The Hayden wrestling team has turned in several strong performances the past few years at the state tournament, and yet the Tigers have been unable to land the program’s first team state championship.
Hayden coach Ty Camilletti hopes this will be the year his Tigers break through. With defending 215-pound champion Treyben Letlow leading a large cast of experienced wrestlers, Hayden will have as good a chance as any team in a Class 2A field that boasts no clear-cut favorite.
“We have never won a state team title. Hopefully that streak passes soon,” said Camilletti, whose team finished fifth last year and fourth in 2009. “But you can’t really do anything about that until the end of the night Saturday at the state meet. Until then, we just have to go about our business every day. I think we have as good a chance as anyone. We have a couple of good seniors.”
In addition to Letlow and sophomore T-Lane Mazzola, who finished second at 103 pounds, Camilletti is expecting big seasons from senior Scott Armbruster, a three-time state qualifier, and sophomore Ryan Domson.
Challenging Hayden will be defending champion Burlington, which must replace a pair of individual state champions, and Wiggins, which is led by defending 130-pound champion Buddy Watson. Paonia, the 2009 2A champ, Ignacio and Rocky Ford lead a list of teams that will vie for a top-five finish.
“I think we have a good chance to contend,” Burlington coach Doug Duell said. “Looking across the state, it looks like at least three or four teams have a shot. We lost seven seniors and all of them qualified for state. You just don’t up and replace guys like that. Even though I can’t say we’ll just reload, we will have a great freshman class — one of the best ones I’ve had in a while.”
Class 2A top five
1. Burlington
2. Hayden
3. Wiggins
4. Rocky Ford
5. Paonia
Class 2A returning state champs and placers
Champions
103 — Ray Rodriguez, Rocky Ford, Jr. (38-9)
112 — Mark Edmonds, Holyoke, Jr. (29-2)
119 — Alex Peña, Ignacio, Jr. (27-2)
130 — Buddy Watson, Wiggins, Sr. (41-1)
145 — Lane Crumley, Akron, Sr. (36-1)
215 — Treyben Letlow, Hayden, Sr. (36-0)
Second place
103 — T-Lane Mazzola, Hayden, So. (29-9)
112 — Robert Darnell, Holly, Jr. (27-4)
135 — Ty Pfeiff, Crowley County, Jr. (22-5)
145 — Dalton Marini, Wiggins, Jr. (23-5)
160 — Mike Lozano, Holly, Sr. (37-3)
171 — Tuff Gibson, Merino, Sr. (27-7)
Third place
103 — Miguel Torres, Burlington, Jr. (30-11)
125 — Jake Milberger, Fowler, Jr. (15-2)
130 — Colin Eberhart, Burlington, Sr. (32-9)
145 — Donnie White, Fowler, Sr. (38-6)
Fourth place
112 — Cole Baughman, Dove Creek, So. (36-7)
119 — Chad Terry, Hayden, Jr. (33-11)
125 — Tray Sickels, Nucla, So. (31-12)
130 — Skyler Dittmer, Holyoke, Sr. (35-10)
140 — Trenton Rico, Burlington, Sr. (37-9)
145 — Brent Harris, Norwood, Jr. (32-12)
171 — Tyson Mitchek, Cheyenne Wells, Sr. (30-6)
189 — Caleb Christensen, Akron, Jr. (32-11)
215 — Zach Jackson, Wray, Sr. (38-8)
Fifth place
103 — David Torres, Manzanola, Jr. (36-6)
119 — Keegan Arnold, Nucla, Sr. (32-14)
130 — Casey Haga, Ignacio, Sr. (37-4)
145 — Chase Hill, West Grand, Sr. (29-13)
160 — William Lutz, Rocky Ford, Sr. (33-17)
171 — Cole Briegel, Burlington, Jr. (32-8)
189 — Adam Montoya, Fowler, Sr. (25-7)
215 — Tyson Urruthia, Merino, Sr. (36-6)
Sixth place
103 — Wyatt Wade, Dolores, So. (26-5)
112 — Shawn Beiriger, Del Norte, So. (25-12)
119 — Nick Hammes, Holly, Sr. (27-12)
130 — Michael Smithey, Rocky Ford, Jr. (35-16)
145 — Dillon Worley, Cheyenne Wells, Sr. (22-11)
160 — Terrell Stafford, South Baca, So. (16-10)
189 — Ty LaFramboise, Norwood, So. (23-13)
215 — John Gray, Crowley County, Jr. (32-11)
Hwt. — Josh Rodriguez, Stratton, Jr. (17-8)
