More than nine months have passed since it happened, but the pain was still apparent in Pueblo County High School wrestler Grant Willits’ voice.
Willits, who was competing at 113 pounds, was on the cusp of making Pueblo prep history. Grant and his fraternal twin Hunter (138) were trying to become the first wrestlers in Pueblo prep history to win back-to-back state championships in their freshman and sophomore seasons.
That plan, however, was derailed in unexpected fashion.
The morning of Feb. 20 at the Class 4A state tournament in Denver Grant failed to make weight and was disqualified for the final two days of the tourney.
Grant, with a 3-pound weight allowance, could weigh up to 116 pounds and he weighed in at 116.1 pounds on four different scales at the Pepsi Center.
“I was one ounce under on the scales at our hotel before we went to the Pepsi Center, and it was heartbreaking when I failed to make weight,” Grant said. “When it happened, I didn’t know what to think. It was shocking.”
As freshmen, Grant won 4A state at 106 pounds and Hunter was tops at 132 pounds, and they also became the only twins from Pueblo to win state.
“I didn’t believe anybody that Grant didn’t make weight,” Hunter said. “Then, I saw Grant in (our team van) and he was devastated. I was heartbroken and angry, and I threw my drink I had in my hand to the ground. I wasn’t angry at him. I just couldn’t believe it happened.”
Hunter did regroup and accomplish his goal of repeating — winning at 138 pounds — but it was tough for Grant to watch.
“I felt like I let him down because I was picked to win state like he was,” said Grant, 17, who is 27 minutes older than Hunter.
Hunter Willits of Pueblo County. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Hunter acknowledged his second state crown didn’t mean quite as much.
“It was a big relief to win state and I was on top of the world, but I still felt really bad for Grant,” said Hunter, who will compete at either 145 or 152 pounds this season.
Now, Grant is more determined more than ever to erase last year’s memory and capture a gold medal.
“What last year taught me was always make sure I’m on weight and it has made me work even harder to get my second state title,” said the 5-foot-7 Grant, whose planning on competing at 126 pounds this season. “I’m so excited to get back on the mat.”
Hunter, meanwhile, is aiming to rewrite the Pueblo high school wrestling history book by becoming the city’s inaugural three-time champ and also the first to win three in a row.
“I’m ready to go,” he said.
Wrestling glory is nothing new for the Willits family.
Rick Willits, the twins’ father and assistant coach for the Hornets, 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 is a source of pride for the family, but Grant and Hunter’s main focus is helping PCHS win state this season, something no Hornets boys team has done – ever.
Pueblo County finished second last season to Thompson Valley in the 4A team chase.
“That would be the best thing in the world if my brother and I could win state and also the team,” Grant said. “If we could be the first (boys) team to win state at Pueblo County that would be just amazing.”
Hunter concurred with his brother.
“If all those things happened, I won state for the third time, Grant won, and the team won, it would be electrifying and crazy,” Hunter said. “I would be so happy.”
In Class 5A, Arvada West is going for its third title in a row. Pomona has been the state runner-up the past two years.
Wrestling preview
- Regular season begins: Dec. 1, 2015
- Regular season ends: Feb. 6, 2016
- Championships: Feb. 18-20, Pepsi Center (Denver)
Defending champions
- 5A: Arvada West
- 4A: Thompson Valley
- 3A: Valley
- 2A: Rocky Ford