Some of the best athletes from East, Montbello, Abraham Lincoln and West high schools weren’t playing basketball Thursday night.
They were, however, putting on a show before thousands of people at the Pepsi Center. And they were sorely outnumbered.
Of the 224 wrestlers in the Class 5A state tournament, only nine were from the city, representing just four of the 10 Denver Prep League schools.
“It’s very tough for those inner-city schools to compete with basketball, to compete with football,” said third-year Montbello coach and 1990 graduate Ahmid Nunn, who returned to Montbello to try to reverse that trend.
Besides a lack of feeder programs at the youth level, Nunn’s only competition – in terms of the winter calendar – is basketball. Nunn said he still loses that battle, even when he’s trying to sway the short and stocky athletes.
“You’d be amazed how many 2-foot-2 guys go out for the basketball team,” said Nunn, who wrestled at Iowa’s Drake University.
The glory days of city wrestling are nothing more than memories dating to 1949, when North won its last of nine team championships, which still stands as third best all time.
East qualified a city-high four wrestlers for the state meet and, like West, has one team state title in its history.
According to East coach Randy Gallegos, wrestling is slowly picking up at a school known for its basketball program. Much of that he credits to 2004 champion Henry Kofa, who became the first Angels wrestler to win a weight since 1953.
Abraham Lincoln’s 189-pound senior, Juan Carrillo, held on for a tough 5-4 decision over first-round opponent Erik Estrada of Columbine.
“I’m proud,” Carrillo said of being the Lancers’ lone representative. “At the beginning of the year, I quit because I didn’t like it. Now that I’m here, I know that was a mistake.”
Montbello 119-pounder Michael Threadgill won his first match 10-8 over Palmer junior Joey Mellilo. Threadgill, a senior, said he loves the sport, even though he gets teased at school.
“In track, you wear tights. It’s the fear,” Threadgill said. “They don’t know. Like when you eat a food you don’t like, like a squid, when you eat it, it’s probably good, but you’ve got to try it in order to get hooked.”
The 5A tournament, which continues today and culminates Saturday, had a business-as-usual opening round.
Each of the four returning state champions advanced, three via pinfall and one on a 25-10 technical fall – courtesy of takedown master Henry Cejudo of Coronado. The 125-pound Cejudo (22-0 this season) remained unbeaten, along with Monarch 112-pounder Geoff Meng (41-0), Rocky Mountain 112-pounder Kyle O’Brien (40-0), Loveland 119- pounder Tyler Graff (41-0) and Wasson 135-pounder Casey Cruz (38-0).
Meng and O’Brien are on a collision course for the 112-pound final, while Cruz is hiding under the radar at 135 thanks to the presence of returning state champion Marcus Nelson of Ponderosa – which is after its fourth consecutive team title.
Cruz said an undefeated record means little at this point.
“It’s just how you wrestle,” he said.
Cruz will face Coronado ace Cole Nash (35-3) today.
Results
Team scores – Ponderosa 26 1/2, Wasson 20, Chaparral 17, Centaurus 16 1/2, Pomona 13, Rocky Mountain 11 1/2, Thornton 11 1/2, Brighton 11, Coronado 10 1/2, Bear Creek 10, Columbine 10, Legacy 10, Central (G.J.) 9 1/2, Northglenn 9, Grandview 8 1/2, Arvada West 8, Boulder 8, Heritage 8, Poudre 8, Douglas County 7, Doherty 6, Eaglecrest 6, Fairview 6, Fort Collins 6, Loveland 6, Palmer 6, Arapahoe 5, Fruita Monument 4, Grand Junction 4, Highlands Ranch 4, Monarch 4, Montbello 4, Standley Lake 4, Adams City 3 1/2, West 3 1/2, Air Academy 3, Mitchell 3, Rampart 3, Regis 3, Abraham Lincoln 2, Aurora Central 2, Cherry Creek 2, Durango 2, Gateway 2, Lakewood 2, Rangeview 2, ThunderRidge 2.
103 pounds – Zeke Hofer, Ponderosa, dec. Gabe Mamigonian, Heritage, 9-2; Evan Atencio, Thornton, pinned Sean Cholas, Central (G.J.), 3:50; Philip Grout, Northglenn, pinned Ruben Markarian, Eaglecrest, 3:57; Logan Burch, Rampart, maj. dec. Drew Moulton, Wasson, 10-1; Dominic Madril, Pomona, dec. Caleb McDowell, Chaparral, 4-1; Gavin Peters, Standley Lake, pinned Paul Scanga, Grand Junction, 2:47; Josh Kreimier, Loveland, dec. Marcus May, Green Mountain, 5-0; Paul Montoya, Brighton, pinned Eric Wilson, Grandview, 3:50.
