Last February, Fowler’s Traven Sharon emerged as the 33rd four-time state champion in the prep boys wrestling ranks, becoming the first to do it in four different weight classes since 2022.

Next month at Ball Arena, that list won’t grow for the only the second time since 2013 – but a four-time state champion could still join the state’s elite list.

Pomona’s Timberly Martinez is aiming to become the third girls grappler to join the ranks, and the second from the Panthers. Martinez is currently ranked third in Class 5A at 145 pounds after claiming the 140 crown as a junior.

Pomona was seventh in the most recent InsideCO Wrestling 5A rankings. The Panthers had a strong showing in the Reno Tournament of Champions in December before the winter break, with Timberly going 4-1 and finishing second, and junior Justice Gutierrez – a two-time state champion – winning her bracket at 100 pounds. Timmery Condit went 4-1 at 105 to place second.

Reigning 5A girls champion Grand Junction Central is currently ranked first in 5A, with Pueblo Central first in 4A. On the boys side, Pomona – winner of seven consecutive crowns – is ranked first in 5A. Pueblo East (4A), Alamosa (3A) and Cedaredge (2A) are also at the top of its respective classifications.

The 2026 state championships take place Feb. 19-21 at Ball Arena in Denver.

Here is a quick glance at each of the state’s four classifications headed into January:

Class 5A

Boys
Pomona is seeking an eighth consecutive crown in 2026. The Panthers placed sixth in the Reno Tournament of Champions in December, with Lincoln Valdez (106) and Kalob Ybarra (175) – both defending state champions – placing second. Donovan Symalla (157) was third. Five Pomona wrestlers are currently ranked first in 5A. … Grandview, ranked second in 5A, had two champions in JR Ortega (120) and Leland Day (285). Gunner Lopez (165) placed second. The Wolvers finished seventh in the team standings in Reno and also recently won the Colfax Smackdown. … Ponderosa, ranked third, had two third-place finishers in the Reno TOC in Onofre Gonzales (106) and Michael Lopez (144). … No. 4 Cherokee Trail placed eight in the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament in December, with Cooper Mathews first at 132 pounds. … In the Warrior Classic, Fruita Monument’s Kel Unrein (second at 120 pounds) notched a 14-7 decision over 2A’s No. 1 Cash Martinez of Cedaredge. Rocky Mountain’s Brady Swigert (190) had the lone title for the Lobos, who placed third.

Girls
GJ Central won the Warrior Classic in December, finishing with 266.5 points. Harleigh Prater (120), Shyann Page (130), Rya Burke (140), Clara Denton-Baleztena (145), Claris McCoy (155), Shylee Tuzon (170) each placed first. … No. 4 Thornton took second in the NCCT in Greeley, with Chatfield placing third. The Chargers’ Lola Gonzales (105) and Hickey placed first. In a matchup of defending state champions, Prairie View’s Jaydin Cuevas pinned Loveland’s Saydee Lussenhop at 115 pounds. Regis Jesuit’s Remington Zimmerer, No. 1 at 120, toppled No. 2 Phoebe Gonzales in the 120 finals. Other top-ranked winners included Vista Peak’s Amelia Bacon (125), Zaret Silva Lopez of Castle View at 130, Brighton’s Matilda Hruby (155) and Broomfield’s Shayla Martinez (190).

Class 4A

Boys
Pueblo East was a beast in the NCCT, placed second in the team standings. Top-ranked Justus Freeman (157) placed first with a 4-3 decision over No. 2 David Burchett of Air Academy. Roosevelt and Windsor took third and fourth, respectively. Roosevelt’s Malakii Martin (138) and Chris LaLonde (144) were first, as was Windsor’s Robert Kendall (175) and Evan Perez (215) – both currently ranked No. 1. No. 2 Air Academy’s Michael Saba (150) won his bracket over No. 2 Noah Garcia-Salazar of Greeley Central. … Fourth-ranked Falcon was second at the Warrior Classic, with Noah Meza (132) and Alan Cruz (144) finishing first. No. 9 Canon City’s Asher Montoya (106) and Elias Koonce (175) also took first.

Girls
In the NCCT, Strasburg’s Vivienne Gitke, ranked first at 140, won her weight class. Madilyn Gitke was third at 155. Bennett’s top-ranked Emma Faczak fell to 5A No. 1 Lola Gonzales of Chatfield. … Canon City was third in the Warrior Classic, with top-ranked Piper Montoya (110) and Kate Doughty (135) finishing first. Fort Lupton’s Yaida Rodriguez (106) also placed first, as did Pagosa Springs’ Laykyn Baxstrom. Both are currently ranked first in 4A.

Class 3A

Second-ranked Eaton placed fifth in the NCCT with a pair of second-place finishes. Top-ranked Parker Wickham fell to 5A Cherokee Trail’s Cooper Mathews at 132, and Paxton Pettinger (175) lost to Windsor’s Kendall. Brush’s No. 1 Ritchie Bruno (190) won the 190 bracket, as did Resurrection Christian’s Samuel Stockton at 285. … In the Warrior Classic, No. 9 Fort Lupton had two champions in freshman Josiah Orozco (113) and senior Josiah Gonzales (138). … No. 1 Alamosa is coming off a ninth-place finish at the Conflict of Cleveland in Rio Rancho, NM. No. 1 Jeremiah DeLaCerda (106) placed second after an OT loss at 106 pounds. … The Classical Academy captured the Pete & Ina Gomez Invitational in December, led by Nathaniel Perkins (132), Joshua Dazey (165) and No. 3 Hayden Kenney (285).

Class 2A

No. 6 Buena Vista had two individual champs at the Pete & Ina Gomez Invite, as top-ranked Abel Flowers (190) and Carter Stromer (285) took first, as did Tucker Montoya (157). Walsenburg’s Matthew Dominguez (126) and Taylor Torres (144) also placed first.