Gunnison’s Zach Benson caps undefeated season with first boys wrestling title

DENVER – Zach Benson was totally calm in a seemingly uncomfortable position.

In a first-period scramble in the Class 3A 144-pound state title match, the Gunnison junior knew exactly where he was on the mat and the move he wanted to hit.

With an underhook locked in, Benson turned Platte Valley sophomore Logan Vannest, earned a pin in just 1:04 and capped an undefeated season with his first state title on Saturday at Ball Arena.

“I feel like my strength and hip power keep me on top of things,” Benson said. “I am super comfortable in a scramble.”

When Benson (44-0) grabbed Vannest’s (44-10) ankles he knew he’d won the scramble. It sent Vannest’s hip to the mat though. Which meant Benson was in full control. At that moment, the Cowboys’ junior utilized his go-to move.

He secured an underhook and with the suddenness of a thunderbolt, the thud of the referee’s hand slammed the mat and caused euphoric screams to rain down on mat No. 5.

“When I saw Vannest on his back, it felt like a split second passed before the ref pounded the mat,” Gunnison coach Mike Seijo said. “It was a blink of the eye sort of thing.”

Even though Vannest got in a single leg, Benson was able to evade the attack and initiate the decisive scramble. It’s these situations where his offseason work with freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling paid off.

That moment of when to decide if it’s time to tap the brakes or floor the accelerator is where Benson is at his best. He can execute when wrestling on the edge because that’s where he’s always at in the Gunnison mat room.

“There’s a fine balance,” Benson said. “You need to know when to be patient and then also you need to know when to actually roll out of (trouble).”

While Vannest offered a few head slaps in the initial exchange, it didn’t take long for the pair to fall into the mixer.

“The first couple of seconds we were flipping around like no other,” Benson said. “That’s what it’s all about, just going out and wrestling. In that situation whoever ends up in the better position wins.”

Whereas it might look like a dangerous exchange, Seijo said a wrestler can seize the opportunity if they are prepared.

“It’s all about being in good positions,” Seijo said. “He’s been in those positions multiple times; he’s comfortable. I tell every wrestler: wrestle in positions where you are comfortable. To the untrained eye it looks scary. And those are scary 50-50 positions. Things can get scary there.”

But for Benson, he’ll spend all summer in those positions. He’ll head to Ohio again when school is out for the Jeff Jordan State Champ Camp. He’ll also spend two months grinding in Missouri at the Purler Wrestling Academy.

In his third trip to Denver, Benson is the first Gunnison state champion since Miles Harris and Royce Uhrig in 2024.

To bring a state title back to Gunnison, a small town where everyone comes together to support the Cowboys, is what Benson said is a dream come true.

He’ll get started prepping for that title defense next week.

“As soon as we get back he’ll start wrestling freestyle,” Seijo said. “He’s one of those guys that will lift a lot of weights and put in the time and effort.”

“We have one school in Gunnison, we have one option,” Benson said. “We make it work with what we have. Our team is loaded with young talent. We just grind together. This brings us all together.”