Two generations of wrestling hard-wired spladles, guillotines and cement mixers into Ely Martinez’s brain.
As part of a third generation of grapplers, Martinez has had those moves and others ingrained into him by his brother and a cousin. Sometimes even in the family living room.
“Yeah, we wrestle around in the house a little, just to mess around,” said Martinez, a 130-pounder at St. Mary’s in Colorado Springs.
That might have been all good when the Martinez clan was growing up. But now, things are going to get broken. These guys are animals.
Martinez’s brother, Ethan, moved up to 125 pounds after winning the Class 3A 119-pound title last season and stuck Cole Cunningham of Valley in the first round of the state wrestling tournament Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
Ethan and Ely are the sons of former Harrison wrestler Danny Martinez and the grandsons of Trinidad grappler Felix Martinez.
Their cousin Gabrian Martinez, also from St. Mary’s, took care of business at 103 pounds with a second-period pin of Salida’s Josh Valerio.
Ely Martinez placed fourth last season and got off to a good start this year with a 7-0 decision over Peyton senior Branson Bartlett.
“The first match is always the toughest,” said Martinez, who improved to 27-3. “But being nervous is a good thing because you know you’re ready.”
Ignacio’s Cody Haga (32-2) and Arrupe Jesuit’s Richard Apodaca (37-3) also cruised through the first round of the 130-pound bracket and could provide the stiffest challenge to Ely Martinez, along with Roosevelt’s P.J. Gallegos.
Ethan Martinez, who already owns a title, is one of four returning 3A champions.
La Junta junior Ross Leyba, 103-pound champion last year, needed 12 seconds to dispatch his first-round opponent. Also, Bryson Gray, state champ at 112s, pinned Shaun Clyncke of Holy Family in the first period.
Lance Gallegos of Arrupe Jesuit, who moved up a weight and a classification after taking the 2A 135-pound title last season, cruised through his first match while Centauri junior Mitchell Polkowske (44-0) stayed undefeated at 135.
With nearly 900 wrestlers on the mats from four classifications and every corner of the state, and as many as 40,000 fans in the stands over the three-day tournament, nerves play a big role on the first day.
Platte Valley senior Craig Wisehart had his hands full with Gunnison freshman Josh Roper, and a little extra experience might have been the difference in Wisehart’s 10-6 decision.
“Last year I was overwhelmed, and even this year it’s pretty crazy,” Wisehart said. “It’s tough to get past those first-round jitters.”
3A RESULTS
Preliminaries
At the Pepsi Center
Team scores – Brush 32 1/2, Roosevelt 27, Florence 26, Olathe 24, Monte Vista 21 1/2, Gunnison 17, La Junta 17, Centauri 13 1/2, Eaton 12, Yuma 12, Pagosa Springs 11, Lamar 10 1/2, Arrupe Jesuit 10, Ignacio 10, Manitou Springs 10, St. Mary’s 10, University 10, Bayfield 8, Bennett 8, Buena Vista 8, Hotchkiss 8, Salida 8, Sheridan 8, Trinidad 8, Holy Family 6, Platte Valley 6, Castle View 4, Clear Creek 4, Estes Park 4, Highland 4, Valley 4, Weld Central 4, Cedaredge 3, Classical Academy 3, Coal Ridge 3, Strasburg 2.
103 pounds – Jose Medina, Olathe, dec. Kyle King, Florence, 9-8; Mason Amaya, University, pinned Josh Jaime, Lamar, 1:44; Gabrian Martinez, St. Mary’s, pinned Josh Valerio, Salida, 2:52; Ty Robinson, Castle View, pinned Isiah Lucero, La Junta, 3:10; Angelo Ramirez, Yuma, pinned Derek Schneider, Valley, 1:25; Joshua Plehinger, Ignacio, dec. Leo Elizaldi, Hotchkiss, 9-8; Kenny Porter, Bennett, pinned Kyle Walter, Roosevelt, 3:48; Garret Eastep, Manitou Springs, pinned Spencer Smith, Buena Vista, 3:56.
112 – John Bailey, Florence, pinned Travis Lampinen, Middle Park, 2:40; Keith Closson, Holy Family, pinned Coleton Nicklas, Yuma, 1:21; Steven Smith, Pagosa Springs, dec. Alex Quinonez, Hotchkiss, 8-4; Zach Legino, Roosevelt, pinned Kenneth Montoya, Lamar, 1:06; Ross Leyba, La Junta, pinned Josh Neill, Highland, :12; Adam Masbruch, Buena Vista, dec. Pablo Mascaranes, Monte Vista, 9-5; Jake Eitzen, Estes Park, pinned Garret Baca, Peyton, :23; Cahlen Keys, Centauri, pinned Casey Bollinger, Olathe, 3:15.
