With one state champion and a pair of state runner-up finishers returning to the fold this season, the Coronado wrestling team understandably is garnering its fair share of attention.
It is a well-deserved spotlight, yet one that Cougars coach Matt Brickell would be happy to share, or even move elsewhere altogether. As the preseason No. 1 team in Class 5A, all eyes will be on Coronado — a proposition that is forcing Brickell to preach caution to a club taking aim at dethroning eight-time defending champion Ponderosa.
“I don’t like it when we are up there. I’d rather be the underdog,” Brickell said. “If we have everyone healthy in our lineup, we should be solid. I just hope we are in the thick of it. A lot of things can happen. It all is going to be real close. I think as many as six teams could win it.”
The Cougars welcome back 125-pound state champion Carter McElhany as well as fellow seniors Jared Rieck and Nick Burghardt, both of whom lost state title bouts to Ponderosa athletes who have graduated. Coronado also returns senior Nathan Burak, who got injured last year before the state meet.
Coronado will face plenty of competition in a 5A field expected to be tightly contested. Ponderosa will remain a factor, along with Loveland, Pomona, Pine Creek, Mountain Range and 5A newcomer Greeley West. All are expected to compete for the team title once February rolls around.
“We’ll make a run, but 5A is going to be a grind this year,” Ponderosa coach Corey McNellis said. “Honestly, we’ll be solid and could have guys place at 125 through 171. We have a lot of depth and guys that could score at state. But there really are going to be a lot of tough teams out there.”
5A top five
1. Coronado
2. Ponderosa
3. Loveland
4. Pomona
5. Mtn. Range
Class 5A returning state champs and placers
Champions
103 — Geo Martinez, Pine Creek, So., (43-1);
Emilio Martinez, Greeley West, So. (41-2)*
112 — Josh Martinez, Pine Creek, Sr. (45-1)
125 — Carter McElhany, Coronado, Sr. (33-1);
Joseph Martinez, Greeley West, Sr. (42-1)*
130 — Tony Peña, Chatfield, Sr. (44-1)
160 — John Crowley, Regis Jesuit, Jr. (40-3)
171 — Austin Gabel, Ponderosa, Sr. (41-1)
215 — Connor Medbery, Loveland, Sr. (43-0)
Second place
125 — Cory Mitze, Mountain Range, Jr. (32-7)
140 — Jesse Hoffschneider, Grand Junction, Jr. (37-4)
145 — Jared Rieck, Coronado, Sr. (40-5)
152 — Nick Burghardt, Coronado, Sr. (42-3)
Third place
103 — Kegan Gavaldon, Fort Collins, Jr. (37-3)
112 — Chris Buccieri, Cherokee Trail, Sr. (42-3)
119 — Roy Garza, Greeley West, Sr. (39-9)*
125 — Cesar Valenzuela, Centaurus, Sr. (30-10)
130 — Garrett Vasquez, Loveland, Sr. (43-6)
135 — Jordan Henrickson, Loveland, Jr. (44-8)
145 — Alonso Wong, Mtn. Range, Sr. (33-11)
152 — Zach Short, Central (G.J.), Sr. (35-13)
189 — Tanner Harms, Cherry Creek, Sr. (40-5);
Gus Marker, Castle View, Jr. (47-6)*
Fourth place
103 — Dylan Thompson, Grand Junction, Jr. (38-4)
112 — Raymond Robledo, Pomona, So. (40-9);
Shedrick Boyd, Greeley West, So. (28-13)*
119 — Randy Boemer, Mtn. Range, So. (40-11)
130 — Andrew Muniz, Arvada West, Sr. (17-7)
135 — Jesse Carlson, Legacy, Jr. (24-10)
140 — Sam Kreimier, Loveland, Jr. (38-9)
145 — Jesse Werth, Fort Collins, Sr. (37-7)
152 — Justin Frazier, Pomona, Sr. (22-5)
160 — Dezmon Fernandez, Legacy, Sr. (36-9)
171 — Josh Schoenberger, Ftn.-Ft. Carson, Jr. (29-7);
Brendan Vinyard, Legend, Jr. (26-7)**
189 — Keith Johnson, Cherokee Trail, Sr. (37-8)
Hwt. — Tony Campton, Columbine, Sr. (40-8)
Fifth place
103 — Josh Federico, Grandview, Sr. (39-9)
112 — Adrian Cordova, Cordova, So. (39-9)
119 — Sam Jones, Ponderosa, Sr. (29-11)
125 — Eli Rosales, Pomona, Sr. (31-11)
135 — Adam Barela, Fort Collins, Sr. (42-11)
160 — Ethan Olson, Coronado, Sr. (41-6)
171 — Jay Seefeld, Rocky Mountain, Sr. (28-16)
215 — Aaron Norris, Chatfield, Sr. (34-7)
Hwt. — Jess Roberson, Pine Creek, Sr. (34-9)
Sixth place
103 — Austin Marvel, Pomona, So. (36-10);
Justin Becker, Prairie View, So. (30-11)*
125 — Jerry McGinty, Pine Creek, Jr. (38-10)
215 — Matt Dreiling, Mountain Range, Jr. (41-9)
* – moved up one classification
** – moved up two classifications
