DENVER – Sam Meisner was trying to catch his breath after scoring a 17-2 technical fall win over North Fork’s Braeden Flores.
But his mind was still on what was happening just a few feet from where he was wrestling in the Class 2A boys semifinals. His cousin, best friend and Wray teammate Casey Midcap was in a match of his own. Meisner was confident that Midcap would enter the back hallway of Ball Arena with a win.
That confidence was rewarded a minute later when coaches walked toward the back, announcing Midcap had scored a pin over Mancos’ Brandon Vannest.
Meisner and Midcap have been locked in a four-year competitive cycle together. They’ve lost a state football game, won a football championship and are now looking to win state wrestling titles together.
“This is the most special thing in the world,” Meisner said. “There are very few people who get to experience something like that. We’re built-in best friends, but we’re real life best friends. It was awesome for us to be out there at the same time.”
As Meisner’s match was finishing up, Midcap was just getting going. They’ve become experts at focusing on their own task at hand while still making themselves aware of what’s going on the with the other.
“I’m always ready for my match,” Midcap said. “But it’s my best friend. I’m watching him wrestle. I’m yelling at the refs, things like that. When I got out there, he was getting ready to get a pin and I was happy for him, but I knew I still had a job to do.”
The state semifinals provided such a brief bond where they shared the same stretch of mat sprawling across the floor that normally houses the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, but always reserves three days in February for the high school kids.
They both had every intention of competing in the final after walking through the Ball Arena floor in the Parade of Champions.
Meisner has been there before, winning the 150-pound title last year. Midcap was pinned in the 165-pound championship match by Lyons’ Jaden Gardner.
On Saturday, Meisner will go for his second straight championship at 150 and after shedding some weight for this year, Midcap will go for gold at 157. And going in order, they’ll go for those titles in back-to-back matches.
“We just have to do our part,” Midcap said. “You can only control what you can control. I can’t control what he does, and he can’t control what I do so we’re both just going to go out and compete.”
If they compete the way they want to, they can each win individual titles and help propel the Eagles to their third team title in four years.
Wrestling semifinal notes
Class 5A
The main event of Saturday night will end up being the race for the 5A team title as Ponderosa has a nine-point lead over six-time defending champion Pomona. The Mustangs and Panthers have just one showdown in the finals as Pondo’s Michael Lopez Jr. takes on Pomona’s Derek Barrows at 144 pounds.
That means the team race will be decided through the results of various finals throughout the night.
Class 4A
Pueblo East has a solid handle on the 4A team race, so there may be little drama there. Perhaps one of the most intriguing matchups will come later in the night as Pueblo Central’s Genaro Pino takes on Mead’s Leister Bowling for the 175-pound title match. Bowling picked up an 8-5 sudden victory over Pino back in December.
Class 3A
Jefferson senior Samuel Rosales remains alive in his chase for a third state title. He’ll take on Alameda’s Anthony Torrez in the 132-pound final.
Mullen’s Isaak Chavez and Brush’s Ritchie Bruno are both returning state champions and will face off for the 175-pound title. Alamosa and Brush will have a thrilling race to the 3A team title through the course of the night.
Class 2A
All eyes will be on Fowler’s Traven Sharon as he attempts to become the 35th wrestler in state history to win four state titles. He beat Olathe’s Trevor Piatt in a 9-0 major decision to advance to the championship match.
Class 5A girls
Grand Junction Central has a lead in the team race and is looking to become the first non-Jeffco League team to capture a girls wrestling team title.
Doherty’s Katey Valdez looks to complete her redemption as she will compete for the 105-pound championship after missing much of last year with an injury.
Class 4A girls
The addition of a second classification for girls has provided new opportunities to a large group of competitors. Girls are taking advantage every step of the way.
Among them are two Colorado Springs area wrestlers as SIerra’s Lilliana Limon (125) and Manitou Springs’ Abbie Reeves (145) will try to be the first girls wrestlers to win individual state titles for their schools.