119 – Zach Trujillo, Monte Vista, pinned Jarron Cito, Roosevelt, 4:52; Caleb Wyatt, Hotchkiss, pinned Phillip Vigil, La Junta, 2:25; Cody Cole, Brush, dec. Derek Tucker, Florence, 14-1; Jerad Birch, Classical Academy, dec. Clayton Archuleta, Lamar, 12-2; Vicente Gallegos, Arrupe Jesuit, dec. Joe Visconti, Middle Park, 14-4; Phillip Sheridan, Centauri, dec. Dylan McKie, Yuma, 8-4; Bryson Gray, Olathe, pinned Shaun Clyncke, Holy Family, 1:57; Michael Williams, Strasburg, dec. Trevor Huntsman, Bayfield, 7-5, OT.
125 – Tommy Ketchum, La Junta, dec. Taylor Swanemyr, Bayfield, 11-2; Cole Kembel, Brush, dec. Zeke Farber, Buena Vista, 8-1; Ethan Martinez, St. Mary’s, pinned Cole Cunningham, Valley, 1:39; Craig Wisehart, Platte Valley, dec. Josh Roper, Gunnison, 10-6; Dan Frank, Roosevelt, pinned Shelby Garrett, Middle Park, :54; Adam Garcia, Monte Vista, tech. fall John Howard, Clear Creek, 19-3; Jaime Goza, Olathe, dec. Jon Korf, Yuma, 9-3; Andrew Addington, Florence, dec. Brendon Downing, Lamar, 15-13.
130 – P.J. Gallegos, Roosevelt, dec. Curtis McCormick, Olathe, 14-1; Matt Addington, Florence, pinned Phillip Gallegos, La Junta, 4:31; Keenan Grumly, Coal Ridge, dec. Justin Hatchell, Eaton, 20-10; Ely Martinez, St. Mary’s, dec. Branson Bartlett, Peyton, 7-0; Cody Haga, Ignacio, pinned Justin Fleshman, Lamar, 1:31; Tanner Christensen, Brush, pinned Brad Korkowski, Middle Park, 1:09; Richard Apodaca, Arrupe Jesuit, dec. Ty Conrad, Bayfield, 15-5; Garrett Marquardt, Cedaredge, dec. Trey Emerson, Yuma, 16-4.
135 – Derrick Cordova, Brush, dec. Nate Halpin, Florence, 8-3; Jakob Roberts, La Junta, pinned Michael Larsen, Coal Ridge, 1:00; Mitchell Polkowske, Centauri, tech. fall Jeff Kielian, Roosevelt, 16-0; Brandon Downing, Lamar, pinned Dane Axtell, Olathe, 5:03; Eric Tiedeman, Bennett, pinned Josh Saar, Buena Vista, 3:08; Justin Prieto, Monte Vista, pinned Jared Cass, Platte Valley, 5:16; Nate Lara, Valley, pinned Levi Tredway, Gunnison, 4:53; Roy Westbrook, Bayfield, dec. Troy Kuhlman, Highland, 6-5.
140 – Richie Grauberger, Brush, pinned Tyler Toth, Clear Creek, 3:22; Colton Garcia, Gunnison, pinned Austin Thorne, Bayfield, 3:45; Lance Gallegos, Arrupe Jesuit, pinned Trevor Shockley, Platte Valley, 3:51; Travis Darling, Ignacio, pinned Billy Nelson, Buena Vista. 1:40; Micky Koonce, Florence, pinned Michael Cullen, Coal Ridge, 1:49; Josh Newbury, Yuma, pinned Adam Gurule, Sheridan, 5:37; Kevin Warren, Monte Vista, dec. Kyle Vannest, Olathe, 5-2; Cory Ortiz, La Junta, pinned Matt Smith, Eaton, 1:17.
145 – Rafael Munoz, Brush, tech. fall Jon Muncher, Manitou Springs, 15-0; Cody Burch, Olathe, pinned Garrett Walker, Peyton, 1:54; Jordan Larsen, Bayfield, pinned Bryce Kammerzel, Eaton, 3:22; Jimmy Hirsh, Weld Central, pinned Josh Alsop, Coal Ridge, 3:29; Casey Seifert, Sheridan, pinned Ryan Ventura, Classical Academy, 1:24; Joe Ducharme, Pagosa Springs dec. Lonny Graham, Highland, 8-6; Zack Faber, Buena Vista, pinned Josh Hernandez, Lamar, 1:06; Brandon Montoya, Roosevelt, dec. Tony Magno, Florence, 4-2.
