2013 Boys Wrestling Archive Stories

Pine Creek 138-pound senior Geordan Martinez dominated in a way rarely seen this season, compiling a 44-0 record to capture his third state title. The state final came down to a matchup with No. 2 seed Austin Marvel, a senior from Pomona. Martinez scored a takedown in the first period and racked up a 10-0 decision. “That wa

Standing in the tunnel in the Pepsi Center, fighting back tears, fresh off the biggest win of his life, surrounded by an entire team there to celebrate with him, Pine Creek senior Alex Smith was at a loss for words. Four years of hard work boiled down to overtime in the 152-pound state final against Arvada West’s Randy Boerner, an

Alex Smith knew who would be standing in the way of his dream as he trained for the state 5A wrestling tournament last week. He knew that Randy Boerner from Mountain Range would most likely be waiting for him in the state title match. “My work ethic was strong all year, but I was working on the things I knew I’d need

Alex White knew who would be standing in the way of his dream as he trained for the state 5A wrestling tournament last week. He knew that Randy Boerner from Mountain Range would most likely be waiting for him in the state title match. “My work ethic was strong all year, but I was working on the things I knew I’d need

DENVER • Following the semifinals The Classical Academy junior Andrew Register said he wasn’t done after securing the highest placement in the school’s history with a guaranteed top-two finish. He still had work to do in the 138-pound championship bout. He only needed three minutes, 59 seconds to get that work done, pinn

• Sand Creek senior Tuli Laulu avenged his regional final loss to Air Academy’s Justin Petrash with a 1-0 decision in the 4A 285-pound third-place match to finish 34-2 on the season. Petrash ended 36-5 with three of those losses coming to Laulu. Fellow Kadet Caleb Cunieo (35-9) lost 3-1 to Discovery Canyon’s Adrian Mack (33-4) f

5A 106 Trenton Watson (Coronado) dec. Anthony Garza (Greeley West) 3-2 113 Jess Hankin (Coronado) dec. Kyndall Rutz (ThunderRidge) 6-2 120 Mitch Finesilver (Cherry Creek) dec. Adrian Cordova (Coronado) 3-0 138 Geordan Martinez (Pine Creek) maj. dec. Austin Marvel (Pomona) 10-

DENVER – Trent Watson was watching in August as Jordan Burroughs struggled for wrestling gold against Iran’s Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi. He was, of course, rooting for his fellow American. But he kept seeing himself on the mat. Watson, a Coronado High School sophomore, pictured the day when he might wrestle for gold. Earli

DENVER • AJ Rees didn’t strut, dance or show much emotion, even after he won his third 4A state wrestling championship Saturday at the Pepsi Center. Unfortunately, none of his teammates did, as the Thunder’s dream of claiming its first team title fell short with a second-place finish, the highest in school history. “It’

DENVER • The Coronado wrestling program sent coach Matt Brickell out in style. After 25 years in the program, the last 23 as head coach, Brickell is calling it a career. Whether his wrestlers knew it was coming or not they gave him a grand send-off, winning two individual titles Saturday to finish fourth in the team race. So

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 B

DENVER • Three’s company in the 5A state wrestling championships for Coronado. A trio of Cougars punched their ticket to the finals tonight at the Pepsi Center, as they make a run at a team title for the second time in three years. Greeley West is in first place with 90.5 points, with the Cougars in second at 75.5. Sop

DENVER – Cody Soulka didn’t have much success at last year’s state 4A wrestling tournament, but it wasn’t a total loss. His twin brother, Kyle, finished fifth. So when Cody continued his run through the 152-pound bracket Friday with a pair of wins that put him in Saturday&rsqu

DENVER – Falcon twin brothers Cody and Kyle Soulka won their 4A quarterfinal matches within minutes of each other Friday, highlighting the afternoon session of the championship bracket at the state wrestling tournament at the Pepsi Center. All quarterfinal winners in all four classes are set to return for semifinal action at 7 p.m.

DENVER – Andrew Register, a junior at The Classical Academy, grinded out a 3-2 decision over Bayfield’s Drake Rhodes on Friday to advance into the 3A championship semifinals at 138 pounds at the state wrestling meet at the Pepsi Center. Register, seeded third, will face No. 7 Brandon Heredia of Alamosa, who earlier Friday sur

DENVER — First-round results Thursday from the state high school wrestling tournament at the Pepsi Center. 5A Team Scores — Pomona 22.5; Greeley West 19.5; Fossil Ridge 19; Ponderosa 18.5; Pine Creek 17; Arvada West 13.5; Chaparral 13.5; Rocky Mountain 13; Grandview 12; Ralston Valley 12; Fruita Monument

DENVER • Mitchell wrestler Caleb “Chip” McElfresh, a senior, looked up in the stands, and for the fourth straight year wrestling, he didn’t see his father. “I wouldn’t expect to,” he said. The 113-pound kid, characterized as the wrestler with the hair and heart of gold, said his father wal

DENVER • Colorado Springs Christian School wrestler Cameron Krautschun had “no chance” against a familiar foe on the first day of state wrestling at the Pepsi Center in snowy Denver. That’s what he’d been hearing since the brackets were announced. But even so, Krautschun (23-12) held on to upset Buena

Two years ago Matt Brickell led Coronado to the first state wrestling title for a Colorado Springs school in 37 years. His latest squad may have the best shot at bringing the 5A title back to the Springs again this year. Pomona and Ponderosa are the favorites to capture the team title, but the Cougars should be in the mix and could surpr

Despite the arrival of a winter storm that has most of Colorado covered by either a winter weather advisory or winter storm warning, the state wrestling tournament will go on as scheduled, according to the Colorado High School Activities Association. The three-day tournament starts Thursday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. In an email sent

The top 14 wrestling photos (one to represent each weight class) in honor of this week's state wrestling tournament.

If the way to a man’s heart truly is through his stomach, then hungry wrestlers at St. Mary’s can use that as further motivation at this program not recently known for its grappling success. “We have a deal that if someone qualifies for state, coach (Nic) Olney will take us out to a steak dinner,” Pirates senior C

Ron Sukle remembers the images well. Two years ago, Coronado won its first 5A state wrestling title as its team carried off coach Matt Brickell on its shoulders. Last year, Pine Creek completed a long quest by hoisting a state trophy of its own. Starting Thursday, Sukle, the sixth-year Discovery Canyon coach, hopes his Thunder can add &n

Wrestling First-round state pairings At Pepsi Center, Thursday 5A 106 pounds—T. Watson (COR) 43-0 vs. C. Strahan (LGND) 24-17; R. Nava (NGLN) 40-8 vs. R. Deakin (LGCY) 33-9; C. Apple (RV) 24-7 vs. A. Cortez (HRZN) 37-3; M. Rayas (FRDG) 20-9 vs. T. Williams (PC) 15-5; T. Gutierrez

Wrestlers often talk about overcoming adversity and learning from tough losses. Fountain-Fort Carson displayed those characteristics en route to its second-place finish at the 5A Region 2 tournament. The Trojans had to overcome a tumultuous midseason coaching change but have maintained focus throughout the drama unfolding around them.