Centauri wrestling coach Randy Keys has led kids to the state tournament, helped them win state titles and had some come back for more.
In seven years at the Class 3A school from La Jara, a few miles south of Alamosa, Keys has coached six of the Falcons’ eight state champions.
Thursday, however, marked the first time Keys has prepared his own blood to defend a state title.
Rory Keys, the oldest of three wrestling sons, got off to a flying start Thursday at the state wrestling tournament, pinning Gary Cronk of The Classical Academy in the first period of their 125-pound bout.
Rory Keys, a senior with a 29-1 record this season, won a state title at 119 pounds last year. With four more victories, he would join former Falcons Aaron Polkowski (a two-time champion in 1993 and 1994) and Andrew Arellano (a three-timer from 2002-04) as a multiple-title winner from the school.
“It’s a little more intense for all of us,” Randy Keys said of gearing up for the state tournament. “They’re kind of like your kids, but once it’s your own … yeah, it’s a little added pressure.”
The 71st annual state wrestling tournament continues today at the Pepsi Center and culminates Saturday night after the traditional Parade of Champions at 6:30 p.m.
Rory Keys, with his hair dyed red, needed two takedowns to get Cronk in trouble before sticking him with 20 seconds remaining in the first period.
“It would be nice to get that,” Rory Keys said of a second state title. “Not many people have done that before. But I try not to think about it. I just go out there and wrestle.”
That was the winning formula for eight of 3A’s nine returning state champions. The only casualty was La Junta sophomore Ross Leyba, who was unable to defend his 103-pound title after failing to make weight Thursday morning.
Otherwise, it was business as usual.
“The main thing is not letting your nerves get ahold of you,” 140-pound Eaton senior Luke Hanna said.
Hanna has been in three state finals and has a 1-2 record. He won at 112 pounds as a sophomore.
“Seems tiny now,” he said with a laugh.
Hanna (28-3) needed 1 minute, 31 seconds to pin Gunnison senior Tyler Hanson. Afterward, pulling off a full wrap of athletic tape from around his hand, Hanna shrugged when asked about his perspective on the tournament.
“I just want to get it this year, you know? But so does everyone else,” he said.
Three wrestlers maintained their undefeated seasons, including Valley senior Curtis Salazar (35-0), a two-time champion looking for his third crown, in the 145-pound weight class. Salazar pinned Hotchkiss junior Chris Matheson in 1:37.
Salazar’s teammate Reuben Gutierrez went the distance in his first 119-pound match against Monte Vista freshman Adam Garcia. Gutierrez won at 112 last year.
“It affects me good,” Gutierrez said of being a returning state champion. “Everyone wants a piece of me. … I wrestle my best all the time, even above and beyond what I can do, in order to beat them.”
Results
Team scores – Roosevelt 30, Monte Vista 26, Burlington 22, Eaton 22, Ignacio 18, Olathe 18, Gunnison 16, Salida 16, Brush 15 1/2, La Junta 15, Lamar 15, Florence 14, St. Mary’s 13 1/2, Valley 13, Hotchkiss 12, Platte Valley 12, Middle Park 11, Weld Central 9 1/2, Centauri 9, Frederick 8, Pagosa Springs 8, Yuma 8, Highland 7 1/2, Bayfield 7, Cedaredge 5, Ellicott 4, Manitou Springs 4, Erie 3 1/2, University 3, Clear Creek 2, Bennett 2, Classical Academy 2, Estes Park 2.