152 – Dustin Cadwell, Gunnison, dec. Wylie Meikle, Weld Central, 12-2; Shane Mendoza, University, dec. Jake Zink, Bayfield, 9-7; Ian Morgan, Sheridan, pinned Cody Richards, Hotchkiss, :19; Aaron Smith, Florence, dec. Josh Miller, Highland, 10-9; Tim Frank, Roosevelt, dec. Chad Turner, Manitou Springs, 12-4; Wes Yarnell, Olathe, pinned Riley May, Lamar, :55; Mike Smith, Pagosa Springs, dec. Tyler Booth, Brush, 17-4; Phillip Merwin, La Junta, dec. Justen Strang, Middle Park, 4-3.
160 – Brandon Kammerzel, Eaton, pinned Tyler Yates, Valley, 1:31; Justin Grosse, Gunnison, pinned Calvin Rutter, Florence, :49; Cade Hasser, Lamar, tech. fall Gaire Rudnick, Brush, 18-1; Chance Long, Hotchkiss, pinned Kyle Borrego, Bayfield, 2:31; Justin Rogers, Centauri, pinned Jesse Mitchell, Buena Vista, 1:24; Jeff Plumb, Roosevelt, dec. Sean Allen, Clear Creek, 11-0; Chris Diaz, Olathe, pinned Brian Pacheco, Monte Vista, 3:27; Zach Diaz, Yuma, pinned Carl Nightswonger, Weld Central, 2:14.
171 – Brady Quarry, Manitou Springs, pinned Ed Page, Peyton, 2:57; Christian Griffith, Eaton, pinned Brady Gasaway, Coal Ridge, 3:19; Charlie Hanson, Clear Creek, pinned Pat Ford, Pagosa Springs, 1:24; Aaron Quinlin, Brush, pinned Marvin Rivera, Olathe, 4:27; Nathan Heuer, Roosevelt, pinned Rich Cahill, Salida, 1:27; Scott Campbell, Florence, dec. Robert Alba, Lamar, 8-6; Eric Lee, Gunnison, pinned Kyle Symonds, Platte Valley, 3:03; German Gutierrez, Monte Vista, pinned Kyle Nelson, Weld Central, 1:38.
189 – Aaron Batt, Eaton, pinned Matt Clyncke, Holy Family, 3:20; Steve McQuigg, Manitou Springs, dec. Nick Miller, Cedaredge, 14-8; David Clark, Platte Valley, pinned Jeremiah Bossow, Weld Central, 1:42; Jake Fickle, Buena Vista, dec. Steve Hansen, Florence, 13-7; Marcus Eckstein, Bayfield, dec. David Vader, Gunnison, 4-2; Joe O’Farrell, University, pinned Jered Lowe, Lamar, 3:59; Kyle Martinez, Olathe, pinned Caleb Burggraaf, Pagosa Springs, 1:07; Daniel Rubalcaba, Brush, pinned Ryan Salazar, La Junta, 4:09.
215 – Mike Mazzucca, Salida, pinned Wilson Henry, Yuma, 3:59; Eric Hurd, Pagosa Springs, pinned Ty McVicker, La Junta, 3:36; Nick Dreitz, Brush, pinned Alan Reveles, Middle Park, 2:47; Lane Stuht, Trinidad, pinned Rich Bland, Lutheran, 3:34; Chris Salazar, Monte Vista, pinned Brandon Vaughn, Lamar, 2:24; Dustin Frank, Roosevelt, pinned Michael Beard, Hotchkiss, 3:07; Jon Medley, Florence, pinned Zach Owens, Weld Central, 4:40; Scott Redden, Gunnison dec. Preston Rininger, Eaton, 9-6.
Hwt. – Troy Appel, Lamar, pinned John Kuykendall, Gunnison, 1:20; Gilbert Martinez, Trinidad, pinned Derek Frank, Roosevelt, :47; Scott Wilkins, Salida, pinned Stephen Carr, Clear Creek, :15; Adam Waters, Brush, dec. Corey Williamson, Bayfield, 4-0; Tanner Wilcox, Florence, pinned Zach Gutierrez, Erie, 3:15; Mike Gutierrez, Holy Family, dec. Tyler Hawk, Olathe, 9-7; Austin Kinnison, Highland, pinned Geoffrey Grayson, St. Mary’s, 2:29; Anthony Curiel, Middle Park, pinned Kurtis McQueary, Weld Central, 1:22.
