An extra 16 pounds must have felt like a boulder on the back of Zeke Hofer.
The reigning 103-pound Class 5A state wrestling champion from Ponderosa moved up two weight classes into a loaded 119-pound bracket. And while Hofer would never admit it, the step up is weighing on him – literally.
“It’s not that big of a deal. We all have to make the same weight,” Hofer said after his first-round match at the 72nd state tournament Thursday night at the Pepsi Center, which had a first-day attendance of 8,265.
At first, it appeared the state champion would control Andrew Mayle of Coronado. Hofer took an 8-0 lead in the first period and held a 9-3 advantage after the second.
But Mayle started the third period on top and wouldn’t let Hofer make a move.
With his coaches yelling, “Get to your feet!” Hofer got stuck with a stall call. He eventually escaped but was taken down again, and Hofer clung to a 10-7 lead with the clock winding down and Mayle trying to turn him for back-points and a possible tie.
It didn’t happen. Hofer had his arm raised in victory and then needed about 15 minutes to get his wind back.
“If I wasn’t gassed, I think I would have been fine. I never get gassed. I don’t know what the deal is,” said Hofer, who improved to 30-6 this season.
It will get no easier from here.
Also wrestling at 119 are Pine Creek’s Kory Johnson (34-2), Brighton’s Paul Montoya (39-2) and Pomona’s Nick Jones (35-3). All three won their opening matches.
Jones was especially impressive with a quick takedown and second-period pin against Air Academy senior Corey Sethman. But Jones, whose brother Noomis won the 152-pound state title for Pomona in 2005, isn’t going to guarantee his own title.
“It’s just stacked. Anybody can win it. It just depends on who brings it,” said Jones, who beat Hofer earlier in the season.
Jones’ teammate Willie McClure, the 171-pound champion last year now at 189s, took the first step in securing his second championship.
Another returning state champion, Loveland’s Tyler Graff, started the day looking ripped and more than a little agitated. He dispatched Poudre’s Greg Trostel with a pin in the second period after taking a 14-0 lead.
Graff, one of three undefeated 5A wrestlers at 44-0, won the 103-pound title as a freshman and the 119-pound title as a sophomore. He is a heavy favorite to win a third title at 130 pounds and could possibly enter the exclusive club of four-time champions next year.
Just 13 Coloradans have accomplished that feat.
Wasson’s Casey Cruz remained undefeated (36-0) with a quick pin in his 135-pound match, as did Thornton’s Marcus Felker (31-0), the defending heavyweight champion.
5A RESULTS
Preliminaries
At the Pepsi Center
Team scores – Ponderosa 31 1/2, Legacy 17 1/2, Pomona 17, Brighton 14, East 12, Regis 12, Loveland 11, Northglenn 11, Rocky Mountain 10, Wasson 10, Centaurus 9, Fort Collins 9, Heritage 9, Chaparral 8 1/2, Pine Creek 8 1/2, Durango 8, Grand Junction 8, Lakewood 7 1/2, Air Academy 7, Wheat Ridge 7, Adams City 6 1/2, Aurora Central 6, Central (G.J.) 6, Douglas County 6, Green Mountain 6, Doherty 5 1/2, Highlands Ranch 5 1/2, ThunderRidge 5 1/2, Standley Lake 5, Arvada 4, Columbine 4, Coronado 4, Palmer 4, Poudre 4, Rampart 4, Thornton 4, Fruita Monument 3 1/2, Arapahoe 3, Eaglecrest 3, John F. Kennedy 3, Arvada West 2, Bear Creek 2, Cherry Creek 2, Grandview 2, Monarch 2, Range- view 2, Sand Creek 2.
103 pounds – Aaron Ortiz, Adams City, dec. Chris Bombard, Lakewood, 15-4; Marcus May, Green Mountain, pinned Shane Story, Poudre, 3:36; Micah Self, Chaparral, dec. Eric Wilson, Grandview, 8-5; Matthew Gurule, Central (G.J.) dec. Ty Penning, Durango, 6-3; Christopher Wessel, Legacy, pinned Dominic Madril, Pomona, 3:50; Ivan Mondragon, Aurora Central, dec. Colby Kluesner, Arapahoe, 8-5; Jeremy Schmitt, Rocky Mountain, pinned Andrew Lujan, Standley Lake, 3:36; Jeremy Robledo, Brighton, dec. Logan Burch, Rampart, 7-3.