103 pounds – Justin Rangel, Lamar, pinned Adam Masbruch, Buena Vista, 3:09; Gabrian Martinez, St. Mary’s, dec. Dylan McKie, Yuma, 5-2; Joe Visconti, Middle Park, bye; Cole Kembel, Brush, maj. dec. Pablo Mascarenas, Monte Vista, 12-2; Phillip Sheridan, Centauri, dec. Devon Valdez, Frederick, 7-6; John Howard, Clear Creek, dec. Jacob Cadwell, Gunnison, 5-3; Jake Eitzen, Estes Park, dec. Trevor Huntsman, Bayfield, 14-7; Alex Quinonez, Hotchkiss, pinned Jasper Ceja, Sheridan, 3:46. 112 – Cody Cole, Brush, maj. dec. Keith Closson, Holy Family, 17-5; Ely Martinez, St Mary’s, pinned Ben Gove, Salida, 2:33; Preston Alonzo, Lamar, maj. dec. Gersain Diaz, Yuma, 19-6; John Bailey, Florence, pinned Leonel Elizaldi, Hotchkiss, 1:46; Zach Trujillo, Monte Vista, pinned Jonathan Watkins, Pinnacle, 1:08; Phillip Vigil, La Junta, dec. Jarron Cito, Roosevelt, 7-0; Bryson Gray, Olathe, pinned Andrew Egeler, C.S. Christian, 2:26; Chancey Taylor, Burlington, dec. Tyler Mines, Erie, 6-2. 119 – Rueben Gutierrez, Valley, maj. dec. Adam Garcia, Monte Vista, 14-1; San Miguel Castillo, Frederick, pinned Calyn Miller, Gunnison, 3:24; Mitchell Polkowske, Centauri, maj. dec. Cameron Penny, Burlington, 12-2; Jesse Snyder,
Salida, pinned Tyler Herbst, Yuma, :30; Dan Frank, Roosevelt, pinned Jason Pridy, Olathe, :53; Ethan Martinez, St. Mary’s, tech. fall Eric Tiedeman, Bennett, 15-0; Sawyer Brossart, Middle Park, maj. dec. Geoff Keeling, Strasburg, 16-4; Cody Haga, Ignacio, pinned Danny Coates, La Junta, 3:04. 125 – Roy Westbrook, Bayfield, maj. dec. Jaime Goza, Olathe, 8-0; Roy Grauberger, Brush, pinned Brock Sharon, Burlington, :36; Rory Keys, Centauri, pinned Gary Cronk, Classical Academy, 1:40; Jose Castro, Weld Central, dec. Robert Harmon, Highland, 16-12; P.J. Gallegos, Roosevelt, tech. fall Jon Taylor, Sheridan, 16-1; Justin Prieto, Monte Vista, dec. Garrett Marquardt, Cedaredge, 7-0; Phillip Gallegos, La Junta, pinned Craig Wisehart, Platte Valley, 1:21; Andrew Addington, Florence, maj. dec. Levi Teansky, Hotchkiss, 17-3. 130 – Kyle Francis, Monte Vista, pinned Ben Curtis, Classical Academy, 1:13; Trevor White, La Junta, dec. Jared Cass, Platte Valley, 3-0; Levi Tredway, Gunnison, dec. Joe Ducharme, Pagosa Springs, 11-5; Mike Siegman, Bennett, dec. Justin Heuer, Roosevelt, 7-5; Chris Penny, Burlington, pinned Seth Flack, University, 2:16; Josh Kilcoyne, Cedaredge, dec. Jordan Larsen, Bayfield, 6-5; John
Zahn, Erie, tech. fall Malachi Ceballos, Weld Central, 22-6; Miky Koonce, Florence, maj. dec. Billy Nelson, Buena Vista, 10-1. 135 – Quinten Fuentes, Roosevelt, pinned Colton Garcia, Gunnison, :52; Chay Caler, Manitou Springs, dec. Adam Gurule, Lutheran, 12-7; Shane Mendoza, University, maj. dec. Jeff Greiner, Middle Park, 15-7; Travis Darling, Ignacio, inj. default Cory Ortiz, La Junta; Omar Gonzales, Monte Vista, maj. dec. Matt Margheim, Valley, 11-3; Josh Saar, Buena Vista, maj. dec. Matt Smith, Eaton, 13-2; Mike Smith, Pagosa Springs, pinned Casey Seifert, Sheridan, 3:46; Gary Kinnison, Highland, tech. fall Jesus Suarez, Olathe, 17-0. 140 – Jacob Appenzeller, Ignacio, pinned Nathan Rouse, Burlington, 1:11; Drew Eyre, Cedaredge, maj. dec. Ryan Fountain, Frederick, 15-4; Nate Venable, Monte Vista, dec. Trenton White, La Junta, 5-3; Brandon Montoya, Roosevelt, dec. Alex Farinelli, Hotchkiss, 8-4; Luke Hanna, Eaton, pinned Tyler Hanson, Gunnison, 1:31; Ky Smith, Pagosa Springs, pinned Carey Salazar, Valley, 1:34; Brandan Greeley, Middle Park, pinned Andrew Algien, Yuma, :46; Chad Turner, Manitou Springs, dec. Steven Persichette, Weld Central, 8-4. 145 – Adam Symonds, Platte Valley,
