The holidays have come and gone, and 2025 is finally here.
For grapplers around the state, that means a return to the mats and a pursuit of a spot in next month’s state tournament at Ball Arena in Denver.
December wasn’t short on action though, as big tournaments took place around the state – and the nation as well. From in-state tourneys like the Warrior Classic in Grand Junction and the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament in Greeley, to the Reno Classic or the KC Stampede, the buildup to the holidays was heavy on action.
The most recent On The Mat rankings by Tim Yount were released Dec. 27, accounting for pre-holiday tournament action. That included for the first time two classifications for the girls, who broke into Class 5A and 4A for the 2024-25 season. Previously girls wrestling had been unclassified.
After crowning a quartet of four-time state champions last February (two each for the boys and girls), only one wrestler has the opportunity to join that club this year. Fowler senior Traven Sharon – currently ranked first in 2A at 126 pounds – will attempt to become the 35th boys wrestler to accomplish that feat.
With that in mind, here is a quick glance at each of the state’s four classifications headed into January:
Class 5A
Boys
Pomona has won six consecutive 5A state championships, and is currently ranked first in the classification. The Panthers are coming off a strong showing in Reno, Nev., with Derek Barrows taking first at 144 pounds. Teammate Kalob Ybarra was second at 165. Those two, along with Lincoln Valdez (106), Zaidyn Quinonez (120) and Angel Serrano (138), are currently ranked first in their respective weight classes. … Ponderosa, ranked second as a team, has three individuals ranked first: Silas Gomez (113), Jack Simpson (126) and De’Alcapon Veazy (190). Veazy took third in Reno. … Grandview, Pine Creek and Fruita Monument round out the top five. The Wolves had two top-four placers in Reno, with Charlie Herting – a defending state champion – taking third at 175 and Leland Day fourth at 285. … Pine Creek competed at the KC Stampede, with Brogan Trollope winning the 157-pound bracket. Renzo Guinard (150) and Brett Arnoldussen (190) were third. … Fruita Monument finished second at the Warrior Classic. Kel Unrein (113), Will Stewart (165) and Tatum Williams (285) each won titles. … Cherokee Trail’s Cooper Mathews, Pine Creek’s Griffin Rial and Poudre’s Billy Greenwood are each returning state champions.
Girls
Grand Junction Central is currently ranked first in 5A and is coming off a dominant showing at the Warrior Classic. The Warriors scored 312 points and captured four titles (Shyann Page at 113, Harleigh Prater at 125, Clara Denton-Baleztena at 145 and Shylee Tuzon at 155. … Chatfield, Loveland, Eaglecrest and Pomona are also in the top five. … Pomona’s Justice Gutierrez won the 100-pound title in Reno with a pin in the finals. She is a defending state champion and currently ranked first in the state. … Chatfield finished second to Pueblo Central at the NCCT in Greeley, with Lola Gonzales (105) and Ryen Hickey (145) winning titles.
Class 4A
Boys
Mead denied Pueblo East a three-peat in 4A a year ago, but the Eagles are a big favorite this season. East is currently ranked first in 4A, with Deven Lopez (132) and Niko Fernandez (138) at the top of their weight classes. The Eagles dominated the NCCT in Greeley with 241 points, 47 points ahead of second-place Roosevelt. Manuel Amaro (113) and Lopez won their weight classes. … Roosevelt, Sand Creek, Falcon and Windsor round out the current top five. Windsor had two champions at the NCCT in Robert Kendall (165) and Evan Perez (215). … Mountain View’s Isaiah Harrison won the 120-pound bracket. A two-time state champion, Harrison is currently ranked first in the state. … Severance’s Drake VomBaur, Falcon’s David Burchett and Mead’s Leister Bowling are also returning champions.
Girls
Pueblo Central heads the 4A rankings., followed by Lamar, Moffat County, Strasburg and Severance. Central claimed first in the 2024 NCCT tournament despite not having an individual champion. Ten wrestlers placed in the top eight, paced by second-place showings from Acelyn Duran (100) and Gionna Duran (110). Lillianna Lopez is currently ranked first at 145 pounds. … Canon City, Alamosa, Strasburg and Yuma each have two individuals currently ranked first.
Class 3A
Last winter was the first time that Eaton had not finished in the top two teams at state since 2017. Instead it was Mullen laying claim to its first state championship, highlighted by four-time champion Dale O’Blia. Isaak Chavez (175) is the only returning individual state champion from that squad. … Eaton has two wrestlers ranked at the top of their weight class in Blake Hawkins (113) and Cal Sidwell (190), who won his weight class at NCCT. … Jefferson’s Sam Rosales, a two-time state champion, is currently first at 132. … Nick Dardanes of Brush also won a title last winter, and is ranked first at 144. … Alamosa is second as a team, with Valley and Fort Lupton rounding out the top five.
Class 2A
Despite finishing as the runner-up in 2A in three of the previous six seasons, Cedaredge has yet to win a crown of its own. But the Bruins are currently ranked first in 2A, hoping to contend with a Wray team that won championships in five out of six years before Meeker won it all in 2024. … Wray has two wrestlers currently ranked first in their weight class, including defending state champion Austin Collins (now at 138). Tavery Chappell (215) is the other. … Highland’s Wyatt Chase, who took first at the Warrior Classic at 175 pounds, is ranked first. Teammate Ira Sittner (190) is as well. … Sharon and Holly’s Tripp Duvall are the only other returning state champions. … Rocky Ford, Highland and North Park are also currently ranked in the top five.
