Friday's roundup: Familiar faces lead CSML wrestling championships

WRESTLING

Colorado Springs Metro Wrestling Championships

Coronado 50, Discovery Canyon 47, Air Academy 46, Mesa Ridge 44, Fountain-Fort Carson 42.5, Doherty 38, Palmer Ridge 37.5, Palmer 35.5, Pine Creek 33.5, Falcon 33

At Doherty: On the first day of the tournament, 5A Coronado and 4A Discovery Canyon looked like the real deal with state less than a month away.

For the Thunder, two-time state champion AJ Rees made quick work of Vista Ridge’s Joey Villafan in the 120-pound weight class, pinning the Wolves wrestler in 33 seconds. Earlier this season, the Iowa State commit won the Old Chicago Northern Colorado Christmas tournament, as he powered through Pomona wrestler Josh Rosales despite a dislocated knee cap.

For Coronado, Devan Cruz (126) made even quicker work out of Harrison’s Luis Gutierrez Friday night. Cruz pinned Gutierrez in 26 seconds.

In the 106 class, Pine Creek-transfer Trent Watson, a state champion last season for the Eagles now wrestling for Coronado, pinned Colorado Springs Christian’s Jacob Bedford in 1:31. Elsewhere in the class, Discovery Canyon’s Sam Turner, Pine Creek’s Lance McAdams and Mesa Ridge’s Procopio Valdez also recorded pins.

In the 113 class, another Cougars returning state qualifier, Jess Hankin, pinned Rampart’s Josh Peltier in 53 seconds. Discovery Canyon’s Tanner Reynolds and Palmer Ridge’s Rylen Thalhammer each had major-decision wins.

In Rees’ class (120), Peyton’s Dillon Pekola went through two rounds, and recorded pins in each.

In Cruz’s class (126), Lewis-Palmer’s Darryan Vanderpool, Doherty’s Nathan Gonzales and Liberty’s Brandon Poulus each had pin wins.

In the 132 class, Vista Ridge’s Michael Collas won two matches going into Day 2.
First, he won a 9-7 decision over Mitchell’s Nikkolas Shopp. Then, he beat Palmer Ridge’s Michael Brierton in a 9-1 major decision.

In the 138 class, Pine Creek’s Geordan Martinez, who finished second at state last season in a controversial match, pinned Harrison’s Damion Kudel in 1:33. Martinez is trying to become the first four-time winner of the tournament. Twelve wrestlers have won it three times.

Also in the class, Palmer Ridge’s Tyler Thalhammer and Doherty’s Thaddeus Hayes each had to wrestler twice Friday, and each won twice.

In the 145 class, Tyler Oberg of the Thunder pinned Lewis-Palmer’s Cody Green. Green won his first-round match in a 5-1 decision over Falcon’s John Lynch. Also in the class, in a tight match, Widefield’s Brandon Brown beat CSCS' Connor Craddock in a 10-9 decision.

A class bigger (152), Discovery Canyon’s Jeff Burbach won, while Coronado’s Andrew West had to bow out due to injury.

Moving up into the 160 class, Air Academy’s Colson Egli and Manitou Springs’ Aaron Brooks each had pins. And in 170, returning state qualifiers Richard Cote and Adrian Mack each had pins to move on for the Cougars and Thunder, respectively.

At 195, Fountain-Fort Carson’s Tracy Hancock pinned Coronado’s Sam Smith in 4:31, while Discovery Canyon’s David Traynor and Palmer Ridge’s Pheonix Versey did the same to their foes.

As for the biggest classes of 220 and 285 pounds, Coronado’s Ryan Strabala pinned Liberty’s Josh Trainer (220) in 22 seconds, while Air Academy’s Justin Petrash (285) pinned Palmer’s Avery Fadler in the 285 class.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Wasson 61, Mesa Ridge 46

At Wasson: Richie Perea scored 24 points and threw out five assists, as he hit a season-high six 3s for Pikes Peak 4A No. 3 Wasson.

DJ Hanes added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Thunderbirds (14-1 overall, 6-0 Metro League).

Mesa Ridge (6-8, 2-4) has lost four of five.

Air Academy 77, Discovery Canyon 66

Air Academy (7-8 overall, 2-4 Pikes Peak Athletic Conference) jumped out early to hand Discovery Canyon (12-3, 3-3) its second home loss of the season.

David Louthan scored 22 points and Tory Belveal added 19 points for the Kadets.

Air Academy went 9-for-16 from the outside, while the Thunder hit just 5-of-18.

Cheyenne Mountain 77, Palmer Ridge 46

At Cheyenne Mountain: After two tough losses last week, Cheyenne Mountain (12-2 overall, 4-2 PPAC) regrouped with two wins this week.

The Indians led comfortably throughout, as Ghassan Nehme and Reece Eddy each scored 14.