112 – Gavin Peters, Standley Lake, dec. Thomas MacPherson, Monarch, 16-2; Gabe Mamigonian, Heritage, tech. fall Bryant Transtrum, Pine Creek, 20-5; Josh Kreimier, Loveland, pinned Stephen Parrilla, Coronado, 3:20; Nic Balagat, Wasson, dec. Brandon Ford, Rampart, 8-3; Philip Grout, Northglenn, pinned Harry Collier, Arvada, 1:56; Michael Vigil, Legacy, tech. fall Phillip Nguyen, Aurora Central, 16-0; Steven Kelly, Ponderosa, dec. John Toplyn, Poudre, 10-6; Geronimo Gemoya, Grand Junction, dec. Michael Balagna, Grandview, 6-2.
119 – Paul Montoya, Brighton, dec. Josh Neuberger, Eaglecrest, 6-4; Cade Robinson, Douglas County, dec. Nolan Myers, Smoky Hill, 12-8; Nick Jones, Pomona, pinned Stas Kardas, Dakota Ridge, 3:34; David Juceam, Standley Lake, dec. Caleb McDowell, Chaparral, 5-3; David George, Rampart, pinned Adam Dunne, Legacy, 5:27; Kory Johnson, Pine Creek, tech. fall Corey Sethman, Air Academy, 16-0; Zeke Hofer, Ponderosa, dec. Andrew Mayle, Coronado, 10-7; Ricardo Villalobos, Aurora Central, pinned Dan Toledo, Durango, 4:54.
125 – Jake Snider, Ponderosa, pinned Nick Lopez, Arvada West, 3:14; Sam Martinez, Doherty, dec. Chris Cruickshank, Legacy, 6-5; Lorenzo Garcia, Northglenn, dec. Zach Mamigonian, Heritage, 3-1; Stephen Hren, Central (G.J.) pinned Patrick Brown, Grandview, 1:32; Dominic Valenzuela, Centaurus, dec. Danny Bieshaar, Regis, 8-0; Tyler Nelson, ThunderRidge, dec. Adam Huckaby, Cherry Creek, 7-1; Travis Rios, Lakewood, tech. fall Joey Melillo, Palmer, 17-2; A.J. Maestas, Adams City, tech. fall Matt Sundling, Wasson, 16-0.
130 – Mikie Burgess, Green Mountain, dec. Blake Evans, Fruita Monument, 8-6; Dylan Lewis, Wheat Ridge, dec. Nathan Macklberg, Bear Creek, 12-0; Daniel Kelly, Ponderosa dec. Ben Barringer, Lewis-Palmer, 13-0; Oliver Yaney, Air Academy, pinned Garrett Brown, Pine Creek, 3:11; Tino Laureles, Rocky Mountain, dec. Josh Starr, Grandview, 8-3; Jacob Milewski, East, pinned Dane Porter, Grand Junction, 1:32; Tyler Graff, Loveland, pinned Greg Trostel, Poudre, 3:57; Vincent Gallegos, Legacy, pinned Bryant Hicks, Heritage, 1:58.
135 – Casey Cruz, Wasson, pinned Derek Lange, Boulder, 1:48; Nate Granahan, Douglas County, dec. Daniel Armijo, Aurora Central, 4-3; Cam Williams, Fort Collins, dec. Joshua Gutierrez, Legacy, 7-5; Zach Valdez, Ponderosa dec. Taylor Hollister, Air Academy, 5-0; Tyler McGoffin, Grandview, dec. Matt Hage, Fruita Monument, 4-1; Rhett Breed, Durango, dec. Tyler Brickell, Coronado, 8-1; Adam Jerome, Rangeview, dec. Syris Pernell, East, 15-10; Ryan Olvera, Eaglecrest, dec. Alex Escalante, Central (G.J.), 12-1.
140 – John Hooper, Regis, dec. Daniel Nissen, Standley Lake, 10-2; Darian Roberts, Arvada West, dec. Travis Tullio, Fruita Monument, 4-0; Tyler Young, Grand Junction, pinned Clayton Frawley, Rangeview, 1:08; Ryan Bratton, Northglenn, dec. Robby dePontibriand, Douglas County, 4-1; John Bissell, Pine Creek, dec. Curt Barr, Mitchell, 5-3; Dietrick Tumey, Brighton, dec. Seiji Hashimoto, Thornton, 7-5; Stephone Kling, Ponderosa, dec. Greg Padilla, Rocky Mountain, 8-1; Mike Morgan, Lakewood, pinned Michael DeBaca, Legacy, 4:27.
145 – Mike Conklin, Fort Collins, pinned Bryce Lucherini, Grandview, 4:35; Carlton Stephens, Heritage, tech. fall Kyle Johnson, Thornton, 21-6; Nic Johnson, Monarch, dec. Matt Spotton, Rocky Mountain, 9-8; Ryan Swanson, Douglas County, dec. Kyle Stout, Central (G.J.), 9-7; Ceasar Crespin, Centaurus, pinned Phillip Colby, Fruita Monument, 2:48; Ronnie Goodman, Durango, dec. Adam McCallister, Wheat Ridge, 5-2; Jesse Snider, Ponderosa, tech. fall Boots Lover, Boulder, 17-1; Justin Jefferies, Brighton, dec. Craig Odell, Pine Creek, 11-6.
