With the first day of regionals coming next Friday, here are five facts to know going into the high school wrestling postseason, which culminates with the Feb. 16-18 state tournament at the Pepsi Center:
Class 5A team title is Pomona’s to lose
The Panthers have been the favorites from the moment they reclaimed the state title last year. Coach Sam Federico has five No. 1-ranked wrestlers in the On the Mat rankings, and his team easily captured the prestigious Top of the Rockies championship last month. Pomona will be tough to dethrone, although Brighton, Poudre, Grandview and have the depth to challenge the Panthers.
Many defending 5A champions capable of repeating
They’re all ranked at the top of their weights again this season, and all have the crucial intangible of experience. That’s why junior Malik Heinselman (106 pounds), Pomona sophomore Theorius Robison (132), Poudre junior Jacob Greenwood (138), Grand Junction junior Josiah Rider (145), Lakewood junior Gabriel Dinette (152), senior Trenton Schultz (195) and Ponderosa sophomore Cohl Schultz (220) are sure to be heavy favorites at the Pepsi Center.
Three girls aiming for big showings at state
The attention surrounding the two girls-only tournaments at Frederick and Chatfield this season laid a solid base for the future of girls wrestling as the CHSAA begins to take a serious look at sanctioning the sport. ‘s Kaley Barker (113 pounds), ‘s Olivia Iopollo (113) and Roosevelt’s Angel Rios (106) have shown their talent against male wrestlers. All three have the ability to not only qualify for the state tournament — which Barker did last season, becoming the seventh girl to do so — but also to place there, which no girl has ever done.
Pepsi Center should be packed
Media and fans of high school sports tend to agree: No other state championship event can match the atmosphere of the state wrestling tournament. Thanks to the fervor of fans cheering for wrestlers across four classifications, attendance has risen toward 40,000 for the three-day event. With the floor of the massive arena covered end to end with mats, this is must-see action.
Lower classes provide excitement too
has four top-ranked wrestlers (Brendon Garcia at 106 pounds, Grant Willits at 132, Hunter Willits at 152 and Donovan Rincon at 195) on one of the deepest teams in the entire state — the Hornets lost 31-27 to powerhouse Pomona in a dual meet last week. Alamosa senior Isaiah DeLaCerda goes for a second consecutive championship at 113 in Class 3A as the top-ranked Maroons pursue a state-record 12th team title. And in Class 2A, top-ranked also is chasing a 12th team title after falling just a point short to Meeker last year.
