It’s not a gathering referred to as Top of the Rockies for nothing. While a bit much to be called a mini-state wrestling tournament, Top of the Rockies on Friday and Saturday definitely qualifies as a top regular-season meet. No amount of wrestling mats will be able to muffle the sounds, electricity and testosterone at host Centaurus in Lafayette that once again should rock with top-flight competition from here and other areas of the region. A decidedly upper-school affair, five-time defending Class 5A state champion Ponderosa and two-time 4A winner Alamosa will be among the team powers in the bracketing that includes 32 teams. Wyoming’s Cheyenne Central and Green River, Utah’s Uintah and Oregon’s Reedsport account for the out-of-state contingent. Championship matches, scheduled Saturday, 6 p.m., will signify and reward the grind that is grapplingwe’re five weeks from Colorado’s 73rd tournament.
Neil H. Devlin
Tournament facts
What: Top of the Rockies wrestling tournament
Where: Centaurus, 10300 S. Boulder Road, Lafayette
When: Friday, three rounds, beginning at 10 a.m.; Saturday, quarterfinals, consolations, 8:30 a.m.; semi- finals, 12:30 p.m.; parade of champions, 6 p.m.
Teams: Adams City, Alamosa, Arrupe Jesuit, Brighton, Broomfield, Centaurus, Chaparral, Cheyenne Central, Conifer, Denver East, Fort Lupton, Fort Morgan, Grand Junction Central, Grandview, Greeley Central, Green River (Wyo.), Legacy, Longmont, Loveland, Monte Vista, Mountain View, Northglenn, Northridge, Pomona, Ponderosa, Pueblo East, Pueblo South, Reedsport (Ore.), Rocky Mountain, Roosevelt, Thompson Valley, Thornton, Uintah (Utah)
