With the addition of strong programs from Alamosa and Berthoud to the mix of usual suspects, Class 3A wrestling might be the state’s most balanced.
Alamosa and Berthoud dropped down into Class 3A after finishing among the top 11 teams at the Class 4A tournament last spring. Alamosa, which finished seventh, and Berthoud, which finished 11th, instantly become title contenders in the crowded 3A.
“We could maybe get top five, and for sure we are going for top 10,” Alamosa coach Gary Ramstetter said. “But you never know. There are a lot of schools with a lot of talented guys. It’s hard to say where we might land, but we certainly expect to be there in the end.”
The addition of Alamosa and Berthoud will make Centauri’s bid for a third consecutive team state championship much more difficult. Centauri lost two individual state champions but returns defending 119-pound champ Ben Polkowske and three other athletes that placed in the top four.
Defending runner-up Lamar will be strong again, as will Olathe, led by senior Kyle Piatt, who won the state crown at 152 pounds while compiling a record of 43-0. Florence, Valley and Hotchkiss are among the other leading candidates aiming to take Centauri’s crown.
“Alamosa and Berthoud coming in will be real tough, so we hope we can still be near the top,” Olathe coach Harvey Starbuck said. “But I think there again will be quite a few teams battling it out at the end.”
Class 3A top five
1. Olathe
2. Centauri
3. Lamar
4. Alamosa
5. Valley
Class 3A returning state champs and placers
Champions
103 — A.J. Salazar, Lake County, Jr. (37-3)
112 — Corbin Bennetts, Buena Vista, Sr. (43-1)
119 — Ben Polkowske, Centauri, Sr. (43-2)
152 — Kyle Piatt, Olathe, Sr. (43-0)
171 — Elliott Copeland, Bennett, Sr. (40-1)
189 — Clint Myers, Salida, Sr. (37-0)
Second place
119 — Zach Shank, Olathe, Jr. (39-3)
135 — Darrian Adame, Lamar, Sr. (37-6)
140 — Brandon Padilla, Rye, Jr. (36-3)
152 — Iver Sandoval, Centauri, Sr. (39-5)
171 — Mario Garcia, Dolores Huerta, Sr. (40-2)
189 — Shay Hansen, Brush, Sr. (17-4)
Third place
103 — Drew Romero, La Junta, So. (31-8)
112 — Kurtis Romero, La Junta, Sr. (32-3)
130 — Micah Keys, Centauri, So. (39-8)
135 — Ryan Spor, Hotchkiss, Sr. (34-3)
160 — Austin Trujillo, Valley, Jr. (37-4)
189 — Brian Macchione, Middle Park, Jr. (31-8)
215 — Kyle Douglas, Hotchkiss, Sr. (40-2)
Fourth place
103 — Brandon Strang, Middle Park, Sr. (34-9)
112 — Alex Klopp, Yuma, Jr. (38-6)
119 — Darrick Adame, Lamar, Jr. (27-13)
125 — Andrew Garcia, The Academy, Sr. (25-6)
130 — Evan Boyer, Valley, Sr. (40-5)
135 — Curtis Blasberg, La Junta, Jr. (30-15)
152 — Aaron Velasquez, Bayfield, Jr. (30-6)
160 — Jeremy Smith, Centauri, Jr. (17-7)
189 — Conner Beard, Hotchkiss, So. (28-7)
Hwt. — Cole Ford, Strasburg, Sr. (28-8)
Fifth place
103 — Elijah Mora, Brush, Jr. (34-12)
119 — Aerie Disher, Strasburg, Jr. (28-5)
125 — Kris Trujillo, Highland, So. (32-14)
130 — Josh Miller, Bennett, So. (36-11)
145 — James Price, Valley, So. (27-5)
Hwt. — Oliver Reed, Buena Vista, Sr. (36-7)
Sixth place
103 — William Casey, Estes Park, Jr. (29-4)
119 — Dylan Hodges, Florence, Jr. (31-8)
125 — Anthony Muth, Salida, Jr. (33-8)
130 — Brenton Martinez, Olathe, Sr. (32-13)
135 — Jerrod Busch, Grand Valley, Sr. (25-8)
140 — Jordan Ross, Strasburg, Jr. (33-12)
152 — Hunter Gonzales, Valley, Sr. (37-7)
189 — Emilio Carrillo, Lamar, Sr. (22-11)
215 — Tyler Brack, Bennett, Sr. (33-12)
Hwt. — Garrett Carroll, Eaton, Sr. (20-14)
