Fun names rule! The tournament usually contains some of the most novel, famous, unusual, difficult to pronounce and relative to the sport names. The 2008 field hasn’t disappointed. Herewith, another version of The Denver Post’s Wrestling All-Name Team (with first- and second-team) heading into today’s preliminaries:
103 pounds — Brian Strong, Holyoke; Robbie Workman, Berthoud; 112 — Jared Doll, Meeker; Abrum
Griego, Pueblo Centennial; 119 — Bon Kinder, Burlington; Cortland Hacker, Broomfield; 125 — Pace Bates, Grand Junction; Josh McGirl, Thompson Valley; 130 — Ty Sickels, Nucla;
Duell Kelly, Alamosa; 135 — Caleb Pringle, Pagosa Springs; Matt Swim, Byers; 140 — Rhett Breed, Durango; Houston Mader, Steamboat Springs; 145 — Ben Register, Classical Academy; Ryan Fountain, Frederick; 152 — Denzel Washington, Regis; Ozz Amen, Merino; 160 — Keane Raley, Rangely; Nick Jurney, Rocky Ford; 171 — Judah Eder, Rampart; Chad Quick, Legacy; 189 — Justin Speed, Fort Collins; Ryker Haddock, Longmont; 215 — Stryker Lane, Norwood; Zach Mars, Strasburg; heavyweight — Kelby Repp, Lamar; Cees Doxsey, Erie. Coach: Dirk Hardman, Norwood.
5A Mustangs running wild. As has been the case the past five seasons, wrestling the team title from Ponderosa is the thing. It will be difficult. The Mustangs have 10 qualifiers, six regional champions, as well as state champions Jake Snider (140) and Zeke Hofer, a winner two seasons ago and runner-up in 2007. Legacy, second last year, also has 10 entrants.
Individually, all eyes will be on Loveland’s Tyler Graff, bidding for his fourth title. The 130-pounder is 158-1 in his career and trying to become the 15th Coloradan to go 4-for-4. And don’t forget teammate Josh Kreimier (119), who is 38-0.
The only other undefeated 5A wrestler entering the field is ThunderRidge’s James Breidel, 37-0 at 189.
4A Alamosa’s Moose are Mean. With 10 qualifiers, Alamosa will make a strong bid to make it three titles in a row.
The number is relevant individually, too — Alamosa’s Sonny Yohn (171), bound for Minnesota, and Fort Lupton’s Saul Guerrero (135) are going for their third championships.
Alamosa’s Jesse Meis (103) and Ridge View Academy’s Steve Vigil (130) are among a state-high 10 returning champions. Vigil, now a senior, won his title as a freshman. The lone undefeated is Conifer’s Tony Peña, 38-0 at 103.
3A quantity and quality. Lower classes can turn the championships into a dual meet. Heavily favored Roose-
velt has a state-high 13 qualifiers. So does Olathe, fourth a year ago. Florence has 12, Gunnison 11.
St. Mary’s Ethan Martinez (125), 32-0, and Centauri’s Mitchell Polkowske (145), 38-0, head the undefeateds as returning champions. Florence’s Matt Addington (140) is 32-0.
2A rebuilding. A year after the small schools had the closest team race and provided most of the individual stars, only two undefeateds and three champions return.
Rocky Ford and Burlington had some of the best regional performances among traditional powers.
Justin Iacovetto, Soroco (112), and Stryker Lane, now at Norwood (189), are the two undefeated wrestlers. Lane’s teammate, Hugh Hardman (140), is one of the returning winners, Wray’s Drew Ritchey (112) the other.
