Pomona makes history capturing first ever girls wrestling Jeffco League title

LITTLETON — History was made on the wrestling mats Thursday night.

The first girls wrestling Jeffco League Championship Tournament to determine the league champion was held at Columbine High School. Nine Jeffco teams — Arvada West, Chatfield, Columbine, Conifer, Evergreen, Jefferson, Littleton, Pomona and Standley Lake — competed with a total of 74 wrestlers filling the 14 different weight classes.

“It is super fun. It shows that the sport is growing a lot,” Chatfield junior Ryen Hickey said of the historic night. “Last year we just didn’t have enough teams. Now we have some full brackets. It is super cool.”

Hickey was one of three Chargers that won individual titles. Sophomores Lola Gonzales (105 pounds) and Kayla Landers (120 pounds) joined Hickey (145 pounds) as all 14 individual champions were recognized at the conclusion of the tournament.

Chatfield captured the first three girls wrestling state team title after the Colorado High Schools Activities Association added the sport in 2020-2021. Rival Pomona prevented the 4-peat for the Chargers last season.

“I think we are deep and our team is defintely getting better,” Hickey said after the Chargers took second to Pomona at the league championships Thursday. “We have a lot of young girls, but they are newer but they are getting good super fast really fast. It will be interesting how state works out.”

Having Hickey back on the mats is key for the Chargers’ team success. She won the 140-pound state title as a freshman, but elbow surgery prevented her from defending her state title in 2024.

The junior is back and one of the favorites to capture the Class 5A 145-pound title in a few weeks down at Ball Arena. Hickey won all three of her matches Thursday by first-round pins. She hold a 30-0 record this season.

“I want to get another state title. That would be awesome,” Hickey said. “I’m also working on making the World Team. That is my goal for April. I’ll just keep pushing.”

Pomona pinned its way to the Jeffco League title Thursday racking up 166.5 points. Chatfield was second with 149.5 points and Littleton finished a distant third with 92.5 points.

“It is awesome,” Pomona junior Timberly Martinez said. “Going back to my freshmen year we only had five girls (on the team). We were a powerhouse then, but now we have 14 girls on the team. We are growing so much. It’s amazing.”

The Panthers won five individual titles at league. Freshman Justice Gutierrez (100 pounds), junior Alora Martinez (125 pounds), along with seniors Ava Cabral (135 pounds) and Elizabeth DeVries (190 pounds) joined Timberly Martinez (140 pounds) on top of the podium.

Timberly Martinez was the most decorated wrestler to take the mats at Columbine High School. She was the lone 2-time state champion winning the 135 and 130 championship titles the past two seasons. The chance of making a short-list of 4-time state champions in Colorado is within reach.

“I think about it all the time,” Martinez said of being halfway to a 4-time individual state champion. “It is something that is always in the back of my mind, especially when I go to those early morning practices and running. I’m just telling myself to get through this. This is what makes you a champion.”

Martinez saw first hand what it takes to become a 4-time state champion. Her practice partner in Pomona’s wrestling room last year was Persaeus Gomez, who became the first girl wrestler in Colorado to become 4-time state champion last year.

“I go out there thinking that no girl is better than another,” Martinez said after finishing the final championship match of the night with a first-period pin of Evergreen senior Avery Cox. “I treat each wrestler the same. Everyone is here to compete.”

Pomona will compete at the Class 5A Region 4 tournament next weekend at Fountain Fort Carson to attempt to qualify as many wrestlers to the state tournament Feb. 13-15 at Ball Arena.

The Panthers’ girls will try to repeat as state team champions, while the Pomona boys are going for its seventh consecutive 5A start team title.

“It was great to be the first school ever to win your boys and girls wrestling teams win state at the same time,” Martinez said of last year’s state team championships. “I hope to continue it. We want to be back-to-back state champions while the boys grab their seventh in a row.”