For those of you keeping track, all 27 returning state champions advanced in the first round of the Colorado wrestling tournament on Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
Not only that, but 26 of the 27 advanced through pin or technical fall. The other victory was by major decision.
In case you haven’t gotten it yet, this isn’t a sport that permits that many upsets.
The list is headed by Meeker senior T.J. Shelton, who’s gong for his fourth state title. In addition, Pomona s Tomas Gutierrez, Pueblo County s Hunter Willits, Thompson Valley s Parker Simington, Fort Morgan s Toby McBride, John Mall s Jonathan Andreatta and Weld Central s Dalton Robertson are all going for their third title.
If you blinked, you may have missed McBride, who turned in some of the quickest work, pinning in 27 seconds.
The complete list below, including previous weight classes in parenthesis) moves on to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Returning champions
CLASS 5A
120: Tomas Gutierrez, Pomona, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (113), 2014 (106)
132: Jacob Greenwood, Poudre, So.; Previous: 2015 (126)
132: Dayton Marvel, Pomona, So.; Previous: 2015 (106)
138: Ryan Deakin, Legacy, Sr.; Previous: 2014 (113)
152: Matt Finesilver, Cherry Creek, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (132)
CLASS 4A
113: Josiah Nava, Pueblo County, So.; Previous: 2015 (106)
126: Grant Willits, Pueblo County, Jr.; Previous: 2014 (106)
126: Vlad Kazakov, Thompson Valley, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (120)
138: Chris Sandoval, Pueblo County, Jr.; Previous: 2015 (126)
138: Sam Turner, Discovery Canyon, Sr.; 2014 (120), 2015 (132)
152: Hunter Willits, Pueblo County, Jr.; Previous: 2015 (138), 2014 (132)
160: Parker Simington, Thompson Valley, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (16), 2014 (145)
Hwt.: Toby McBride, Fort Morgan, Jr.; Previous: 2015 (220), 2014 (220)
Hwt.: Jacob Robles, Pueblo East, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (Hwt.)
CLASS 3A
113: Isaiah DeLaCerda, Alamosa, Jr.; Previous: 2015 (106)
120: Jody Sandoval II, Fort Lupton, Jr.; Previous: 2015 (113)
160: Jimmy Fate, Berthoud, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (145)
182: Dalton Robertson, Weld Central, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (160), 2013 (106)
195: Chad Ellis, Berthoud, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (170)
220: Marcus Garcia, Dolores Huerta, Sr.; Previous: 2013 (132), 2015 (195)
CLASS 2A
106: Jacob Rodriguez, Rocky Ford, Jr.; Previous: 2015 (106)
120: Jonathan Andreatta, John Mall, Jr.; Previous: 2015 (113), 2014 (106)
126: Morgan Fogg, Highland, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (113 at Thompson Valley – 4A)
145: Bo Pipher, Paonia, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (138), 2014 (132)
170: T.J. Shelton, Meeker, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (170), 2014 (170), 2013 (160)
220: Keegan Wentz, Buena Vista, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (182)
Hwt.: Jayden Hilferty, Limon, Sr.; Previous: 2015 (Hwt.)
