The Colorado high school state wrestling tournament returns to Ball Arena starting Thursday and runs through Saturday night as programs from all corners of the state descend upon Denver. There are 52 returning champions and 19 unbeaten wrestlers among the field of more than 1,300 qualifiers. Here are five storylines to watch this weekend:
Pomona’s unstoppable dynasty
The Panthers’ boys team makes Cherry Creek football’s championship run feel like child’s play. Pomona is going for its and 10th in the last 11 years. An eighth consecutive crown would tie Ponderosa’s streak of eight 5A titles in a row from 2003-10. The Panthers are heavy favorites to accomplish the task and, with all 14 members qualified, break their state meet points record of 278.5, set in 2023.
Last year, Pomona went 5 for 5 in its finals matches and returns all those individual champions: Lincoln Valdez (106 pounds), Zaidyn Quinonez (126), Angel Serrano (138), Derek Barrows (150), Emmitt Munson (165) and Kalob Ybarra (175). Plus, Zaidyn Quinonez (126) won a title in ’23.
A potential four-timer
There have been 33 boys and two girls to win four state titles most recently Fowler’s Traven Sharon last year. Only one wrestler can join the list this weekend: Pomona senior Timberly Martinez, who is in the Class 5A 155-pound weight class. Martinez won at 130 as a freshman, 135 as a sophomore and 140 as a junior.
But Martinez faces a significant obstacle to achieving the feat: Brighton junior Matilda Hruby, who seeks her third title. Hruby beat Martinez 5-2 in the Eaglecrest Girls Invite in December, then beat her again at the Tiara Challenge in January, 10-9. They will likely meet in the finals.
Aiming for perfection
With across six different classifications (four for boys and two for girls), 16 individuals who have wrestled at least 20 matches are going for a perfect season.
Those girls wrestlers are: Pomona’s Justice Gutierrez (5A, 100 pounds), Sand Creek’s Peggy Dean (5A, 100), Prairie View’s Jaydin Cuevas (5A, 115), Vista PEAK’s Amelia Bacon (5A, 125), Chatfield’s Ryen Hickey (5A, 145), Brighton’s Matilda Hruby, Grand Junction Central’s Shylee Tuzon (5A 170), Broomfield’s Shayla Martinez (5A 190), Canon City’s Kate Doughty (4A 135) and Strasburg’s Vivienne Gitke (4A 140).
The boys going for perfection are: Brighton’s Ollin Quintana (5A 175), Gunnison’s Zach Benson (3A 144), Salida’s Samuel Johnson (3A 157), Resurrection Christian’s Samuel Stockton (3A 285), Buena Vista’s Carter Stromer (2A 215) and Burlington’s Anthony Estrada (2A 215).
Marquee heavyweight matchup
Keep an eye on the Class 3A 285-pound bracket, where Resurrection Christian’s undefeated senior Samuel Stockton and Mullen junior Champion Dyes are on a collision course. Stockton won the title last year, when Dyes was upset in the semifinals, and Dyes won the title in ’24 in the year when Stockton lost in triple overtime in the 215-pound final.
The big fellas last met in January 2025, when Stockton narrowly beat Dyes 1-0 at a tournament. Stockton hasn’t lost since his sophomore season at state, but will have to wrestle his best to beat Dyes in what should be a must-see final on late Saturday night.
Double Baconator
As juniors in 2025, Vista PEAK Prep’s Ian Bacon and Amelia Bacon became Colorado’s first brother-sister twins to win state titles in the same year. In Class 5A, Ian won at 120 pounds, while Amelia won at 125 pounds. Ian won his championship via pin, then a few minutes later, Amelia scored a late reversal to cement a dramatic victory in her title match.
This weekend, undefeated Amelia is the heavy favorite in the 125-pound bracket, while Ian will have his work cut out for him at 120. The biggest challengers for Ian are likely Fruita Monument junior Kel Unrein, who is on Ian’s side of the bracket, as well as top-seeded Pomona junior Logan Dellow. Because of their similar size, Ian and Amelia train together and they’ve no doubt been beating each other up in the practice room to prepare for another championship run at Ball Arena.
