Three local wrestlers scored wins to keep their title hopes alive Thursday as the state wrestling championships began at the Ball Arena in Denver with first-round action.
Keaton McCoy of Ignacio, Kobe Prior of Bayfield and Facob Fenberg of Durango all won their first-round matches.
The other 11 La Plata County wrestlers, however, will have to battle through the consolation bracket after losing in the first round.
McCoy (23-8) squared off with Omar Soto (18-16) of Dolores Huerta Prep in Pueblo and controlled the match from start to finish to score a 22-11 major decision for the Bobcats. McCoy will next face Zach Tittle (35-4) of Highland Ault in the 2A 145-pound quarterfinals Friday.
Prior (27-8) started the tournament against Elizabeth’s Ryan Connelley (14-4). The 3A 170-pound match went into the third period, but Prior pinned him at the 5:17 mark to advance. Prior will face Eaton’s Ryan Dirksen (41-0) in the quarterfinals.
Fenberg (26-10) took on Liberty’s Ayden Woodhead (23-20) to start the Class 4A 113-pound tournament. The match was tight, but Fenberg held on to score an 8-5 victory. He’ll face L.J. Herburger (31-6) of Pueblo East in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Tyler Barnes and Jeremy Roderick both came up short in their first-round matches for Ignacio. Barnes lost 15-0 against Payton Wade of Wray at 170. Barnes (23-10) will next wrestle Rocky Ford’s Jadon Huerta (27-10) in the consolations. Roderick (18-8) took on Rocky Ford’s Kevin Tillman, but was pinned at the 3:04 mark of their heavyweight bout. Roderick will next wrestle Jacob Anderson of Cedaredge (9-15).
Bayfield wrestlers Keaton Pickering, James Mars and Jordan Cundiff also lost in the first round. At 113, Pickering (23-11) lost a 12-1 major decision to Daniel Soto of Jefferson (21-4). He’ll next wrestle La Junta’s Xavier Velador (12-14).
Mars, the only La Plata wrestler to win a regional title, lost a close match in the opening round. Mars (25-6) lost an 8-6 decision to Carson Hawkins of Bennett (31-11) at 132 pounds. He’ll face Engelwood’s Isaiah Segoviano (28-7) next.
Cundiff (12-18) took on T.J. Rivera of Brush in the first round, but was pinned at the 1:08 mark. He’ll take on Fort Lupton’s Dylan Jaramillo (7-5) next.
Durango 106-pounder Ryan Dugan (34-8) squared off with Windsor’s James Pantoja (20-3) in the first round, but was pinned in 1:23. Dugan will wrestle Emilio of Widefield (9-10) next.
Riley Belt (27-20) started the 138-pound bracket against the top seed, Cheyenne Mountain’s Nicholas Grizales (44-4). Belt battled, but was pinned at the 3:09 mark. He’ll wrestle Thomas Velasquez of Pueblo County (15-9) next.
At 160, Tyler Woodworth (35-8) and Devin Hickey of Grand Junction Central needed an extra period to decide their match. Hickey caught Woodworth and pinned him in the first sudden victory period. Woodworth will next wrestle Kieran Carter of Silver Creek (18-15).
At 170, Ben Belt (44-8) began the tournament against Thompson Valley’s Joe Smack (36-14). Smack, however, prevailed 11-6. Belt will face Aiden Blazek (14-12) of Discovery Canyon.
The girls state wrestling tournament also is being staged Ball Arena for the first time, concurrently with the boys championships. Two county wrestlers advanced to the big show, but came up short in their first matches. Brooke Fenberg of Durango (18-14) lost her opening bout at 105 pounds, 13-2, against Mia Hargrove (34-2) of Discovery Canyon. Fenberg will wrestle Arvada’s Dalilah Aguayo (16-11) to begin Friday.
At 127, Faye Hackett of Ignacio (19-9) took on Fatima Duran of Yuma (20-8) in the first round, but was pinned in 2:08. Hackett will wrestle Melanie Perez of Legacy (19-17) next.
On Friday, the quarterfinals, semifinals and first two rounds of consolations will take place. The tournament will then conclude Saturday, with the finals after a 5:30 p.m. parade of champions.
Cayle McCoy of Ignacio will also compete as a wild card wrestler at 106 pounds on Saturday, battling a Dove Creek friend and foe in a modified match right before the championships. McCoy is Ignacio’s first wild card wrestler to compete at state and can participate in the parade of champions.
