By Tim Yount 719-488-2818 tim@onthematrankings.com
On the Mat, Top Ten Colorado Team Review
January 2, 2008
Class 2A
The 2A class has had some unbelievable down to the wire finishes the past few years. The 2008 season shouldn’t be any different. The top teams will have quality point scorers at state.
The top team through the winter break is Paonia. This team should qualify nearly every weight for the state tournament if all goes according to plan. On the Mat (OTM) has projected them finishing with six state medalists with another two having a legitimate shot to podium. Paonia is a young team but are comprised of a group of guys who understand that being number one is a privilege and will, as a result, be motivated by the pressure. Lead by Mark Bejarano (6th in 2007), Devon Brown (4th in 2007) and John Hinton (5th in 2007), this team can score and score fast. Watch their young guys including Justin “super soph” Smith who scores big bonus points because of his pinning ways.
Wiggins is our number two team at the break. No team in this class can equal their mat time but it will take a full complement of points from 13 guys for them to win the title. One of the biggest hits to this team is the loss of Israel Garay who is reportedly out until early February. With him in the line-up, they could have enough points to win the title. Without him, they might fall short by a whisker. Pollock is the only other returning medalist but is joined by a very talented freshman in Buddy Watson (an OT winner at the Wray Invite over Drew Ritchey, 2007 state champ at 103), Eddie Urban, Dillon McCombs, Dallas McCombs, Aaron Erker, Adam Erker, Jake Schroeder, Tyler Davis, and Dustin Mariani, all of whom are ranked 11th or higher in their respective weights. When Watson shifts down to 103, making room for 112 pounder Pete Springer (20 match winner in 2007), this teams becomes that much more dangerous.
Grand Valley will rely on quality points with four guys projected 3rd or higher in the rankings. OTM sees them qualifying eight for the tournament, all of whom could score points in Denver. If you wrestle Grand Valley, you better not overlook Coach’s son Ryan Gallegos (2nd in 2007), Jared Tonder (4th in 2007), and Cody Miles (4th in 2007). They are joined by James Drinkhouse (6th ranked this year), Freshman Jerrod Busch, Matt Cain, Tyler Miles (3rd ranked this year and brother of Cody… both of whom are rodeo stars), and Colton Ostermiller, all guys who should qualify and score points at state.
Rocky Ford, a perennial top four team, will be a factor if they get some of their top junior varsity kids from this past year into a winning mindset. This team will push 12 or 13 to state, numbers that would support it making a run for the title. David Garcia (2nd in 2007), Matt Harmon (5th in 2007) and Steven Herrera (5th in 2007) lead this team. Don’t overlook coach’s son Nick Jurney, Angel Guana, Mason Smith, Tyler Neel, and Robert Powell, all of whom are ranked in the top ten in their respective weights.
Rangely, a team that we have moved higher and higher in the rankings since week one, probably won’t have the numbers but they do have quality points in three kids - Devin Rose who was 4th in 2007, Stephen Boleng who was 5th, and number four ranked Nick Halcomb. Good points will also be scored by 7th ranked Travis Witherall, 8th ranked Keane Raley, and 9th ranked Christian Holcomb. The tough western slope region could hurt their numbers, but they will surprise many kids at regionals who may overlook them because of their records.
Dolores Huerta is a sleeper in that they have a full team of good kids all of whom could push the top wrestlers in the state. Like Rangely, they won’t have the numbers to make a run for the title, but they will make a push for the top five. Expect Nick Segura, a projected state finalist barring injury, and a host of others to qualify and score big including Todd Richardson, Garrison Ortiz, Mario Garcia, Alonso Rodriguez and Jacob Segura, all of whom are currently ranked.
Dove Creek, after their state championship year in 2007, cleared a majority of their cupboard through graduation, but they do have some great leadership from Colten Huskey, who should finally win a state title that has eluded him each of the past two years (his only two losses have been at state). They will get points from 3-4 other kids including Braiden Banks (5th in 2007), Josh Sparks (who defeated 2x medalist, Mark Bejarano at the Warrior), Chris Beanland, and Justin Guynes.
Burlington will surprise many with their younger kids who haven’t been able to consistently get on the mat thus far this season. Coach Duell knows what it takes to push a top five finish and very well could do it again if he gets his kids wrestling well late. Bon Kinder, Justin Korbelik, Cameron Penny, Austin Blasi, Adam Wallin, Mike Satterly, Casey Harrell and Isaiah Churchwell are all ranked in the top eight in the state and will be joined by young freshman stud Abe Mitchek.
