Jefferson Saints marching into 3A state wrestling title bouts

Jefferson senior Oscar Lopez celebrates after his Class 3A state semifinal win Friday at 220 pounds. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

DENVER — Jefferson wrestling had its most successful day in the program’s history Friday night at Pepsi Center advancing three Saints to the finals of the Class 3A state tournament.

“There has been three in the finals total in the history of Jefferson,” Jefferson coach said Oscar Fonseca, who has built the Saints wrestling team into a force to be reckoned with now and in the future.

The school on eastern edge of Jefferson County in Edgewater brought a Fab 5 down to the state tournament this week. Jimmy Ramirez III (120 pounds), Kyle Cisneros (132), Nick Gallegos (138), Brandon Onofre (152) and Oscar Lopez (220) might have looked like an average amount of state qualifies from one school, but they proved their strength at Pepsi Center.

Beside the individual success, Jefferson was tied for second with Alamosa in the 3A team standings with 75 points at the end of the day Friday. Valley leads with 85.5 points.

“It’s amazing,” Ramirez III said after he rallied with a takedown in the final seconds against Sheridan junior Presiliano Maez to take a 7-6 victory. “I can’t describe the feeling.”

Jefferson went 5-for-5 in its opening round matches Thursday. On Friday morning, Ramirez III, Cisneros, Gallegos and Lopez all advance into Friday night’s 3A semifinals. Ramirez III, Cisneros and Lopez were all victorious in the semifinals to break the record number of Saints to the finals.

“I’ve never seen a school and a team so connected,” Lopez said. “We hang out all the time. I feel like that makes us better. When we practice and drill we go 100 percent at it.”

Jefferson senior Kyle Cisneros will attempt to be the Saints first 2-time state champion. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Lopez, a senior, wrapped up the Saints’ day with a victory over Alamosa senior Manuelito Casias to put him in the 220-pound title match Saturday night. Lopez is a step away from capturing his first title after placing 6th last year at 170.

It has been an interesting journey for Lopez. He didn’t start wrestling until his freshman year at Jefferson. Fonseca ran into Lopez at a recreation center near Jefferson. Lopez was a freshman and working out with the Saints’ football team. Fonseca told Lopez he was going to workout with the wrestlers and wrestle too.

“I had no clue who he (Fonseca) was,” Lopez said when he first met Fonseca. “I’ve always heard that wrestling helps you out with football, so I said OK.”

Another obstacle Lopez had to overcome was when his family moved to Aurora after his freshman year. The multi-sport student-athlete didn’t want to transfer. He has been taking public transportation from his home in to Aurora to Jefferson since his sophomore season.

“That kid has come a long ways,” Fonseca said of Lopez. “He is amazing. He comes after you and will throw the kitchen sink at you.”

Lopez will attend Colorado Mesa University next fall.

Cisneros, last year’s 3A state champion at 126 pounds, pushed the state’s all-time state win record in career wins to 176 with a 10-3 victory over Platte Valley sophomore Dylan Yancey in the semifinals Friday night.

Cisneros is also the younger brother of Aaron Cisneros, who became the Saints first individual wrestling state champion in 2013. The two titles the Cisneros brothers have one are the only individual wrestling titles in Jefferson’s history.

“I’m just excited and glad to be back in the finals,” Cisneros said. “I’ve got to win title No. 2. Anything else would be a disappointment.”

The younger Cisneros, who will wrestle at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, is now one win away from becoming Jefferson’s first two-time individual state champion. Onofre, who pinned his opponent in his first consolation bout after losing in the quarterfinals, has also committed to wrestle for the Orediggers.

The future is bright with the youth of freshman Ramirez III and Gallegos.

“I have a great coaching staff in all aspects,” Ramirez III said. “This season alone I’ve really changed from a defensive wrestler to one that shoots and is aggressive. That’s what got me the win today.”

While Friday might have been the highlight of the Saints’ wrestling program, it may very well be topped Saturday.

“They build tradition,” Fonseca said of Jefferson’s success. “That is what is going on. It’s a family.”