112 – Geoff Meng, Monarch, pinned Nate Hill, Mountain Vista, :50; Patrick Brown, Grandview, dec. Brandon Ford, Rampart, 8-7; Dominic Valenzuela, Centaurus, pinned Stas Kardas, Green Mountain, 4:30; Nick Jones, Pomona, dec. Andrew Mayle, Coronado, 12-6; Kyle O’Brien, Rocky Mountain, pinned Pace Bates, Grand Junction, 2:53; Joshua Christopher, Montbello, dec. Chris Cruickshank, Legacy, 6-2; Daniel Kelly, Ponderosa, dec. Martin Maldonado, Doherty, 6-5; Alonzo Montoya, Brighton, dec. Nolan Myers, Smoky Hill, 5-0.
119 – Lorenzo Garcia, Northglenn, maj. dec. Vernon Anthony, Durango, 15-2; Michael Threadgill, Montbello, dec. Joey Mellilo, Palmer, 10-8; Tyler Graff, Loveland pinned Adam Dunne, Legacy, :52; Kelan Hughes, Arapahoe, maj. dec. Mikie Burgess, Green Mountain, 13-2; Sean White, Central (G.J.) pinned Travis Rios, Lakewood, 3:39; Sam Martinez, Doherty, pinned Drew Dondelinger, Centaurus, 4:27; Kyle Love, Chaparral, dec. Jason Blasdel, Fruita Monument, 4-2; Oliver Yaney, Air Academy, maj. dec. Brooks Martinez, Brighton, 14-4.
125 – Nathan Childers, Eaglecrest, dec. Tyler Gorek, Arvada, 6-2; Zach Mamigonian, Heritage, dec. Nick Wells, Doherty, 6-3; Henry Cejudo, Coronado, tech. fall Tyson Quiller, Boulder, 25-10; Rhett Breed, Durango dec. Brian Wilson, Brighton, 11-6 OT; Vince Gallegos, Legacy, fall Tony George, Rampart, 4:43; A.J. Maestas, Adams City, tech. fall Ryan Sauceda, East, 15-0; Anthony Doyle, Poudre, dec. Cody Sanders, Douglas County, 6-0; Ty Bennett, Ponderosa, pinned Stephen Hren, Central (G.J.), 3:40.
130 – Rocco DePaolo, Eaglecrest, pinned Cory Gournic, Columbine, 1:22; Steven Reynolds, Central (G.J.), tech. fall Josh Gutierriez, Legacy, 17-2; Seiji Hashimoto, Thornton, tech. fall Matt Hamaker, Fruita Monument, 20-5; Josh Trygstad, Chaparral, pinned Dietrick Turney, Brighton, 3:49; Jesse Cruz, Wasson, pinned Dylan Lewis, Wheat Ridge, 1:32; Chris Branch, Doherty, dec. Matt Croshal, Arapahoe, 7-4; Zac Chavez, Centaurus, tech. fall Boden Apple, Green Mountain, 16-1; Trevor Schuch, Pomona, maj. dec. Tyler Young, Grand Junction, 14-2.
135 – Wayne Enockson, Lakewood, dec. Isaac Colon, Doherty, 5-4; Rodney Padilla, Chaparral, dec. Brent Schriner, Brighton, 8-5; Marcus Nelson, Ponderosa pinned Sterling Ballinger, Durango, 3:02; John Hooper, Regis, maj. dec. Jason Ericsson, Bear Creek, 9-1; Mike Jones, Legacy, dec. Chad Busnardo, Green Mountain, 4-0; Phil Schmedeman, Douglas County maj. dec. Ryan Olvera, Eaglecrest, 14-5; Casey Cruz, Wasson, pinned Justin Trammell, Heritage, 4:14; Cole Nash, Coronado, pinned Emmet Rooney, Air Academy, 4:35.
140 – Erik Talmich, Wasson, pinned Charlie Erickson, Durango, 2:53; Justin Jefferies, Brighton, dec. Jared Bratcher, Grand Junction, 13-10; Zach Votruba, Rocky Mountain, tech. pinned Abram Vera, East, 17-1; Micah Burak, Coronado, maj. dec. Edgar Audello, Legacy, 15-4; Mike Conklin, Fort Collins, pinned Addison MacDonald, Grandview, 3:38; Marty Marquez, Central (G.J.), dec. Markus Garcia, Doherty, 4-1; Jesse Snider, Ponderosa, maj. dec. Caesar Crespin, Centaurus, 13-5; Walter Rumpf, Fairview, pinned Peter Cook, Rampart, 1:21.
145 – Tyson Blatter, Columbine, dec. Jeremy Opperman, Green Mountain, 7-3; Joe Meinhart, Fruita Monument, pinned Reece Montour, Legacy, 5:24; Levi Kelly, Wasson, dec. Greg Padilla, Rocky Mountain, 7-2; Patrick Armstrong, Ponderosa, pinned Brad Vogel, Heritage, :51; Nick Gerace, Arvada West, dec. Jacob Anderson, Bear Creek, 6-5; Jamee Riccatone, Pomona, dec. Nick Johnson, Monarch, 8-7; Jon Brascetta, Grandview, tech. fall Ted Gurule, Brighton, 29-12; Matanya Horowitz, Fairview, dec. Martin Sare, Dakota Ridge, 10-7.
