DENVER—Very few Coloradans can boast the accomplishment Loveland’s Tyler Graff achieved Saturday night at the 73rd annual Colorado state high school wrestling tournament.
Graff (40-0) became only the 15th wrestler in state history to win four individual state championships.
He pinned Rocky Mountain junior Tino Laureles in 1:33 in the 130-pound weight classification.
“I’m done with high school and working with (coach) Jim Sanchez all four years, and it’s been a great experience—a long, hard road,” said an even-keel and businesslike Graff. “Now it’s getting ready for the U.S. Open and the National High School dual meet. It’s back to work.”
Graff, who will wrestle at Wisconsin next year, pinned all four opponents in the first period, a goal he set coming into the state tournament.
Asked if he can call the feat “mission accomplished,” Graff said: “I think I can do that.”
The Pepsi Center crowd of 18,569 immediately gave the elite wrestler a standing ovation, a gesture Graff said caught him slightly off guard.
“I feel appreciated by the state of Colorado, and I’m going to do my best to make everyone proud,” he said, noting his goal to make the Olympic team this year.
Graff said the U.S. Open, which will be held in April in Las Vegas, serves as the qualifier for the Olympic trials in June.
Graff (162-1 in four years, a state record for victories) suffered the only loss of his high school career during the regular season of his freshman year. It was a 3-2 defeat to Rocky Mountain’s Kyle O’Brien, a loss he later avenged.
Graff said he didn’t feel nervous heading into his final high school match.
“I slept real good (Friday night). It was exciting,” he said.
Graff wasn’t the only Loveland wrestler to succeed Saturday night. His teammate, Josh Kreimier (42-0) completed his perfect season with a 7-4 victory over Chris Wessel of Legacy at 119 pounds.
Luke Vandenburg also won at 189 pounds for the Indians, earning a 5-2 decision over previously undefeated ThunderRidge wrestler James Breidel (40-1).
Loveland’s individual successes weren’t enough to stop Ponderosa from giving longtime head coach, Tim Ottmann, the school’s sixth straight team championship as a farewell gift.
Ottmann, whose son Jake finished second to defending 215-pound champion Robert Tucker from Grand Junction, is retiring after 25 years at the Parker school.
Jake Snider (140 pounds) and Daniel Kelly (145) won their championship bouts to cap Ponderosa’s impressive performance.
Loveland was second in the team competition with 128 points.
Regis freshman Denzel Washington, who was named after the famed actor, beat Ponderosa’s Stephone Kling at 152 pounds with a 5-2 decision, perhaps beginning the quest Graff started to begin his career.
Returning champions Phillip Grout of Northglenn (112 pounds) and Nick Jones of Pomona (135 pounds) won back-to-back titles.
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