What to watch this week at Ball Arena
The CHSAA state wrestling tournament returns to Ball Arena this Thursday through Saturday for three days of mat madness. Here’s a look at some of the top storylines going into the event:
POMONA VS. EVERYBODY>> Pomona has won four consecutive Class 5A titles and six of seven, with Ponderosa finishing as the runner-up three of the past four years (2019, ’21, ’ 22). Could the Mustangs pose a challenge? They have one returning state champ (Jacob Myers, 132 pounds) and two of the state’s best in 138-pound senior Brandon Cannon and 170-pound sophomore Tyler Eise. Pomona is led by Jacob Romero — a two-time state champion who could match up with Cannon in an epic 138 final.
ASTERISK NEEDED? >> Loveland 110-pounder Morgan Johnson is going for her third consecutive CHSAA state title — or fourth if you count the girls’ state tourney contested by the association when it was an unsanctioned pilot program in 2020. Johnson made the case in November that she’d belong in the four-timers club were she to win it all this winter. If she does, she’d be the first girl to join the exclusive group. It certainly won’t come easy: Returning state champ Sarah Delacerda of Alamosa is on the same half of the 110-pound bracket and nationally ranked junior Janessa George (391) of Chatfield is on the opposite half.
OH SO CLOSE >> While there will be no boys four-time state champions for the first time since 2013 but there are two who could win their third: Pueblo East’s Weston Dalton (4A-150) and Wray’s Brady
Collins (2A-138). Both lost in the title round as sophomores in 2021. Dalton is ranked No. 12 nationally in his weight class by flowrestling.com and committed to Nebraska, while Collins is 87- 0 since last season and attempting to finish off his second consecutive unbeaten season.
CHASING PERFECTION >> Speaking of perfect seasons, with coronavirus restrictions no longer keeping wrestlers out of big tournaments, the number of unbeatens is decidedly down entering the final weekend. The boys have seven unbeatens, with just one in 5A and 4A combined (4A Montrose heavyweight Dmarian Lopez). The girls, meanwhile, have eight looking to put the finishing touches on perfect seasons. Doherty senior Katey Valdez leads the girls with 34 wins, while Gunnison junior Royce Uhrig and Wray’s Brady Collins both have 44.
JUNIORS GOING FOR TITLE NO. 3
>> You can’t get to No. 4 without first winning No. 3. There are six juniors eyeing that accomplishment, including a pair of girls in Pomona’s Persaeus Gomez (120) and Calhan’s Ciara Monger (235). The other four: Mullen’s Dale O`blia (3A-113), Thompson Valley’s Jackzen Rairdon (4A-120), Buena Vista’s Caleb Camp (2A126) and Fort Lupton’s D`mitri Garza-alarcon (3A-138).
CHATFIELD THREE-PEAT? >> The Chatfield girls have claimed both state titles since CHSAA began formally sanctioning a girls tournament in 2021. The Chargers may very well be the favorite again, although Discovery Canyon should pose a strong challenge. Led by senior Janida Garcia — the 12th-ranked pound-forpound girls wrestler in the nation by flowrestling.com — the Thunder are loaded.
GOING ALL THE WRAY >> The Eagles have won four of the last five 2A team titles in establishing a small school wrestling dynasty, and Wray could easily take home the championship once again with Brady Collins and his alsounbeaten freshman brother, Austin (2A-106), leading the way.
BACK TO TRADITION >> After switching things up a year ago, CHSAA will revert back to holding podium ceremonies between final matches for each weight class. The association tinkered with the format last winter by doing all of the podium ceremonies at the conclusion of the tournament but decided to stick with tradition this time around.