Norwood, thanks to the transfer of state champion Stryker Lane from Nucla, will surprise many schools in this class. Combine Lane’s points with defending state champion, Hugh Hardman and you have a number that is top ten worthy. We like the movements that are being made by Darrel Jensen, Ethan Alexander, and Seth Gebardi - all ranked kids.
Soroco closes out our top ten with only three kids scoring points. Although these kids must perform well in order to finish in the top ten, they very well could based on their 2007 performances. Justin Iacovetto is ranked #1 at 112 (medalist in 2007), and Dennis Morgan is number 2 ranked at 189 (medalist in 2007). Levi Gonzales is ranked 5th at 125.
Six western slope teams comprise our top ten, a number that is unique to any class in the history of our coverage of high school wrestling. Each of the aforementioned teams will be pushed by Holyoke (lead by Chad Stroh, state runner up in 2007), Wray (spearheaded by state champion Drew Ritchey), Simla (commandeered by two 2007 medalists, Andrew Scherrer and Bryan Hamacher), Lyons (with a young team but great leadership) and Merino (lead by Chase Chesterman, Wyatt Barber, Devon Hase and Austin Amen - who has yet to get on the mat). Stratton, Nucla, Akron and Meeker will also surprise many by year’s end.
Weights that could see the lowest ranked kids place: 119, 130
Class 3A
If you haven’t yet seen Roosevelt compete, you need to make it to Johnstown soon. This team, hot off an annihilating win over several larger schools in Grand Junction at the Warrior Classic, could push even the top teams in the other classes with this roster. Dan Frank, one of the most under ranked wrestlers in the nation, is on fire, having pinned a kid who was 8th at the Ironman (one of the toughest tourneys located in OH), at the Warrior Classic in December. We project Roosevelt qualifying 14 for state, with all of them winning matches; eight are picked to medal fourth or higher. Our early season numbers show them winning this division by 75 ½ points. Scoring big points should be Nick Legino (3rd in 2007), Brandon Montoya (2nd in 2007), Jeff Plumb (6th in 2007), Nathan Heuer (2nd in 2007), Dustin Frank (2nd in 2007) and state qualifiers Kyle Walter and Jeff Kielian. Others who are ranked include freshman Presley Pappachek (4th), freshman CJ York (2nd), Jarron Cito (10th), Nick Urban (7th), Adam Liges (7th) and fast rising Derek Frank (6th). Although Roosevelt is moving to 4A in 2008, they are still very young, graduating only two starters off this year’s team.
Florence, third in 2007, returns six medalists but might not have enough guys to keep up with Roosevelt. We still see them eclipsing the century mark with seven medalists, a number that would win most state tournaments. Returning medalists include: Andrew Addington (6th), Nate Halpin (6th), Tony Magno (4th), Scott Campbell (6th), Jon Medley (4th), and Tanner Wilcox (3rd). Others expected to fill some gaps nicely includes state qualifiers Matthew Addington, Steve Hansen, Derek Tucker, and a very much improved Jacob Cole.
Monte Vista will be an even tougher team when they get Adam Garcia back from injury and some others who have been held out for various reasons. Pablo Mascaranas (112) won a monster weight class at the Warrior defeating a returning state champion in the finals from Utah. Justin Prieto continues his ascent on the rest of the state while Zach Trujillo is still top ranked at 119. Kevin Warren, if he competes to his potential, will score points. Monte can push if they get production from their upper weights.
Centauri, with one of the youngest teams in the class, are lead by my pre-season wrestler of the year, Mitchell Polkowski, who is coming off a technical fall defeat of Justin Gonzales of Northridge (state runner up in 4A and second place finisher at 145lbs in Reno). They won’t have the numbers to win but they do have enough quality to go top five. Coach’s son, Cahlen Keys will perform well as will UNC runner-up Phillip Sheridan. Iver Sandoval surprised many at UNC and will need to keep working hard as will Ben Polkowski, Justin Rogers and Vincent Chacon for Centauri to score a top five finish.
Eaton gets big points from four guys and might very well end up with two or three champions but will need some good luck to medal six, a number that we believe will be necessary to push a top five team finish. Aaron Batt and Preston Reninger return as medalists and are supported by a talented Matt Smith and sophomore star Bryce Kammerzell (brother of a 2007 state champion). Their second half schedule is tough so they will get battle tested over the next six weeks.
