DENVER — Growing up there has always been one constant in the lives of brothers Keenan, Grant and Hunter Willits — wrestling.
Through years of hard work and dedication all three brothers became standout wrestlers.
This weekend at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament the brothers from Pueblo County have had their skills on full display at the Pepsi Center.
Grant (106 pounds), and Hunter (132), his fraternal twin, and Keenan (160) are all wrestling for state championships Saturday night. Grant and Hunter are freshmen and Keenan is a senior.
“Everybody at home (in Pueblo) knows the Willits name for wrestling,” Keenan said. “We’re trying make them proud and it means everything to have all three of us in the finals.”
This is the first time three brothers from Pueblo County High School have wrestled for state titles on the same night and it is believed to be one of the few times it has happened in Colorado State wrestling history. The Willits brothers will be joined in the finals with their freshman teammate Chris Sandoval (120 pounds).
Actually in Class 5A, Cherry Creek brothers Matt Finesilver (113), Mitch Finesilver (126) and Zach Finesilver (138) are all in the finals Saturday. Mitch and and Zach are fraternal twins. Matt’s fraternal twin, Josh (106) lost in the semifinals.
Only one freshman — Isaac Naro of Pueblo South at 132 pounds in 2013 — has ever won a state wrestling championship in Pueblo history.
“This is a team effort between all our coaches and all our wrestlers,” Pueblo County coach Eddie Soto said. “We knew the talent we had coming in and it was our job to make sure this was just another tournament. We have a great group of guys and we’ve had a lot of fun and the kids came through. It is unbelievable to have the three Willits brothers in the finals. It’s a great feeling and it is changing our program.”
Grant and Hunter are ranked No. 1 in 4A at their weights and Keenan, a senior, is ranked No. 2.
The Willits name is no stranger in the Colorado prep and college ranks.
The boys father, Rick Willits, won a Class AAA state championship at 132 pounds in 1980 while competing for Pueblo East. The elder Willits then went on to win an NAIA national championship at 150 pounds at Adams State College in 1985.
“That was probably the most emotional thing I have ever been involved with in my whole life,” said the elder Willits, an assistant coach for the Hornets, about watching all his boys compete Friday night. “It doesn’t even come close to the emotions I had when I competed. My emotions were a roller-coaster (Friday night). You want your boys to do so well, and nd when they do you’re ecstatic. It’s something that you just can’t put into words.”
Grant began the Willits’ victory parade by edging Thompson Valley’s Morgan Fogg 6-4 in overtime.
“I got taken down early in the match and I was pretty nervous,” the 5-foot-5 Grant, 15, said.
With time winding down in the third period, Grant still trailed 4-3, but with nine seconds left Fogg was docked a stalling point to tie the match.
“I really felt like I was going to get that stalling point and once we went to overtime I felt pretty good because I have been in that position before,” Grant said.
Neither wrestler could score in the first one-minute sudden death period. In the next 30-second session, Fogg was on the bottom and couldn’t get any points before time expired.
That opened the door for Grant when he took bottom in the next 30 seconds. He was able to get to his feet and then take Fogg down to win the match with nine seconds remaining.
“I’m felt comfortable being on the bottom and once I reversed him to his back I knew I could win,” Grant said.
Hunter eliminated any drama in his match against Conifer’s Bronson Spies taking a quick 8-0 lead in the first period.
“I wrestled him in a summer camp and I was able to tilt him then and I had a feeling I could do it again and I was able to that,” Hunter, 5-8, said. “I’m just excited to be in the state championship match. All I ever wanted is to be is a state champ.”
Keenan capped the evening by pinning Berthoud’s Chad Ellis with 1:19 left in the third period.
“The only thing that was going through my head was stay in position,” said Keenan, who didn’t start taking wrestling seriously until eighth grade. “I was so happy to make it 4-for-4 for us in the finals, and there was a lot of pressure on me when my brothers made it. I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t make it to the state championship.”
As thrilled as the three Willits were Friday, they know their missions aren’t complete.
Grant (42-3) meets Palisade’s Randen Espinoza (44-4) and Hunter (43-2) tangles with Pueblo South’s Marcus Martinez (34-3).
Keenan has the toughest task as he collides with Broomfield’s Phil Downing (45-3). Downing is trying to become only the 17th wrestler in Colorado prep history to capture four state wrestling state titles.
“This is my dream to win state,” the 6-foot Keenan said. “I have a chance to do something legendary (against Downing) if I can. If I can’t, that’s just how life is, but I have a chance and I’m just going to follow my game plan and anything can happen.”
TEAM RACE SNAPSHOT: Defending state champion Broomfield flexed its muscles Friday night.
The Eagles are leading the team standings with 112.50 points. Broomfield advanced Darek Huff (126), Jarod Albo (152), Downing (160), Zach Stodden (182) and heavyweight Austyn Harris to the finals.
The Eagles held their commanding lead despite being deducted one team point Friday night for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Pueblo County (96), Thompson Valley (88) and Windsor (75) round out the top four in the team chase.
TRYING TO REPEAT HISTORY: In addition to Broomfield’s Downing (160) and Stodden (182), Windsor’s Kennen Lanteri (152) and Mead’s Kyle Couch (195) all still have a chance to be repeat championsSaturday.
FAMILIAR FOE: When Thompson Valley’s Ben Hewson (44-11) looks across the mat at his 138-pound finals opponent Saturday there will be no surprises.
Hewson has wrestled Berthoud’s Jimmy Fate (51-2) three times this season – coming up short each time.
Hewson, a junior, and Fate, a sophomore, are making their first appearances in the state finals.
WE MEET AGAIN: Pueblo County’s Sandoval clashes with Discovery Canyon’s Sam Turner in the finals. Last Saturday at regionals, Sandoval and Turner met in the finals and Sandoval was leading 3-0 until Turner pinned him in the waning seconds.
GOLD MEDAL DREAMS VANISH: There were seven return champions that returned in the Class 4A state tournament.
That number was reduced dramatically in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon.
Weld Central’s Dalton Roberston (126 pounds), Palisade’s Dalton Harrington (132) and Pueblo South Isaac Naro all suffered defeats.
STEEL CITY POWER: The city of Pueblo has a rich history in high school wrestling and that fact has proved to be true again this weekend.
Counting the four Pueblo County High School wrestlers – the Steel City has eight total wrestlers competing in Saturday’s finals.
Pueblo South’s Michael Ramirez (113), Martinez (132), East’s Phillip Benavidez (182) and Central’s Evan Lancelot (220) are all going for gold medals.