting tired of hearing his name,” Cejudo said. “He’s smart. But I’m going to get him. He’s mine.”
If Cejudo does go on to Olympic glory, catching him one last time at the Pepsi Center this week might be of historical importance.
It might be your last chance to watch his lightning-quick takedown clinic or his unrivaled showmanship, whether it be an in-match cartwheel or his impression of a prowling cat.
“I got a little entertainment,” he said. “At the same time, I just want to wrestle. Sometimes (opponents) don’t wrestle and I’ll do silly stuff.”
Although a man in terms of experience, Cejudo is still a kid – at least for a few more months.
Cejudo (21-0 this season) is one of four returning state champions from the state’s largest classification and is one of five wrestlers with undefeated records this season.
Like Cejudo, Loveland 119- pound standout Tyler Graff (40-0) is the favorite to win his weight. The same can’t be said for undefeated wrestlers Casey Cruz (135 pounds) of Wasson, Monarch’s Geoff Meng (112) and Rocky Mountain’s Kyle O’Brien (112).
Ponderosa’s Marcus Nelson remains the favorite at 135, while Meng and O’Brien must get through each other and Pomona’s Nick Jones to conquer the field at 112.
Cejudo, Graff, Nelson and Ponderosa teammate Ian Heinisch (189 pounds) are 5A’s only returning state champions.
Ponderosa, which has nine entrants, remains the favorite to win its fourth consecutive state title, although Legacy (11), Central of Grand Junction (seven), Chaparral (eight), (Doherty (eight), Grand Junction (eight) and Wasson (six) have the numbers and quality to keep things interesting.
“They’re probably still the favorite,” Wasson coach Bill Bragg said of Ponderosa. “But strings come to an end.”