Lamar, which returns most of their team from last year, hasn’t been able to put together their ideal lineup just yet but when they do, it will be one of the most competitive teams in the state. Their only state qualifier, Justin Fleshman, has been on the mat only a few times but he is joined by state qualifiers Josh Jaime, Kenneth Montoya, Brendon Downing, Brandon Downing, Josh Hernandez, Riley May, Jerod Lowe (who is still trying to find a home in this lineup), and Brandon Vaughn. Add to this list 6’5” Stephen Fox at 189 and you have a formidable team.
St Mary’s lives and dies by its scoring from four kids, all of whom are proven and will push a top five finish if each of them can make the state finals. The feat is quite possible with the three Martinez’s leading the way. If Geoffory Grayson wrestles well at state, these guys will push a top five finish.
Lajunta is another team that just continues to get better and better. They should medal seven kids, a number that would normally result in a top five finish but with the depth of this class this year, might not be enough. Ross Leyba (2nd in 2007), Tommy Ketchum (3rd in 2007), freshman placer and now senior David Vasquez, Isaiah Lucero and Patrick Merwin - both of whom were one match away from medaling in 2007 - will be key in their quest for a high team finish.
Olathe is always good and returns yet another team that can score points. OTM sees them placing five with another five kids qualifying and scoring points at state. Jose Medina is the only returning state medalist but he has a great team around him that includes potential medalists Casey Bollinger, Jason Pridy, Brenton Martinez, Dane Axtell, Kris Nieto, Kyle Piatt, Luke Hunter, Jesse Rivera, Marvin Rivera, JD Jiminez, Tyler Hawk and Curtis McCormick (if they can find a place for him in their lineup). This team is deep and WILL have an impact on the final standings.
Others who will push the top ten include:
* Yuma (with seven ranked kids)
*Highland (made a move at UNC)
*Pagosa Springs (with five very solid kids)
* Bayfield (behind five guys with mat experience)
*Brush, the 2007 state champions, will be in the top ten once they get two of their top kids back after the break (Cole Kembel and Daniel Rubalcaba)
Weights that could see the lowest ranked kids place: 125, 130
Class 4A
Here is where this class stands (when I ran the numbers) – Alamosa 138, Northridge 136, Broomfield 132, Fort Morgan 130. Any of these teams could win this class if they get the right breaks at state. Alamosa will have to get high finishes from their medalists from last year; might we see remnants of a 1993 Moffat County team that won state on Saturday morning, not Saturday night and passed Alamosa, a team that had 6 state champions that year? Bonus points could be critical (falls versus technical falls versus majors), count on that.
Alamosa is lead by their stars – Jesse Meis and Cody Yohn. Meis defeated two top five nationally ranked kids in Reno and Yohn wrestled the nationally ranked number one 160 pounder to a four point match in the finals in that same tournament. These guys will score 50 points between the two of them. They will be supported by a throng of medalists from last year that will have to place in the top four for them to repeat.
Northridge is an unbelievable team as evidenced at both UNC and Reno. They are solid from top to bottom but must get big points from their veterans – Tim Saucedo, Justin Gonzales, Easton Ramirez, Derek Vasquez, and Patrick Gomez, to win. Other guys with experience include Nick McCorkell, Drake Huggans and Dustin Green, each of whom must qualify AND score for them to stay close. Getting medals from young stars Chuy Melendez and Louis Romo would be icing. Peaking will be key for this team that just fell short in 2007.
Broomfield could easily win four weights and have six finalists. These are numbers that will earn them a victory if such is the case. Courtland Hacker, Gabe Gomez, Ryan Trujillo, Eric Mortenson, Cory Casady and Nick Zissimos must score as projected. Any other points earned by others at state will be gravy and COULD be the difference. They have to figure out a way to get Jerry Huff, Fargo AA in 2007, into their line-up. Transfer Jordan Gutierrez should fill in nicely at 130 pounds when he gets on the mat in a few weeks.
Fort Morgan has been devastated by injury over the first month of the season but if they get those kids back, they will make a solid run at the title. They could have five finalists if they can get healthy. Francisco Diego, Blayne Walker, Scott Soto, Joe Hochanadel, Sam Soto, Ryan Buck, Matt Chavez, Rudy Chavez and Kyle Graulus are big point earners for this team. Any points that others can garner them including from Yuma transfer and third place medalist, Angelo Ramirez, will get them into the mix.
Greeley Central is our number five team because of their quality. They return state champions Scott Schaefer and Bryce Wolf, medalist Rodney Hesse and always talented Michael Rangel. If Jacob Atwood, Aaron Andrade, and Jeremy Paz continue to ascend in the rankings, they will challenge our top four. If they are able to get one athlete back out for the team (Josh Rangel), they could push the century point mark at state.
