Schultz will be greatest wrestler in state history

Last week in Athens, Ponderosa junior Cohl Schultz became the first American in 20 years to win a Grecoroman title at the Cadet World Championships while simultaneously stamping himself as this country’s next great Olympic wrestling hopeful.

And with the win at 100 kilograms, Schultz — who as a 16-year-old has already cruised to consecutive Class 5A state titles at 220 pounds — added to his strong case that when his career is over, he will be the best wrestler to ever come out of the Centennial State.

Before thinking that is some in-the-moment hot take, consider this:

There’s been no shortage of nationally renowned wrestlers to come out of Colorado, from Arvada West’s Kyle Sand to Broomfield’s Phil Downing to Coronado’s Henry Cejudo, who won an Olympic gold medal. And there are a bevy of guys on the 20-person list of fourtime state champions, including Sand and Downing, who have gone on to collegiate and international success.

But no Coloradan besides Cejudo — who we’ll count for the purposes of this argument despite the fact that he was born in California and wrestled scholastically in this state for only two years — has gone on to accomplish what is now Schultz’s ultimate goal: an Olympic gold medal, which Cejudo won at 55 kilograms at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Schultz feels like he’s one step further along the path to accomplishing that.

“My cadet world title definitely shows I’m moving in the right direction, and that I’m continually getting better as a wrestler,” Schultz said. “Honestly, it just makes me even more hungry for what I can do at the next levels leading up to the Olympics, and what I can do moving into the junior age group next year for international competition.”

Schultz’s statement in Athens was the culmination of several months spent traveling in Europe — including competition stops in Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Finland, Paris and beyond — to wrestle, and beat, the world’s top talent at his age and weight.

Back in Parker, those inside the halls of Ponderosa have taken notice of his monstrous summer.

“I know I may be a little prejudiced, but I truly believe Cohl does have the chance to be the best wrestler in the history of Colorado wrestling,” said Tim Ottmann, longtime Ponderosa wrestling coach and the school’s athletic director. “The unique thing about Cohl is that he’s great in all styles — freestyle, Greco-roman and collegiate — whereas some of the state’s other great wrestlers were great in one or two.”

And as Schultz eyes continued progression this winter, first-year Ponderosa coach Tito Rinaldis — who earned All-america status at Ponderosa in 2003 — knows it’s going to take a rigorous practice regimen to keep the Mustangs star on track toward his Olympic goal.

“There’s not a high school kid in the state, or possibly even the whole country right now, that will give him a good look,” Rinaldis said. “We have to keep bringing him fresh meat, and usually that’s in the form of grown men that have Division I wrestling experience to give him a good push in the practice room.”

Schultz has lost just two matches in his prep career, with both setbacks coming in the championship of the prestigious Ironman Tournament in Ohio. He has the tournament circled on his schedule this season, where a win on a nationally elite stage would be just one more accomplishment to add to the résumé of a wrestler who continues to build a convincing case for the state’s “best ever” label.

Barring an injury or some sort of catastrophic event — such as missing weight at the state meet — Schultz is all but ensured to cruise to another 5A title. Despite that lack of legitimate competition in CHSAA tournaments, Schultz said he has no plans to quit wrestling for Ponderosa.

“I still love wrestling for my school and my team,” he said.

Kyle Newman: 303-954-1773, knewman@denverpost.com or @Kylenewmandp