Hat trick: Jefferson’s Rosales win third title, Brush is top team

DENVER – Samuel Rosales waited until after his Class 3A 132-pound championship match for his best takedown at Ball Arena on Saturday.

The Jefferson senior had just secured his third straight state title with a pin of Alameda junior Anthony Torrez at the 1 minute, 35 second mark of the first period. He used the pointer finger and thumbs on his hands to make the number ‘3’ and threw them under both of his eyes as he played to a cheering crowd.

Then he set his sights on Jefferson coach Oscar Fonseca.

With the speed he used to secure his state title, the Saints’ coach dressed in a collared shirt, red tie and black vest hit the mat with a big smile and a hug from Rosales. Rosales’ final match, he’ll get into HVAC work next year, ended in explosive fashion.

After an early arm bar netted him a takedown and a 3-0 first-period lead, Rosales (39-5) gave up a point when he released Torrez (34-6). But, he quickly locked in double-under hooks and circled around for another take down and a 6-1 lead.

In a last second scramble, Torrez tried a kip up, but was caught in a half nelson from which he couldn’t escape.

“He was about to roll through and when he did I caught him,” Rosales said. “I used my speed and had great timing. This was a really great way to end my career.”

Brush won the 3A team state title with 132 points.

The Beetdiggers won back-to-back state titles at 165 and 175 pounds. Brush junior Austin Ley (43-4) elevated a single-leg for a takedown on Fort Lupton senior Christopher Galicia (47-11) before turning him for the pin.

One match later, Ritchie Bruno (33-1), who had reconstructive surgery on his right labrum in the offseason, won his second straight state title with a back-and-forth, 5-4 decision over Mullen junior Isaak Chavez (28-1). After he won state last year, Chavez moved up two weight classes.

Chavez scored first with a takedown at 1:12. Bruno escaped before his shin-whizzer led to a takedown and 4-3 lead after the first period. An early escape for Chavez tied the match 4-4 in the second period.

“I’m used to getting taken down and having to come back late in the period,” Bruno said. “I haven’t been good on my feet until high school.”

To start the third, Chavez went with an optional start and Bruno had an easy escape for the final margin. Chavez shot at Bruno’s legs throughout the third, but couldn’t find a takedown.

“It was tough fighting off all his shots,” Bruno said. “Trying to open up everything with snaps and trying to move my feet and not go backwards. My freshman year we had no state champs and took third as a team. Last year we lost to Mullen by like 20. To take the team title home is really nice.”

At 126 pounds Abraham Lincoln junior Jordan Romero (33-2) claimed his first state title at 126 pounds with 4-1 overtime win. A second-period stalling cost him a point. With 13 seconds left in the third period his escape tied the match 1-1.

A heavy handed snap with 11 seconds left in overtime led to a take down.

“I wanted to use my speed,” Romero said. “I knew he wasn’t as fast as me. I got in the headlocked, chased the ankle and didn’t get around. But, I got around the second time using my speed.”

**

Class 3A boys

WEIGHT CLASS	CHAMPION	SCHOOL
106	Jeremiah DeLaCerda	Alamosa
113	Blake Hawkins	Eaton
120	Jordan Gamez	La Junta
126	Jordan Romero	Lincoln
132	Samuel Rosales	Jefferson
138	Nick Dardanes	Brush
144	Isaiah Gallegos	Jefferson
150	Samuel Johnson	Salida
157	Parker Buhr	Centauri
165	Austin Ley	Brush
175	Ritchie Bruno	Brush
190	Cal Sidwell	Eaton
215	Isaiah Johnson	Resurrection Christian
285	Samuel Stockton	Resurrection Christian

Top 10 teams

PLACE	TEAM	SCORE
1	Brush	132
2	Alamosa	110.5
3	Eaton	107.5
4	Centauri	88
5	Mullen	84
6	Valley	80.5
7	Resurrection Christian	72.5
8	Fort Lupton	71.5
9	Holy Family	68.5
9	Jefferson	68.5