Palmer Ridge (7-8, 1-5) has lost three in a row.

Lewis-Palmer 79, Vista Ridge 45

At Lewis-Palmer: 4A No. 2 Lewis-Palmer (13-2 overall, 6-0 PPAC) continued its roll, notching another win to its perfect league record.

Justin Smith scored a game-high 22 points and Jordan Scott added 21 for the Rangers.

Lewis-Palmer went 12-for-14 from the line.

Vista Ridge (5-10, 2-4) was led by Tyler Jackson's 12 points.

Sand Creek 56, Falcon 44

At Sand Creek: 4A No. 1 Sand Creek (13-0, 7-0 PPAC) remains undefeated.

Dyaln Clark scored 16 points and Bryan Jenkins added  15 for the Scorpions.

Falcon (7-8, 0-6) was led by Chances Matlock's 19 points and perfect 8-for-8 free-throw shooting.

Harrison 74, Coronado 63

At Harrison: Quincy Harding continues to be a dominating offensive threat for Harrison (8-6, 2-4 4A Metro).

Harding hit four 3s on his way to 22 points.

The Panthers rallied from eight down to snap a two-game losing streak.

Coronado (7-8, 3-3) was led by Dante Fewell, who went 4-for-4 from 3-point range on his way to 20 points.

St. Mary's 64, Lamar 40

At St. Mary's: Daniel Padrnos scored 13 points in the rout for St. Mary's.

Jacob Morales added nine for the Pirates.

Colorado Springs Christian 64, Florence 29

At CSCS: Sam Howard scored 14 and Drew Wilbur added 12 for CSCS.

HOCKEY

Air Academy 8, Cheyenne Mountain 4

At World Arena: Travis Work scored two late goals as Air Academy (10-2-1 overall, 8-1 Peak Conference) doubled-up Cheyenne Mountain (3-7-1, 3-3) Friday.

Nick Lacayo gave the Indians a 2-1 lead with 11:36 left in the first period, before the Kadets scored four-straight goals.

Air Academy's Alex Long made 23 saves, while Cheyenne Mountain's Grant Payne made 33.

Fountain Valley 4, Heritage 3 OT

At Honnen Ice Rink: Fountain Valley's Jakub Myska scored his 15th goal of the season in regulation, and his 16th of the season to win it in overtime.

The Danes (9-2 overall, 7-0 Peak) remained perfect in league.

Myska scored his first goal less than 3 minutes into the game, before he scored the overtime winner.

Lewis-Palmer 8, Coronado 2

At World Arena: Lewis-Palmer's Dmitri Smith scored the game's first two goals, as the Rangers routed Coronado.

Nick Pavlik and Blake Thompson also scored a pair of goals for Lewis-Palmer.

The Cougars scored both their goals in the first 1:39 of the third period. First, Chris Beaubien scored 59 seconds in, before Cody Johnson cut the deficit to 4-2 with his goal 1:39 into the third period.

The Rangers scored four-consecutive goals from there on out.

Mountain Vista 10, Palmer 2

At Oly: Mountain Vista scored six-straight goals before Palmer's Sam Horning and Austin Lopez both scored power-play goals.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Lamar 32, St. Mary's 30

At St. Mary's: 3A No. 1 St. Mary's lost for the first time this season.

Going into the fourth quarter tied, Lamar sqeaked by the Pirates (10-1 overall, 6-1 Tri-Peaks East) in their first meeting this season.

Gabi Florek scored half her team's points, 15, in the losing effort.

Sand Creek 70, Falcon 43

At Sand Creek: Sand Creek’s Bri Pratt scored 18 and J’nae Squires added 13, as the 4A No. 2 Scorpions (11-3 overall,6-0 PPAC) stayed defensive minded.

Falcon (5-10, 2-4) had it first consecutive win streak of the season broken.

Air Academy 40, Discovery Canyon 26

At Air Academy: Madison Rasmussen scored 13 points, as the Kadets (7-7, 4-2) remained defensive minded.

"We pride ourselves on defense," Kadets coach Bob Wingett said.

Hayley Rhein added 11 points.

Lewis-Palmer 50, Vista Ridge 19

At Lewis-Palmer: Lewis-Palmer's Kaila Baca scored a game-high 13 points.

The Rangers (8-6, 3-2 PPAC) have won two of three.

Pine Creek 48, Fountain-Fort Carson 38

At Pine Creek: Chrissy Martinez scored 11 for Pine Creek (8-7, 1-1 5A Metro), while Fountain-Fort Carson (2-12, 0-2) was led by Amber Perryman's 17 points.

Evangelical Christian Academy 56, Elbert 28

At ECA: Abby Dorman scored 19 to lead 2A No. 3 ECA (8-3, 2-1 2A Black Forest).