Brighton’s Bravopacker pins his way to 5A title
At last year’s state tournament, Dylan BravoPacker pinned his way through the Class 5A 220-pound bracket in 10:52 of mat time.
The Brighton senior heavyweight made that performance look like child’s play this weekend at Ball Arena, dispatching his four opponents in 4:02, with four first-round pins. He had the least amount of mat time of any champion in the tournament while flexing his way to victory, literally, putting his biceps in the air as he pinned Pomona sophomore Adrian Arellano in the finals.
The end result: A second state title, and four career appearances in the finals for Bravopacker, who held a huge edge over opponents in both physicality and technique.
“All tournament, if (the chance to score) was open, I did it,” he said. “Being one of the only heavyweights to shoot consistently was a huge advantage.”
Bravopacker doesn’t have any college offers yet, but he hopes a second straight dominating performance at state will help him get some attention from recruiters.
The Bulldogs’ star said he grew from the title losses he experienced as a freshman and sophomore, and used those defeats to trampoline himself to state tournament success as an upperclassman.
“My freshman year, I went in and wasn’t as technical as the other guy and I lost,” Bravopacker said. “My sophomore year, I went in with a big head, thinking I had it in the bag right away. I definitely didn’t. I lost. My junior year, my mindset was there was no losing. It just wasn’t an option. I went out and did it, just like I did today, pure domination.”
Bravopacker took the mat just before the match wearing the shirt of his late grandfather, who passed away shortly before the state tournament his freshman year. And as he wrestled, he was also thinking about his two great- grandfathers who passed away this season.
“They were mentors, teachers,” Bravopacker said. “My great- grandpa taught me how to turn on the stove, how to cook when I needed to, he taught me how to fly fish. My other great- grandpa taught me how to ride a horse… It took a big toll on me. Those are relationships I’ll cherish forever.”
PONDO’S FOUR CHAMPS>>
Ponderosa finished runner-up to the Pomona dynasty for the fourth time in five seasons, but the Mustangs don’t have anything to hang their heads about. The powerhouse out of Parker sent six into the Class 5A finals, and won four of the matches.
Freshman Tommy Verrette won at 126, as did junior Jacob Myers ( last year’s 120-pound champ) at 132, senior Brandon Cannon at 138 and sophomore Tyler Eise at 175. Freshman Jaylen Burge (113) and sophomore DJ Wince (120) both fell in the finals.
Cannon had the most dramatic win of the four Mustang champions. He gritted out a 1- 0 victory over Pomona senior Jakob Romero, a two-time state champion. Defense reigned in the matchup between two of Colorado’s top wrestlers. Meanwhile, Eise made a statement with a 16-1 tech fall over Castle View senior Ian Crabtree.
“For a lot of these guys’ first state tournament, and for some of these guys to win their first, I really couldn’t ask for more out of them,” Ponderosa coach Jarion Beets said.
THRILLER AT CLASS 4A 106>>
In the first weight class of Championship Saturday, fans were treated to an overtime thriller between Mountain View sophomore Isaiah Harrison and Pueblo East senior L. J. Herburger.
Herburger, who beat Harrison in a tournament earlier this season, had a 6- 4 lead in the waning seconds of the match. But Harrison pressed on the gas, scoring a takedown with 14 seconds left to force overtime. Then, Harrison needed only 18 seconds to get another takedown, and win an 8- 6 sudden victory.
“I knew I had to keep the pace, keep the pressure, and he might get a stall called or he might not (after being cautioned earlier in the period),” Harrison said. “But I knew I needed points, and I had to go now… I felt he was tired and that I had a little bit more stamina.”
Harrison, who took fifth as a freshman last year and wrestles for Bear Cave for club, believes the title can propel him on the path to a three-peat starting as a junior.
ROCKY FORD ADDING ON>>
The storied Meloneers entered the tournament with 71 individual champions, second all-time to Grand Junction, and added No. 72 when Benny Carlo Gonzales beat Merino’s Coen Schmidt for the Class 2A 120-pound title.
It was Schmidt’s first loss of the year, and he finished 39-1. Benny Carlo Gonzales, meanwhile, finished 36-10 and wrestled the final few weeks of the season after suffering a dislocated left shoulder.
“To be a part of this tradition is amazing,” Carlo Gonzales said.
Senior Joe Zamora then became champion No. 73 in program history. Zamora, a runner-up last year, won the 150-pound title with a commanding 8-0 decision over St. Mary’s senior Dominick Cuccinelli. Rocky Ford is now two titles behind Grand Junction’s record 75 crowns.
Legacy junior Quinn Funk won the Class 5A 190-pound title via second-round pin over Grandview senior Max Kibbee, a Wolves football standout who is committed to Colorado Mesa.
Funk, the youngest of five brothers, saw three of his older brothers finish as runner-up for the Lightning. But Funk brought home the gold Saturday, a day after upsetting Ponderosa junior Westin Hoffschneider 10-6 in the semis.