DENVER – A thrilling night of semifinal matches has set the state for the CHSAA state wrestling championships at Ball Arena.

Throughout each classification there are noteworthy title showdowns and storylines that will keep fans engaged all night once matches start following the Parade of Champions. The Parade is slated to begin at 4 p.m. with matches beginning shortly after.

One note to track is that CHSAA switched to a “drawn weight class” format, which altered the order of matches. Championship matches will begin with 170 pounds for the girls and 190 pounds for the boys.

Class 5A

After getting 11 of 14 positions into the quarterfinals, Pomona advanced nine wrestlers to championship matches. The Panthers have a massive lead in the team standings, and they’re trying to set the team scoring record which is 278.5.

Class 4A

Air Academy put together a strong Day 1 of the state tournament, but Pueblo East took the team lead away from the Kadets during the consolation matches.

The Eagles have four wrestlers in the finals as they look to win their fourth team championship in the last five years and their fifth overall team title.

Severance’s Drake VomBaur will take on Air Academy’s Dylan Saba to try and win his third state title.

Class 3A

Eaton has the team lead going into the final day and has three wrestlers in the finals.  Fort Lupton is in second place with three finalists. Eaton’s Blake Hawkins vs. Fort Lupton’s Isaiah Rodriguez could be a massive match in determining a team champion.

Alamosa is just a half-point behind Fort Lupton and is still very much alive in the team race with two wrestlers (Jeremiah Delacerda and Uriah Martinez) in the finals.

Gunnison’s Zach Benson is looking to cap an undefeated season that would give him more wins than any other boys wrestler in the state this season.

Class 2A

The team championship race between Highland and Burlington is likely to be the most thrilling of the night. The Huskies held a slight lead over the Cougars heading into Saturday.

Highland has three finalists in Carter Jensen (132), Tyler Varra (144) and Wyatt Chase (190). Burlington has two finalists in Jason Saucedo (165) and Anthony Estrada (215).

Class 5A Girls

All eyes will be on the final match of the night, which is Brighton’s Matilda Hruby vs. Pomona’s Timberly Martinez. The 155-pound champion will either see a three-time champion in Hruby or the only four-time champion of the year in Martinez.

Class 4A Girls

Pueblo Central is looking to defend its 4A championship from last year. The Wildcats have two finalists in Acelyn Duran (100 pounds) and Gionna Duran (115).

Last year’s 145-pound champion, Lillianna Lopez was pinned in the quarterfinals by Meeker’s Ellie Ford.