State wrestling notes: TCA's Register sets school mark

Register looks to cash in with title

The Classical Academy junior Andrew Register has entered uncharted territory for the Titans, securing a spot in the Class 3A championship for the first time in school history.

Register opened up a 3-0 lead in the 138-pound semifinal and held off a comeback attempt from Alamosa’s Brandon Heredia for a 3-2 win. The top finish for a Titans wrestler previously was fourth place, accomplished by Zach Dillon and Register’s older brother Daniel a year ago.

“This is huge for our school, it’s huge for me personally, it’s huge for my family,” Register said. “Everyone wishes they could go to a final but only the best of the best get to.”

But it’s not time to celebrate yet for Register.

“I have one more match to go and you can be sure I am going to wrestle my hardest.”

For Titans coach Sean Collins this is the next step in a program he’s been building for several years.

“We can change the mindset: instead of building, we belong,” Collins said. “This starts to instill that confidence and that belief. Andrew is the focal point, but there are a lot guys in the mat room that we feel like we’re getting to that point.”

Florence’s Sandoval reaches 152-pound final

Florence senior Scott Sandoval earned a trip the 3A 152 final with a 4-3 decision over Valley’s Jackson Wright. The win kept the Huskies in the tournament for one more day after seeing their three other qualifiers all fall in the consolation bracket earlier in the day.

Fountain-Fort Carson sophomore Tracy Hancock dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to Regis’ Grant Neal in the 5A 195 semifinal. Neal caught Hancock off balance for a takedown with 4 seconds to go in the match to get the win.

Coronado senior Devan Cruz lost to top seed Emilio Martinez of Greeley West in the 126 semifinal, and Pine Creek junior TJ Campbell fell to Pomona’s top-seeded Archie Colgan in the 160 semifinal.

Amond returns to finish business

Cheyenne Mountain senior Bobby Amond, who was runner-up at 132 pounds last year, moved into the 126 finals Saturday after a pair of convincing wins. He recorded a 14-5 major decision over Thompson Valley’s Ben Hewson, then dominated Jimmy Fate of Berthoud, 12-6 in the semifinals.

No rematch among local heavyweights

Last week at the Region 1 meet at Discovery Canyon, previously undefeated Tuli Laulu of Sand Creek and Air Academy’s Justin Petrash met for the third time this season, with Petrash finally getting the upperhand.

However, both fell in Friday’s semifinals. Top-seeded Dakota Gulley gutted out a 1-0 decision over Laulu, while Petrash was pinned by Windsor’s Robert Bishop-Cotner in 1:35.

Other locals fall in semis

Mesa Ridge’s Brandon Gonzales withdrew from his 119 semifinal bout just 51 seconds in after suffering a knee injury. Teammate Dominique Hughes fell 12-4 in his bid to reach the finals at 145 pounds. Woodland Park senior Thomas Chisholm, whose quarterfinal pin erased a deficit, was overpowered by Montezuma-Cortez’s Seager Oliver in the semifinals, 13-1. Another local showdown in the finals fell by the boards when both Adrian Mack of Discovery Canyon and Caleb Cuneio of Air Academy fell in their semifinal matches at 170 pounds.