Regional wrestling in the rearview, wrestlers prepare for state

Courtesy photo by Kalee Buhr Centauri Wrestling took home a regional title with 198.5 points as a team.

It was a wild weekend of regional action on the slate for valley wrestlers. 

At the 2A Region 2 finals at Dolores Huerta High School in Pueblo, Centauri crowned five first-place finishers in Mario Vigil, Eyan Chavez, Jordan Martin, Erik Mestas, Zach Buhr and collected 198.5 points as a team to become regional champions. Also in Pueblo, Sierra Grande- Centennial’s Richard Atencio topped the podium at 138 pounds and Monte Vista and Del Norte each placed a runner up in Damian Lopez and Malachi Gallegos respectively. Meanwhile, in 3A, Alamosa’s boys had two wrestlers reach the top of the podium in Davion Chavez in Brandon Reveles and collected 142 team points to take third place. First place went to host Pagosa Springs with 217.5 points. 

The coming weekend promises an equally wild finish to the wrestling season. With the regional tournaments in the books, it is now all steam ahead toward a COVID abridged state final. According to the CHSAA releases it will be three separate events at the Southwest Motors Event Center in Pueblo – Thursday will be all Girls wrestling, Friday 2A/3A and Saturday 4A/5A all events beginning at the quarterfinals with 8 wrestlers invited per weight class. 

In boys wrestling, there will be 15 wrestlers representing five schools at the state tournament. Girls wrestling saw one girl qualify for the state tournament. 

Alamosa will be sending 5 wrestlers, 4 boys and a girl. The lone girl from the valley to qualify for state was Alamosa freshman Sarah DeLaCerda she owns a 22-2 record in the 105 weight class and will take on Loveland junior 11 Kelly Clingan (10-1) in the first round. 

For the 3A boys, it begins at 120 pounds with Alamosa senior Davion Chavez. Chavez is 21-1 and will open his quest for a second state title against Logan Erickson of Holy Family. At 126 pounds, Alamosa senior Brandon Reveles (19-4) will have the difficult job of opening the state tournament against Jefferson junior Angelo Lozado 22-2 who is in search of his third straight state title. At 132 pounds Alamosa’s Trevor Maestas will face the No. 2 wrestler in the state in Will Moneypenny of Berthod (20-0). Senior Zaquorya Bernal (17-5) will represent Alamosa at 132 pounds. Bernal will face No. 1 Jeremiah Garcia (18-0) of Platte Valley 18-0. And in the heavyweight class, Alamosa will have James Sanchez taking on James Irwin senior, James Hustoles (17-0). 

Centauri will have a great chance to compete for the team state title with 8 wrestlers in attendance. At 106 pounds it will be Centauri’s Riley Valdez facing Beau Clouse (19-2) in the first round. At 113 pounds Mario Vigil (16-4) will begin his quest for glory against Miguel Sanchez (18-2) of John Mall. Centauri’s 132 pounder will be Cyrus Sandoval. Sandoval will take on Lyon’s Oran Huff (18-1). Eyan Chavez will enter the state finals as the No. 1 wrestler in the 145-pound bracket. Chavez (18-1) will face Greg Coy of Highland in his first match of the day at state. Centauri senior Jordan Martin (16- 3) will take on Wyatt Murphy (15- 3) in his first meeting. Sophomore Erik Mestas (16-1) will represent the Falcons at 160 pounds and will take on Michael Gutierrez (19-2) of Burleson. Junior Zach Buhr (17-2) will face Payton Wade (18-5) of Wray in the first round of the 170-pound bracket. Byron Shawcroft (14-6) will round out the group for Centauri. Shawcroft will meet Ty Walck (13-6) of Cedaredge in the first round. 

For Del Norte, it will be junior Malachi Gallegos at 113 pounds facing Levi Martin (18-1) of Mancos. 

Damian Lopez (14-5), a Monte Vista sophomore will wrestle at 126 opening his 2021 campaign against No. 2 Dale VanMatre (23- 0) of John Mall. 

Wrestling for Sierra Grande- Centennial will be Richard Atencio (20-1). Atencio will wrestle at 138 pounds and will begin 2021 state finals against Ty Everett (17-2) of Mancos. 

State championships for valley wrestlers will begin on Thursday and wrap up on Friday. 

All matches will be streamed on the NFHS Network (www. NFHSNetwork.com).