Hayman remains undefeated
DENVER >> With a third-period pin of Discovery Canyon’s Larry Hennings in the first round of the Class 4A state wrestling tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Loveland senior Walker Hayman kept his undefeated season intact.
Hayman, who won a regional championship last week, improved to 38-0 this season and is three wins away from a perfect campaign and a state title at 175 pounds.
“It feels great, honestly,” Hayman said of being undefeated.
“It’s been a really long path. I started wrestling when I was three and a half or four (years old), so it’s definitely been great to have a good year. I’m really excited about how it’s going so far.”
Before he can think about having an undefeated season or winning a championship, he has to get to the final match and that started with his victory over Hennings in the opening round.
The two wrestled into the third period before Hayman got the pin. He was leading by a 10-1 score with 42 seconds left when the referee slapped the mat to give him the victory.
“It’s always hard, first match at state, a lot of nerves going on, but I just went out there and wrestled like my coaches taught me to,” Hayman said. “Just go out there and get things done.”
Dominik Ortiz at 113s was the only other Loveland wrestler to win and advance to the quarterfinals. The Red Wolves are tied for 23rd in the team standings after the first day of the tournament.
Defending champs open strong
Both Jackzen Rairdon of Thompson Valley and Isaiah Harrison of Mountain View made quick work of their first-round opponents as they look to defend 4A titles they won a year ago.
Last year, Rairdon won his third title while Harrison won his first.
Rairdon, wrestling this year at 144s after winning his previous titles at lower weights, needed only 2:28 to pin Montrose’s Trevan Anstine and advance to the quarterfinals.
Harrison, wrestling this year at 113s after winning last year at 106s, didn’t get a pin, but he got a technical fall at the end of the second period after taking a 16-0 lead in the match.
Besides Rairdon, other Eagles advancing to the quarterfinals were Gabe Hall (126s), Isaiah Vigil (132s), Kellen Engelhardt (150s), Wyatt Malara (157s), Garet Hendrickson (175s) and Landry Suarez (215s).
Tristan Gilbert (157s) was the only other Mountain View wrestler to advance to the quarterfinals.
After the first day, the Eagles are tied for third in the 4A team standings.
Mountain View is tied for 20th.
RCS, Berthoud advance seven
Resurrection Christian, which had eight wrestlers qualify for state, had five advance to the 3A quarterfinals. Thursday’s winners included Grant Slinkard (126s), Ethan Goldfain (175s), Isaiah Johnson (190s), Sam Stockton (215s) and Will Reeves (285s).
Berthoud had a pair of wrestlers advance to Friday’s 3A quarterfinals. Kalen Cooper won at 175s and Donovan Mann won at 285s.
The Cougars are seventh in the 3A team standings after the tournament’s first day. The Spartans are 17th.