If you believe strength comes in numbers, then the Class 3A bracket should be the toast of today’s 71st annual state wrestling tournament.
The state’s second-smallest classification leads the way with nine returning state champions, including two-time champion Curtis Salazar of Valley, one of four trying to maintain an undefeated season.
As is often the case, none of these returning champions are in the same weight class at the Pepsi Center. But with nine champions in 14 weights, there is little room to duck, especially in the lower and middle weights.
The team race also is a numbers game. Monte Vista remains the favorite to claim its first team title since 1998 by qualifying 11 wrestlers for state, including a 3A-best six regional champions.
“We feel like we did what we need to do at regionals,” Monte Vista coach Eric Hotz said.
Monte Vista finished second last year behind Olathe, which snuck through the backdoor by crowning no individual champions but placing eight wrestlers. Olathe is back with 10 wrestlers and four regional champions.
“I don’t know if I like that or not, but that’s the way it is,” Hotz said of being the favorite.
Also playing the numbers game are Burlington, Roosevelt, La Junta and Gunnison, which all qualified at least 10 wrestlers, much to the surprise of one coach.
“They just caught on fire Saturday like I’ve never had a team do before,” Gunnison coach Leo Malloy said. “It’s pretty amazing, actually.”
In that group of Cowboys is 152-pound senior Skye Wells (34-0 this season), who will try to win in arguably the toughest bracket in 3A. Wells placed third at 152 last season, but now must contend with 145-pound champion Rodrik David (32-2) of Burlington.
Salazar (34-0, 150-6 in his career) heads up the lower half of the 145-pound bracket and hasn’t lost a match since early January 2004. Salazar, a senior bound for Nebraska, won at 135 as a junior and 130 as a sophomore.
Platte Valley senior Adam Symonds (24-3) sits atop the upper half of the 145 bracket and is considered Salazar’s top competition.
The 125 weight class, headlined by Centauri’s 119 champion Rory Keys (41-1), also looks particularly strong with Roosevelt’s P.J. Gallegos (16-3) and Weld Central’s Jose Castro (30-8).