152 – Garrett Lanham, Centaurus, dec. Eli Lichtenstein, Douglas County, 8-6 OT; Ryan Sanchez, Arvada West, dec. Pasha Tabatabai, Regis, 13-7; Brandon Doyle, Poudre, pinned Matt Spotton, Rocky Mountain, 1:26; Antonio Covarrubias, West, tech. fall Justin Reed, Arapahoe, 18-3; Matthew Murphy, Chaparral, pinned Brian Doyle, Rangeview, 1:35; Brant Fuller, Bear Creek, pinned Gabe Eacker, Doherty, 3:14; Curtis McNary, Grandview, pinned Jared Cruz, Central (G.J.), 2:58; Brad Stansbury, Heritage, dec. Frank Sandoval, Durango, 9-2.
160 – Eric Brennan, Bear Creek, dec. Jake Julian, Highlands Ranch, 9-4; Servando Heredia, Aurora Central, dec. Jon Montgomery, Palmer, 7-2; Almir Hodzic, Gateway, dec. Logan Hancock, Central (G.J.), 13-7; Mitch Schubert, Columbine, dec. Xander Elliott, Arapahoe, 13-11; Logan Johnson, Mitchell, maj. dec. Matt Lucherini, Grandview, 9-0; Lee Nadeau, Ft. Collins, dec. Matt Strohm, Regis, 10-6; Zach Phillips, Arvada West, pinned Casey Norgard, Rocky Mountain, 3:06; James Lucero, Brighton, maj. dec. Zack Clark, Arvada, 17-5.
171 – Jordan Weber, Legacy, dec. Robert Lanius, Arapahoe, 13-7; Willie McClure, Pomona, pinned Morteza Zareie, East, 4:40; Eric Goral, Heritage, pinned Jared Goebel, Grand Junction, 1:43; Jeff Quinlin, Highlands Ranch, pinned Adam Gunton, Columbine, 2:30; Kenny Smith, Wasson, dec. Luke Vandenburg, Loveland, 13-6; Brennan Whitman, Poudre, dec. John Simpson, Grandview, 5-4; Ed Matthews, Boulder, pinned Gabe Gardner, Air Academy, 5:26; Jacob Terada, Northglenn, dec. T.J. Heffron, Ponderosa, 10-3.
189 – Ian Heinisch, Ponderosa, fall Steve Cruz, Chaparral, 1:25; Everett Tafoya, Centaurus, tech. fall Ethan Saffer, Loveland, 18-3; Peter Herring, Boulder, dec. Robert Tucker, Grand Junction, 9-3; Juan Carrillo, Abraham Lincoln, dec. Erik Estrada, Columbine, 5-4; Marc Schiechl, Bear Creek, fall Dan Craft, Pomona, 1:15; Brandon Johnson, Rangeview, dec. Kyle McKinnell, Regis, 2-1 2OT; Travis Bundy, Rocky Mountain, pinned Mike Kannianen, Legacy, 1:34; James Gerstberger, Palmer, dec. Sal Howes, Arvada, 10-8.
215 – Matt Londo, Wasson, pinned Chris Black, Mountain Vista, 1:59; Marty Taffet, Cherry Creek, dec. Sidney Lloyd, Air Academy, 5-4; Waylon Lolatai, Centaurus, tech. fall Robby Unger, Highlands Ranch, 16-1; Dres Crosier, Ponderosa, tech. fall Jeff Lehman, Lewis-Palmer, 15-0; Robert Hoffschneider, Columbine, dec. Zach Curtis, Rangeview, 5-3 OT; Nick Bauman, Legacy, dec. Jaime Matticks, Central (G.J.), 6-1; Justin Reed, Grand Junction, pinned Brandon Whatley, Doherty, 3:11; Bayard McCue-Frazier, Chaparral, maj. dec. Keith Shinsato, Bear Creek, 11-3.
Hwt. – Will Ard, ThunderRidge, dec. Neal Brinkerhoff, Rocky Mountain, 3-2; John Kyed, Boulder, dec. Stephen Stahl, Overland, 5-1; Marcus Felker, Thornton, pinned Eddie Ellis, Horizon, 1:54; Jon Russell, Palmer, pinned Chris Kiel, East, :54; Andrew Skinner, Chaparral, dec. Isaac Valentine, Grand Junction, 3-2; Cody Baker, Douglas County, pinned Jake Richmeier, Wheat Ridge, 3:33; Bobby Strain, Arapahoe, dec. Ben Chea, West, 8-1; Travis Duffy, Columbine, fall Mike McKnight, Heritage, :31.
