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Ponderosa sophomore Cohl Schultz won his second consecutive Class 5A 220-pound title Saturday night at the Pepsi Center, defeating Cherokee Trail senior Max Gonzales 7-0 in a rematch of last season’s final.

Denver Post preps editor Kyle Newman caught up with the nationally-ranked wrestler following the match to discuss the聽win, his brother Trent Schultz’s repeat title at 195 and much more.

蚕:听How did you stay focused throughout the season en route to your second title?

础:听I always need to be improving, because there’s always something to work on. If you don’t have that mentality in every practice, every national tournament and every local tournament, you can get beat. I spent my summer with the Cadet World Team, too, which gave me great international experience.

蚕:听What was it like seeing your older brother, Mountain Vista senior Trent Schultz, come away with a sudden-victory聽win over Cherokee Trail senior Zeke Silva at 195?

础:听That was a little nerve-wracking. I didn’t think he’d be taken to overtime, but he got it done in the end. He wasn’t getting on his offense enough and he was being a little bit hesitant, but he looked good in the sudden victory聽period, which mattered most.

蚕:听How difficult was it to watch that, and then to have to go out and wrestle for a title yourself some 15 minutes later?

础:听I got pretty excited for his match, but then I was able to reel it back in, and I was completely focused going out there for the final.

蚕:听Against Gonzales in the championship, you聽didn’t get the pin for the first time in your eight career state tournament matches. What was different about that bout?

础:听It’s hard to score on people who are running away. Every time off the whistle, his first step off the line was back, and he wasn’t trying anything. It was frustrating for me, but that happened all weekend. Everyone was a little more prepared for me this year and they had a game plan, which was to stay out of ties and what I’m good at. I had to adapt in every match. In the quarters I was being a little too aggressive, but in the later rounds I just made sure I didn’t get myself in trouble from chasing them.

蚕:听After seeing Pueblo County senior Hunter Willits get recognized Saturday as the 20th four-time state champion in CHSAA history, how does that motivate you as you’re now halfway to that feat?

础:听That was really cool. I know Hunter pretty well, and that was an exciting moment for Colorado high school wrestling. Hopefully in a couple years, if all goes as planned, I’ll be doing the same thing.