Thompson Valley has performed exceptionally well over the past several years they have been in the 4A division and have seven guys who could score points for them at state. Will this be the year that they get into the top five? Jeff Phillips, Mike Dellato and Johnny Ortega are givens. They will place and score well. Will they be joined by Tanner Taylor, Jimmy Zahtilla, Josh McGirl, Sam Van Horn and a young team of athletes?
Pueblo West has not yet had a complete team on the mat but if they do, watch out. They can score big points from four kids – Vincent Sanchez, Jordan Garcia, Mike Ross and Tony Chavarria - and might very well qualify seven or eight for state. This team can score big in a region that appears to have some gaps in quality in a few weights.
Cortez, the fastest moving team in class 4A, has an unbelievable bevy of underclassmen who wrestle great kids competitively. We love the tenacity of Justin Samora (few hate to lose much as this kid), state runner-up Casey Lynn, transfer from Dolores and two-time state runner-up Drake Smith and fast rising Kole Chadwick and Jesse Blakely. Teams on the western slope better take notice. Although they lack the seven to eight deep medalist potential of the top four, they very well could gain some great momentum late in the season and wreak havoc on the division.
Fort Lupton is improved this year and will see more than just two guys scoring points for them (two timer Saul Guerrero and state champ Dale Shull). They could score in the lower and upper weights this year which will help them to push the top ten. If they can reach the 60 point mark at state, they will finish where projected.
Berthoud, behind a great team of athletes including Graeden Sadlo, Brandyn Wahlert, Nick Ludwig, the “funkmeister” Jake Schabinger and Jimmy Shump, could, if they work through previous state jitters, move as high as a top five or six team finish. Don’t forget, they get Mountain View transfer and state medalist Curtis Martinez on the mat in a few weeks.
Others who will have an impact are:
*Palisade – a team that always seems to peak at state after a long football season,
*Mountain View with state runner-up Blake Steiert, Garrett Vasquez (remember Bryson?), Josiah Hood (Loveland transfer),
*Pueblo South with state champ Jeremy Aguero back in the lineup and a supporting cast of Chad Pompa, Derek Ruiz, and David Shawcroft,
*Rifle which is young and experienced and has kids in the right weight including veteran James Conrardy.
Each of these schools are capable of getting four medalists and pushing a top ten finish with great regional finishes and some good solid state bracketing.
Weights that could see the lowest ranked kids place: 119, 135, 171
Class 5A
Currently, Ponderosa has a 41 1/5 point lead over Loveland, our number two team in class 5A. Ponderosa will get its sixth straight title this year if they are even close to our mid-season projections which has them medaling in seven different weight classes. Ponderosa is coming off of a very impressive 8th place finish at the Al Dvorak Memorial Invitational, one of the toughest tournaments in the country (where they finished only 12 points behind one of the nation’s best – Bishop Lynch, TX). If Zeke Hofer, Jacob Snider, the Kelly’s (Daniel and Steven), Jake Ottmann, and Stephone Kling make the finals, hand the microphone to the Ponderosa cheering section to sing, “turn the lights out, ‘cause this one is over.”
Loveland will be lead by nationally ranked and three-time state medalist, Tyler Graff. With six others projected to score points at state including 2007 state runner-up Josh Kreimier and returning medalist Luke Vandenburg, Loveland should be able to eclipse the century mark for points this year. Will Lance Jefferies, Connor Medberry and the rest of this young team step up?
Northglenn, a team that came within six points of Ponderosa in their early season dual are lead by two kids who are projected to win state – Philip Grout and Jacob Terada. If they can place five, they should be able to secure that top five team finish. It will though take a great effort from Richie Drewes, Casey DeMarrias, Ryan Bratton and exchange student Thomas Szarka and others for them to fend off the challengers.
Grand Junction takes over the number four spot after a very strong Warrior Classic finish where they edged Broomfield by three points and finished second to Roosevelt. Lead by Robert Tucker at 215, they are our dark horse pick being that they have more possible point scorers than any other team other than Ponderosa. Don’t be surprised if they finish in the runner-up position. Expect great things from Geronimo Gemoya (who has been on an early season tear), Anthony Guillen, Pace Bates, Matt Bethka, Jace Casey, Daniel Harris, Kevin Ballard, and Isaac Valentine, all of whom should play a factor in the finish.
