Pomona’s Tomas Gutierrez (red) goes for the pin during the Top of the Rockies. (Brian Miller/CHSAANow.com)
LAFAYETTE – It’s no secret why Pomona and Pueblo County are the top-ranked wrestling teams in the state’s two biggest classifications.
The Panthers and Hornets put their depth and talent on display at the Top of the Rockies tournament Saturday night at Centaurus High School. Both schools sent five individuals into the finals, with Class 5A Pomona coming away with the team trophy with 209 points and one champion.
Pueblo County took second with 189 points, with Grant and Hunter Willits finishing first for the Hornets. Legacy had two champions and placed third. Grandview and Poudre rounded out the top five.
“It feels good, but it’s just preparation for the state tournament,” said Pomona’s two-time defending state champion Tomas Gutierrez. “I come here every year and we compete every year, and it’s just that stepping stone to the tournament in February.”
Gutierrez downed another defending state champion in 3A’s Jody Sandoval II of Fort Lupton by an 8-3 decision at 120 pounds.
The Panthers are on a mission after finishing second to Arvada West in the 5A team standings at the state tournament in each of the previous two years.
“We have one goal in mind right here and we’re putting ourselves in the best positions to see the best competition,” Pomona coach Sam Federico said. “We have all year, for one tournament – that’s the state tournament. We’re pushing hard. We’ve been second two years in a row and we don’t like it.”
Colton Yapoujian (106 pounds), Theorius Robison (126), Jason Romero (145) and Brandon Micale (220) placed second for Pomona.
The Willits twins were on top of their game Saturday night. Grant pinned Robison in three minutes, 11 seconds and Hunter posted a hard-fought 8-5 decision over Cherry Creek’s Matt Finesilver in a match-up of defending state champions.
“Matt Finesilver is such a great wrestler. As you can see he has a tank like no other. He can wrestle for hours it seems like,” Hunter Willits said. “That pushes me right there.”
Josiah Nava (113), Justin Davis (132) and Chris Sandoval (138) were runners-up for Pueblo County. The Hornets were without Donovan Rincon, currently ranked first in 4A at 195 pounds, who is working his way back from injury.
“It’s a great tournament to go to as a team – great competition for the state tournament, which is around the corner,” Hunter Willits said. “It’s perfect timing and the perfect tournament to prepare us for state.”
Legacy’s Ryan Deakin was the tournament’s outstanding lower-weight wrestler after finishing first at 138 pounds. Deakin scored a late takedown to break a tie and earn an 8-6 decision over Chris Sandoval.
Weld Central’s Dalton Robertson was the outstanding upper-weight wrestler. The top-ranked wrestler in 3A at 182 pounds and a two-time state champion, Robertson took down another undefeated wrestler in Legacy’s Matt Hebel, 10-1.
“My friends always give me a hard time because I’ve won state and go undefeated, but they always say I don’t go to any tough tournaments,” Robertson said. “They always say how they come here and get their matches where they lose at, so it means a lot to come in here and finally prove them wrong.”
Robertson and Jody Sandoval were the only 3A wrestlers from Colorado in the finals.
“There’s tough wrestlers everywhere,” Robertson said. “5A gets all the credit for being tough, and they are pretty stout there too, but every now and then there’s some 3A wrestlers that come in and make a point.”
Other winners included Pueblo East’s Andrew Lucero at 106; Mountain Range’s Louie Romero (113) and Zach Martinez (145); Poudre’s Jacob Greenwood (132); Thompson Valley’s Parker Simington (160); Broomfield’s Connor Ventura (170); Legacy’s Nolan Funk (195); and Ponderosa’s Cohl Schultz (220).
In a battle of defending state champions at heavyweight, Fort Morgan’s Toby McBride scored a 6-2 decision over Pueblo East’s Jacob Robles.
Individual Results: 106 – Andrew Lucero, Pueblo East, maj. dec. Colton Yapoujian, Pomona, 12-2; 113 – Louie Romero, Mountain Range, dec. Josiah Nava, Pueblo County, 5-4; 120 – Tomas Gutierrez, Pomona, dec. Jody Sandoval II, Fort Lupton, 8-3; 126 – Grant Willits, Pueblo County, pin Theorius Robison, Pomona, 3:11; 132 – Jacob Greenwood, Poudre, maj. dec. Justin Davis, Pueblo County, 13-5; 138 – Ryan Deakin, Legacy, dec. Chris Sandoval, Pueblo County, 8-6; 145 – Zach Martinez, Mountain Range, dec. Jason Romero, Pomona, 7-4; 152 – Hunter Willits, Pueblo County, dec. Matt Finesilver, Cherry Creek, 8-5; 160 – Parker Simington, Thompson Valley, tech. fall Seth Green, Cheyenne East, 20-5; 170 – Connor Ventura, Broomfield, dec. Jeremiah Ellerd, Brighton 8-7; 182 – Dalton Robertson, Weld Central, maj. dec. Matt Hebel, Legacy, 10-1; 195 – Nolan Funk, Legacy, pin Kevin Doughty, Cheyenne East, 2:25; 220 – Cohl Schultz, Ponderosa, pin Brandon Micale, Pomona, 2:26; 285 – Toby McBride, Fort Morgan, dec. Jacob Robles, Pueblo East, 6-2.