Brighton’s Matilda Hruby attempts to toss Pomona's Timberly Martinez during their championship Class 5A 155-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Brighton’s Matilda Hruby looks to the official while wrestling Pomona's Timberly Martinez during their championship Class 5A 155-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Brighton’s Matilda Hruby jumps into her coaches arms after beating Pomona's Timberly Martinez during their championship Class 5A 155-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Brighton’s Matilda Hruby prepares to wrestle Pomona's Timberly Martinez during their championship Class 5A 155-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Sand Creek’s Peggy Dean prepares for her championship Class 5A 100-pound match against Pomona’s Justice Gutierrez at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Pomona’s Justice Gutierrez celebrates winning her championship Class 5A 100-pound final against Sand Creek’s Peggy Dean at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Air Academy’s David Burchett Jr. celebrates his win over Pueblo Eastap Justus Freeman after a championship Class 4A 157-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Air Academy wrestlers Trent Lainez, left, and David A. Burchett spar in the tunnels outside the arena during the first day of the 2026 Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Grand Junction Central’s Micah Bautista, left, wrestles Loveland’s Dominik Ortiz during a preliminary Class 5A 120-pound match during the first day of the 2026 Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Wrestlers enter the arena during the Parade of Champions at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by McKenzie Lange/Special to The Denver Post)
Grand Junction Central’s Micah Bautista, right, hugs his coach Clint Trujillo, before a preliminary match against Loveland’s Dominik Ortiz in the class 5A 120 pound bracket during the first day of the 2026 Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Wrestlers enter the arena during the Parade of Champions at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by McKenzie Lange/The Denver Post)
Grand Junction Central’s Micah Bautista, bottom, fights to keep from being pinned by Loveland’s Dominik Ortiz during a preliminary class 5A 120 pound match during the first day of the 2026 Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Regis Jesuitap Remington Zimmerer and Pine Creek’s Zoe Gabel grapple during their championship Class 5A 120-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Regis Jesuitap Remington Zimmerer jumps into the arms of her father and coach Zach Zimmerer after beating Pine Creek’s Zoe Gabel in their championship Class 5A 120-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Wrestlers enter the arena during the Parade of Champions at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by McKenzie Lange/Special to The Denver Post)
Mead High School’s Morgan McDonald hugs her coach after losing to Prairie View’s Jaydin Cuevas during their championship Class 5A 115-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Prairie View’s Jaydin Cuevas does a celebratory backflip after beating Mead High School’s Morgan McDonald during their championship Class 5A 115-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Canon City’s Elias Koonce deals with an ankle injury during the Class 4A 190-pound championship match against Pueblo Eastap Elijah Contreras during the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Ignacio’s Zane Pontine recovers after losing a class 2A 157 pound match during the first day of the 2026 Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Jax Quintana (113) of Adams City looks for the pin against Colby Payne of Pomona during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Quintana advanced to the finals by way of a second period fall in 3:15. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Jax Quintana (113) of Adams City erupts after pinning Colby Payne of Pomona during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Quintana advanced to the finals by way of a second period fall in 3:15. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Jax Quintana (113) of Adams City erupts after pinning Colby Payne of Pomona during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Quintana advanced to the finals by way of a second period fall in 3:15. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Ollin Quintana (175) of Brighton reacts after losing to Brogan Trollope of Pine Creek during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Brogan advanced to the finals by way of a 5-4 decision. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Elijah Contreras (190) of Pueblo East erupts after pinning Carter Woods of Mead High School during the Colorado State Wrestling Championships at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Contreras earned the fall at :17 left on the clock. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Kalob Ybarra (175) of Pomona cradles Holden Irby of Fort Collins during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships seminal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Ybarra advanced to the finals by way of a fall at 1:15 of the first period. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Ethyn BravoPacker (144) of Brighton pops his singlet for the fans after scoring a winning takedown with less than five seconds to go against Elijah Hernandez of Central-GJ during the Colorado State Wrestling Championships at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. BravoPacker advanced to the finals by way of a 4-2 decision. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Jaxon Felker (132) of Severance works top control as Maddox Lechman of Windsor winces during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Felker advanced to the finals by way of a 15-4 major decision. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Allison McDaniel (110) of Falcon looks to finish a single leg as Phoebe Gutierrez of Adams City defends during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. McDaniel won by way of a 12-9 decision in sudden victory. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Joseph Palmer (175) of Rocky Mountain warms up with the rope before facing Tyler Muir of Erie during the Colorado State Wrestling Championships at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Muir won by way of an 11-0 major decision. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Peggy Dean of Sand Creek (right) and Lilly Lundy of Lewis-Palmer hand fight during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Dean won by way of a 15-0 technical fall. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Jovani Galvan (138) of Smoky Hill warms up for his match during the Colorado State Wrestling Championships at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Galvan defeated Carson Diana of Pine Creek by way of a 5-4 decision. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Adams City coaches Jared Deaguero and RJ Quintana erupt after Jax Quintana (113) pinned Colby Payne of Pomona during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. Quintana advanced to the finals by way of a second period fall in 3:15. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Ponderosa’s Onofre Gonzales wrestles Pomona’s Lincoln Valdez in the Class 5A 106-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Valdez took the state title. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/The Denver Post)
Eaton’s Blake Hawkins wrestles Fort Lupton’s Isaiah Rodriguez in the Class 3A 120-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Hawkins won the state title. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/The Denver Post)
Resurrection Christian’s Samuel Stockton, left, wrestles Mullen’s Champion Dyes in the Class 3A 285-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Stockton took the state title. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post)
Resurrection Christian’s Samuel Stockton pins Mullen’s Champion Dyes in the Class 3A 285-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post)
Pomona’s Maddux Najera beats Northglenn’s Eli Stevens in a Class 5A 215-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/The Denver Post)
Pomona fans cheer as Maddux Naera after he defeated Northglenn’s Eli Stevens in a Class 5A 215-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/The Denver Post)
Prairie View’s Jaydin Cuevas, back, loses her headgear while wrestling Mead High School’s Morgan McDonald during their championship Class 5A 115-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Regis Jesuitap Remington Zimmerer, top, wrenches on Pine Creek’s Zoe Gabel’s leg during their championship Class 5A 120-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Canon City’s Elias Koonce, top, points down on Pueblo Eastap Elijah Contreras during their Class 4A 190-pound championship match during the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Mullen’s Isaak Chavez focuses before the Class 3A 175-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Chavez took the state title against Valley’s Rocky Hoffschneider. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 20: Jordan Romero (126) of Abraham Lincoln warms up before the Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal round at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 20, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Salida’s Samuel Johnson hugs his dad Joe Anderson after winning the Class 3A 157-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Johnson took the state title against Pagosa Springs’ Colton Lucero. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post)
Salida’s Samuel Johnson wrestles Pagosa Springs’ Colton Lucero in the Class 3A 157-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Johnson took the state title. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/The Denver Post)
Pomona’s Derek Barrows pins Ponderosa’s Jack Simpson in a Class 5A 150-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Barrows took the state title. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post)
Ponderosa’s Jack Simpson wrestles Pomona’s Derek Barrows in a Class 5A 150-pound state championship match on the final day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. Barrows took the state title. (Photo by Rebecca Slezak/The Denver Post)
A fan cheers loudly during the last day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by McKenzie Lange/The Denver Post)d
Holy Family’s Breezy Johnston, right, gestures for a time-out Fort Lupton’s Alyssa Ornelas in a Class 4A 125-pound finals match during the last day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by McKenzie Lange/The Denver Post)
Las Animas’ Izabella Martinez reacts after a teammate loses his match during the last day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by McKenzie Lange/The Denver Post)
Holy Family’s Breezy Johnston, right, is pinned by Fort Lupton’s Alyssa Ornelas in a Class 4A 125-pound finals match during the last day of the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by McKenzie Lange/The Denver Post)
Prairie View’s Jaydin Cuevas, top, tries to flip Mead High School’s Morgan McDonald during their championship Class 5A 115-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Prairie View’s Jaydin Cuevas celebrates her win over Mead High School’s Morgan McDonald during their championship Class 5A 115-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
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Brighton’s Matilda Hruby attempts to toss Pomona's Timberly Martinez during their championship Class 5A 155-pound match at the Colorado high school wrestling state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
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By Timothy Hurst | thurst@denverpost.com, AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post and Rebecca Slezak | Rslezak@denverpost.com
PUBLISHED:
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Three days of Colorado high school state wrestling championships at Ball Arena, Feb. 2026. Hundreds of wrestlers from across Colorado swarmed the mats and battled for the state title in front of packed crowds at Ball Arena.