Legacy is currently fifth but only because they have yet to really put together their entire line up in the same tournament. I consider them a top three team when and if they do. They have eight guys with experience who can carry big points. Chris Wessel and Vince Gallegos are returning medalists and Adam Dunne, Mike DeBaca, Danny Mitchell, Chad Quick, and the Jenkins’ brothers - Shawn and Dustin - are all state qualifiers who can really score. With this firepower, this team could run.
Brighton is no longer a dark horse with some of the weight shifts they have made. When they get Alonzo Montoya back, they should have enough points to push a top five finish. The biggest question will be what they can get out of their kids in the upper weights. Consider this their challenge. Dietrick Turney returns their biggest point gainer from 2007 but expect great things from Jeremy Robledo, Paul Montoya, Rian Fry, and Luke Case.
Thunderridge has put together their best team in the last decade of this school and are primed for a top ten finish behind the performances of Tyler Nelson and James Breidel, the UNC champion at 189 pounds. Garrett Stowall has competed at the highest level of his career as has Cody Barday and Alex Rivas. Can they score enough to fend off others with an equal number of top competitors?
Grandview, albeit not the team they have been in the past, are still set for a top ten finish because of five quality performers and two others who can score points given a strong second half of the season – medalist from 2007 - Eric Wilson, Cody Gilmore, Michael Bolagna, Patrick Brown, Josh Starr, Bryce Lucherini and Penn Wade.
Rocky Mountain is another team that will lean on its veterans for points, lead by sophomore state champion Jeremy Schmitt and Tino Laureles, who was one match away from a state medal in 2007. If Greg Padilla settles in at 145 and Casey Norgard continues his movements in his weight class, others on this team may follow.
Grand Junction Central rounds out our top ten behind a very solid crop of athletes who have made great strides over the past 12 months. They are lead by 2007 medalist Matthew Gurule. He is joined by Jacob Gurule, Jesus Rodriguez, Daniel Rodriguez, Alex Escalante, Chris Jacobs and Sean Cholas, all guys with mat experience and signs of breakthrough after having wrestled good Warrior Classic matches.
Also making an impact will be:
*Chaparral a team that seems to always find a way to finish in the top ten
*Denver East behind three studs in Jacob Milewski, Ryan Gray, and Junior Romero
*Standley Lake with three projected medalists
*Coronado behind a great crop of freshman
*Pomona behind state champion Nick Jones
*Air Academy lead by Oliver Yaney and a great crop of upper weight athletes
* Centaurus will be in the hunt for a top ten finish once they see the return of Dominic Valenzuela
*Poudre if they can qualify 7-8 kids for state
Weights that could see the lowest ranked kids place: 112, 119, 215
The year is just beginning really…so expect many changes by the time we get to Regionals in mid-February. Good luck everyone. Don’t forget to forward me dual results!!
Tim Yount
On the Mat Rankings
tim@onthematrankings.com
2007-08 Best Team - Alamosa High School Wrestling Team ranked number one in Colorado high school
Top Teams in Colorado
Ponderosa
Alamosa
Broomfield
Roosevelt
Northridge
Fort Morgan
Loveland
Pueblo West
Florence
Legacy
Pre-Season Top 3 by class
5A
Ponderosa
Loveland
Legacy
4A
Alamosa
Broomfield
Northridge
3A
Roosevelt
Florence
Monte Vista
2A
Rocky Ford
Paonia
Grand Valley
Top Wrestlers
Jesse Meis, Alamosa 43-1, Sr, 103
Travis Himmelman, Fr, 112
Phil Grout, Northglenn, Jr, 40-2, 119
Nick Jones, Pomona, Sr, 38-3, 125
Dale Shull, Fort Lupton, Jr, 35-3, 125
Tyler Graff, Loveland, Sr, 47-0, 130 (best in CO) – he is the pre-season OW for the year
Saul Guerrero, Fort Lupton, 37-5, Sr, 135
Mitchell Polkowski, Centauri, 47-0, Sr, 140
Colton Huskey, Dove Creek, 36-1, Jr, 140
Hugh Hardman, Norwood, 37-1, Jr, 145
Corey Cassady, Broomfield, 40-4, Sr, 152
Cody Yohn, Alamosa, 41-1, Sr, 160
Brice Wolf, Greeley Central, 42-2, Jr, 171
Johnny Ortega, Thompson Valley, 39-3, Sr, 171
Justin Waterman, Greeley West, 35-2, Sr, 215
Stryker Lane, Norwood, 37-3, Jr, 215
Tim Saucedo, Northridge, 32-3, Sr, 285
On the Mat Rankings
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