152 – Kyle Martin, Coronado, dec. Zach Bekkedahl, Poudre, 2-0; Tyson Blatter, Columbine, pinned Daniel Ramirez, Grandview, 3:41; Trevor Schuch, Pomona, dec. Blake Cooper, Lewis-Palmer, 6-3; Martin Sare, ThunderRidge, tech. fall Jake Gogan, Air Academy, 20-5; Tucker Korus, Arapahoe, dec. Chaz Maestes, Brighton, 17-3; David Little, Rocky Mountain, pinned Chris Jacobs, Central (G.J.), 2:37; Joe Meinhart, Fruita Monument, tech. fall Brian Rubenstrunk, Regis, 16-0; Reid McConnell, Fort Collins, dec. Daniel Mitchell, Legacy, 8-0.
160 – Matt Murphy, Chaparral, dec. Sam McGuire, Lewis-Palmer, 13-0; Charles Martinez, Pomona, pinned Tommy Martin, Sand Creek, 2:41; Garrett Lanham, Centaurus, dec. Mitch Schubert, Columbine, 10-6; Justin Marts, Bear Creek, dec. Gabe Eacker, Doherty, 4-3; Pasha Tabatabai, Regis, dec. Frank Sandoval, Durango, 12-1; Patrick Armstrong, Ponderosa, pinned Adam Katz, Boulder, 4:31; Brandon Doyle, Poudre, pinned Zach Batey, Air Academy, 5:32; Chad Quick, Legacy, dec. Than Hedman, East, 9-6.
171 – Jeff Quinlin, Highlands Ranch, tech. fall Matt Adams, Cherry Creek, 15-0; T.J. Heffron, Ponderosa, dec. Jordan Weber, Legacy, 6-0; Jacob Terada, Northglenn, dec. Andrew Rios, Lakewood, 10-1; Matt Schnepfe, Heritage, dec. Daniel Harris, Grand Junction, 10-9; Micah Burak, Coronado, dec. Jake Julian, Chaparral, 6-2; Gabe Gardner, Air Academy, dec. Clay Roth, Poudre, 12-2; Sal Howes, Arvada, pinned Cale Crispe, Green Mountain, 3:30; Matt Strohm, Regis, dec. Casey Norgard, Rocky Mountain, 9-2.
189 – Willie McClure, Pomona, dec. Devon Minshal, Arapahoe, 15-5; Rob Wilt, Doherty, tech. fall Clay Girtman, Grand Junction, 16-1; Steve Cruz, Chaparral, tech. fall Scott Evans, Fort Collins, 17-2; Oscar Baca, Brighton, pinned Austin Jones, Smoky Hill, 4:34; Luke Vandenburg, Loveland, pinned Ryan Asuncion, Central (G.J.), 3:51; Kenny Smith, Wasson, pinned Austin Harper, Fruita Monument, 1:48; Nicholas Bauman, Legacy, pinned Andrew Vallejos, Lakewood, 1:40; Ryan Gray, East, pinned Cody Shaw, Cherry Creek, 4:19.
215 – Robby Unger, Highlands Ranch, dec. James Anthofer, Heritage, 11-4; Matt Johnson, Cherry Creek, dec. Dan Nepustil, Fairview, 4-2, OT; Jake Ottmann, Ponderosa, dec. Brandon Pacheco, Lakewood, 17-3; Allan Rea, Durango, pinned Jon Eddings, Boulder, 2:14; Ben Hicks, Pine Creek, dec. Shawn Jenkins, Legacy, 13-2; Caleb Galbraith, Brighton, dec. Alex Rodriguez, Fruita Monument, 9-3; Robert Tucker, Grand Junction, dec. Derek Stone, Arvada West, 8-1; Dyrell Hallcy, East, pinned Caleb Egli, Air Academy, 1:51.
Hwt. – Marcus Felker, Thornton, pinned Isaac Hull, Cherry Creek, :39; Taylor Stam, Ponderosa, pinned Cody Gilmore, Grandview, 5:27; Joe Boyd, Pomona, pinned Keefe Owens, Smoky Hill, :50; Jake Richmeier, Wheat Ridge, pinned Chris Kiel, East, 4:52; Ryan Tauer, Regis, pinned Travis Duffy, Columbine, 3:58; Jonathan Uncapher, Kennedy, dec. Dustin Jenkins, Legacy, 13-5; Ray Hatchett, Sand Creek, dec. LeRoy Vigil, Adams City, 6-5; Jon Russel, Palmer, pinned Thomas Cordero, Bear Creek, 1:30.