pinned Jacob Larson, St. Mary’s, 1:58; Joe Goodwin, Salida, pinned Phillip Merwin, La Junta, 1:43; Zach Scholl, Monte Vista, pinned Devon Brown, Eaton, 4:54; Marcus Grinnan, Burlington, pinned Wes Yarnell, Olathe, 5:32; Curtis Salazar, Valley, pinned Chris Matheson, Hotchkiss, 1:37; Chad Tomes, Roosevelt, pinned Jake Zink, Bayfield, :54; Dustin Cadwell, Gunnison, pinned Brandon Rowe, Clear Creek, 1:57; Zack Newberry, Yuma, pinned Matt Boyd, Manitou Springs, 2:43. 152 – Rodrick David, Burlington, pinned Josh Miller, Highland :43; Brad Queen, Hotchkiss, pinned German Gutierrez, Monte Vista, 3:04; Tim Frank, Roosevelt, tech. fall Shahn Monson, Lamar, 16-0; Cody Burch, Olathe, pinned Justin Moore, Pagosa Springs, 2:34; Cain DePriest, Salida, pinned Bryan Atencio, Centauri, 2:15; Riley Lowe, La Junta, maj. dec. Kyle Symonds, Platte Valley, 12-3; Skye Wells, Gunnison, pinned Eric Bojan, Manitou Springs, 2:23; Jose Mendez, Valley, dec. Brandon Dulaney, Brush, 12-9. 160 – Cole Johnson, Hotchkiss, pinned Ed Page, Holy Family, 1:25; Aaron Quinlin, Brush, dec. Matt Nobles, Pagosa Springs, 5-3; Cade Hasser, Lamar, pinned Rod Garrett, Middle Park, 1:54; Jared Jones,
Ignacio, pinned Zach Diaz, Yuma, 1:02; Brandon Kammerzell, Eaton, pinned Allen Cash, Centauri, 4:30; Chris Diaz, Olathe, dec. Adam Wallin, Burlington, 9-6; Nathan Heuer, Roosevelt, dec. Brady Quarry, Manitou Springs, 4-2; Trevor Peters, Ellicott, pinned Justin Grosse, Gunnison, 3:13. 171 – Clayton Weaver, Monte Vista, maj. dec. Dominic Martinez, Frederick, 10-1; Matt Griffith, La Junta, pinned Nick Miller, Cedaredge, 1:03; Brian Cook, Eaton, pinned Calvin Rutter, Florence, 1:00; Eric Lee, Gunnison, dec. B.J. Graves, Lamar, 7-4; Vince Mendez, Valley, pinned Eastyn Coats, Hotchkiss, 1:02; Chris Turnbull, Roosevelt, maj. dec. Dale August, Pagosa Springs, 16-6; Kyle Martinez, Olathe, pinned Matt Clyncke, Holy Family, 1:08; Anthony Hurt, Brush, tech. fall Markus Eckstein, Bayfield, 18-3. 189 – Daniel Palleson, Yuma, pinned David O’Malley, Clear Creek, :58; Chad Vanderhart, Classical Academy, dec. Brandon Geis, C.S. Christian, 6-1; Donovan McMahill, Weld Central, pinned Gaire Rudnik, Brush, :40; Matt Olguin, Ignacio, dec. Jake Fickle, Buena Vista, 9-5; Seth Minton, Bayfield, pinned Alan Reveles, Middle Park, 2:38; Ian Gore, Eaton, maj. dec. Stephen Fox, Lamar, 11-3; Sean Martinez,
Olathe, pinned Martin Hughes, Rock Canyon, :54; David Clark, Platte Valley, pinned Matt Wallin, Burlington, 2:58. 215 – Alfonso Serna, Frederick, pinned Jim Finch, Middle Park, 5:41; Tyson Bossow, Weld Central, tech. fall Taylor Austin, C.S. Christian, 16-1; Luke Hopkin, Platte Valley, pinned Scott Redden, Gunnison, 2:17; Sam Udell, St.Mary’s, pinned Scott Aardema, Sheridan, 1:27; Brian Hendricks, Burlington, pinned Nick Karpilo, Florence, :40; Mike Mazzucca, Salida, pinned Ryan Amaya, University, :30; James Martinez, Pagosa Springs, bye; Dustin Frank, Roosevelt, pinned Robert Culver, Olathe, 5:24. Hwt. – Troy Appel, Lamar, pinned Joe Romine, Pagosa Springs, 5:37; Tommy Lester, Eaton, pinned Scott Wilkins, Salida, 5:08; Keaton Roosen, Monte Vista, pinned Billy Baca, Ellicott, :45; Anthony Curiel, Middle Park, pinned Anthony Fresquez, Frederick, 5:21; Austin Kinnison, Highland, pinned Chad Swisher, Buena Vista, 3:35; Tanner Wilcox, Florence, pinned Stewart Johnson, Weld Central, 5:59; Kyle Robbins, Gunnison, pinned Adam Waters, Brush, 1:33; Jeff Queen, Burlington, pinned Gilbert Martinez, Trinidad, 1:18.
