5A wrestling: Coronado trio advance to state finals

Coronado advanced three wrestlers to today’s championship round of the 5A state wrestling tournament Friday while Pine Creek advanced two. The Cougars sit in second place with 87.5 points, behind 7-time defending champion Ponderosa’ s 102.5. The Eagles are sixth with 52 points.

View photos from the 5A state wrestling tournament

Coronado juniors Carter McElhany (125 pounds, 32-1), Jared Rieck (145, 40-4) and Nick Burhardt (152, 42-2) will get their second shot at a title. McElhany finished second last year and Rieck was runner-up as a freshman before missing last season with a knee injury. Burghardt finished third a year ago.

Rieck and Burghardt will face Ponderosa wrestlers in the final, giving them a chance to narrow the gap in the team scores, but it won’t be easy. 

Rieck will face three-time state champion Jake Snider (37-1). Burghardt will square off against defending champion Steven Kelly. Both Cougars lost to their foes earlier this year.

Burghardt said he was a little star-struck the last time he faced Kelly and he learned from the experience. Rieck thinks those past losses are a point in their favor.

“We don’t have too much pressure on us,” Rieck said. “Everybody expects us to lose.”

McElhany, the No. 1 seed, will face Mountain Range’s Cory Mitze (32-6).

“I’ve been working my butt off all season to get back here and do it right this time and it feels great to be in a position to do that,” McElhany said.

All three Cougars acknowledge the importance of their match to the team, but none are focusing on team scores now.

“You’ve just got to focus on your match and the points will take care of itself,” Burghardt said. “It comes down to everybody doing their jobs. We’re the underdogs. It’ll be really fun.”

Pine Creek freshman Geordan Martinez (42-1) earned a bout with Standley Lake's Ryan Adams (45-1) for the 103 title.

Junior teammate Josh Martinez (44-1) earned a rematch with two-time champion Matthew Gurule (45-1) of Grand Junction at 112. Gurule beat Martinez for the state title last year and the lone loss on each wrestlers’ record this came at the hands of the other. Martinez beat Gurule a week ago for the regional tournament title.

In this case familiarity has not bred contempt, but it will likely lead to the most exciting match of the night.

“It helps to get to the know what kind of things he does,” Martinez said. “I’ve watched hours of video of me wrestling him. I know exactly what I need to do. I’m not nervous. I’m just ready to wrestle.”