The mental rigors have become more challenging each season for Ryan Gallegos, who is hoping to avoid becoming the Buffalo Bills of high school wrestling.
The Grand Valley senior advanced to the title match in each of his first three seasons — in the 119-, 130- and 145-pound weight classes — but lost each time.
Gallegos (40-0) advanced to today’s Class 3A 145-pound title match with a second-round pin Friday of Platte Valley’s Jordan Smith at the Pepsi Center. Gallegos hopes to avoid drawing comparisons to the Bills, who lost four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s.
“I need to take that next step,” Gallegos said. “That’s all that’s been on my mind since freshman year.”
Gallegos’ chances seem as promising, as he’ll take on Olathe’s Kris Nieto. Gallegos is 2-0 against the senior this season, although the wins have come by decisions of one and two points.
“They were close matches,” Gallegos said. “You throw all the records out, though, because none of that matters.”
Gallegos says he is “right where he needs to be” going into the final. That much appeared evident in his 3:13 pin against Smith.
“I felt like I was one step ahead of him the entire time,” Gallegos said. “And he was a solid wrestler.”
On the flip side is Florence’s Matt Addington. The senior is aiming for his third consecutive state championship and third straight undefeated season. Addington, who wrestles at 160 and ousted Brenden Harrison of Bayfield with a technical fall (15-0) in the semifinals, was 36-0 as a sophomore, 48-0 last season and enters tonight’s title match against Caleb Wyatt of Hotchkiss at 49-0.
“I’m a bit more relaxed this year than last year,” Addington said. “But still, the atmosphere here gets me nervous every time.”
Class 3A title matches
103 pounds — A.J. Salazar, Lake County, So. (36-3) vs. A.J. Rees, Discovery Canyon, Fr. (37-6)
112 — Jacob Cole, Florence, Sr. (37-10) vs. Corbin Bennetts, Buena Vista, Jr. (42-1)
119 — Zach Shank, Olathe, So. (39-2) vs. Ben Polkowske, Centauri, Jr. (42-2)
125 — Josh Jaime, Lamar, Sr. (36-5) vs. Clay Flot, Platte Valley, Sr. (41-2)
130 — Nick Adams, Discovery Canyon, Jr. (43-0) vs. Gadge Cole, Trinidad, Sr. (39-2)
135 — Cahlen Keys, Centauri, Sr. (30-0) vs. Darrian Adame, Lamar, Jr. (37-5)
140 — Jared Tonder, Grand Valley, Sr. (40-2) vs. Brandon Padilla, Rye, So. (36-2)
145 — Ryan Gallegos, Grand Valley, Sr. (40-0) vs. Kris Nieto, Olathe, Sr. (37-6)
152 — Iver Sandoval, Centauri, Jr. (39-4) vs. Kyle Piatt, Olathe, Jr. (42-0)
160 — Matt Addington, Florence, Sr. (49-0) vs. Caleb Wyatt, Hotchkiss, Sr. (34-4)
171 — Mario Garcia, Dolores Huerta, Jr. (40-1) vs. Elliot Copeland, Bennett, Jr. (39-1)
189 — Clint Myers, Salida, Jr. (36-0) vs. Shay Hansen, Brush, Jr. (17-3)
215 — Bryce Kammerzell, Eaton, Sr. (25-1) vs. Pat Martinez, Lamar, Sr. (33-7)
Hwt — Vincent Chacon, Centauri, Sr. (38-1) vs. Abel Ortega, Lamar, Sr. (29-9)
