Only Fate could prevent his fate.
Joseph Prieto had already made history last season by winning a 3A state championship at the 138-pound weight class, the first title ever for a Holy Family wrestler.
The Prieto twins of Holy Family stepped onto the mat at the Pepsi Center on Saturday for the final matches of their high school careers, chasing a forever family memory.
Last season, it wasn’t that Julian Prieto wasn’t thrilled for his brother’s accomplishment, but falling by a 6-5 score in his own 132-pound title match minutes earlier made the night bittersweet.
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Julian suffered more heartbreak Saturday. Wrestling at the 138-pound class his brother captured the season before, Julian fell behind Platte Valley’s Ryan Waite before nearly securing a pin in the third round. Three back points helped cut Waite’s lead to 7-6 with 30 seconds left, but after allowing Waite to escape a hold, Julian couldn’t secure the last-second takedown.
It was up to Joseph to add another stamp to the Holy Family legacy. But Jimmy Fate had other ideas.
The Berthoud junior was dominant in the 145-pound title match, beating Joseph by a 7-3 decision to finish a perfect 46-0 season and earn his second straight title.
“I proved myself last year, and I proved myself again this year,” said Fate, a junior. “They both feel great.”
Shortly after losing the last match of his career, Joseph Prieto sat with his back against the concrete wall in the bowels of the Pepsi Center, wiping blood from his nose as he pondered the legacies he and his twin brother had left.
“I’m going to remember all the work, all the memories we made with our teammates,” Joseph Prieto said.
The 3A team title was yet to be decided by late Saturday, with Valley, aiming for back-to-back titles, leading.
Valley, which last season won its first state wrestling title, defended its team title. Brush finished second.
Class 3A championship results
Team scores — 1. Valley 126.5; 2. Brush 121.5; 3. Platte Valley 107.5; 4. Delta 107.0; 5. Lamar 102.5; 6. Ft. Lupton 87.5; 7. Sterling 83.5; 8. Holy Family 81.0; 9. Berthoud 75.5; 10. Olathe 67.0; 11. Dolores Huerta 66.0; 12. Sheridan 61.5; 13. Alamosa 50.5; 14. Mead 48.0; 15. Strasburg 46.0; 16. Bayfield 33.0; 17. Salida 32.0; 18. Montezuma-Cortez 31.5; 19. Eagle Valley 30.0; 19. Florence 30.0; 21. La Junta 27.0; 22. University 26.0; 23. Eaton 25.0; 23. Rifle 25.0; 23. Weld Central 25.0; 26. Erie 23.0; 27. Jefferson 19.0; 27. Pagosa Springs 19.0; 29. Basalt 18.0; 30. Mullen 15.0; 31. Bennett 11.0; 31. Elizabeth 11.0; 33. Classical Academy 9.0; 34. Moffat County 6.0; 34. Steamboat Springs 6.0; 36. Denver North 4.0; 36. Gunnison 4.0; 38. Trinidad 3.5; 39. C.s. Christian 3.0; 39. Faith Christian 3.0; 39. Summit 3.0; 42. Clear Creek 0.0; 42. Coal Ridge 0.0; 42. Denver West 0.0; 42. Estes Park 0.0; 42. Lake County 0.0; 42. Middle Park 0.0; 42. Platte Canyon 0.0; 42. Ridgeview 0.0; 42. St. Mary`s 0.0.
106 pounds — Isaiah DeLaCerda, Alamosa, 36-5, So. dec. Jacob Beltran, Sterling, 40-1, Sr., 5-1
113 pounds — Jody Sandoval II, Fort Lupton, 41-4, So. dec. Colby Duncan, Sterling, 25-1, Jr., 4-3.
120 pounds — Andrew Jaramillo, Platte Valley, 24-7, Sr. maj dec. Matt Bailey, Berthoud, 38-12, So., 9-1
126 pounds — Conrad Cole, Brush, 41-2, Sr. dec. Michael Johnson, Lamar, 34-4, Jr., 3-1
132 pounds — Sage Budd, Mead, 45-0, Sr. dec. Ruben Lucero, Valley, 39-1, Sr., 9-2
138 pounds — Ryan Waite, Platte Valley, 42-7, Sr. dec. Julian Prieto, Holy Family, 42-2, Sr., 8-6
145 pounds — Jimmy Fate, Berthoud, 46-0, Jr. dec. Joseph Prieto, Holy Family, 37-8, Sr., 7-3
152 pounds — Joel Contreras, Sterling, 28-0, Sr. dec. Macoy Flannagan, Valley, 41-3, Jr., 3-0
160 pounds — Dalton Robertson, Weld Central, 46-0, Jr. dec. Brendan Gonzales, Valley, 40-2, Sr., 3-2
170 pounds — Chad Ellis, Berthoud, 42-3, Jr. fall Kory Mills, Delta, 40-9, Jr., 3:09
182 pounds — Seager Oliver, Montezuma-Cortez, 37-3, Sr. dec. Devin Ward, Eagle Valley, 36-6, Sr., 4-0.
195 pounds — Marcus Garcia, Dolores Huerta, 30-4, Jr. fall Jose Rodriquez, Brush, 24-9, Sr., 1:28.
220 pounds — Jacob Ornelas, Fort Lupton, 34-4, Sr. dec. Shane Coombs, Strasburg, 45-0, Sr., 3-2.
Heavyweight — Joe Carwin, Brush, 36-4, Sr. dec. Willy Clements, Holy Family, 35-6, Sr., 3-1.
