Pomona senior Jason Romero has control of his match against Chatfield junior Earl C. Manzanares on Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — The defending Class 5A state wrestling team champion Pomona Panthers are loaded with talent in an attempt to add a third team state title over five seasons.
“I think this is probably the deepest team we’ve had. We’ve got a lot of good solid wrestlers on this team,” Pomona coach Sam Federico said after a 62-0 dual victory over Chatfield on Wednesday night. “It’s a fun year. We’ve got a group with a lot of top-notch kids.”
Pomona currently has 10 wrestlers ranked in the top-5 in their weight class. The state-wide recognized rankings are Tim Yount’s On the Mat rankings.
While the rankings are always something that must be proved down at the three-day state championship at Pepsi Center in February, the Panthers have wrestlers that have already had great success at state. Sophomores Justin Pacheco, Colton Yapoujian, Theorius Robison, along with seniors Jason Romero, Nolan Krone and Uriah Vigil all placed at the 5A state tournament last season.
Pomona junior Xavier Herrera has his arm raised after a victory at 152 pounds. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“There has been teams like this in the past,” Pomona senior Brandon Micale said. “The Arvada West team (back-to-back team titles in 2014 and 2015) a couple of years ago were like this. It’s nice to have the No. 1 ranking on your back, but we have to show up at Pepsi Center and prove that we deserve it.”
One missing piece this year is senior Cameron Gonzales, who was the state runner-up at 170 pounds. The all-state football running back broke his lower leg in the 5A state semifinal in November.
Federico, who has been with Pomona’s wrestling program for a dozen years, said there is still a chance that Gonzales could get back on the mat to compete at the state-qualifying regional tournament. Pomona will be in the 5A Region 1 tournament at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs on Feb. 10 and 11. The state tournament is scheduled for Feb. 16-18 at Pepsi Center.
“Last year we won state with one state (individual) champ. The year before we had four state champs and lost. I don’t know which is better to be honest with you,” said Federico, who admitted he is still moving wrestlers around when it comes to weight classes to put together the strongest line-up. “Wrestling is an individual sport and I want state champs. That’s what these kids are after. Our goal is to have (individual) state titles and if the team title comes with that it’s great too.”
Pomona had a busy couple of weeks coming up. The Panthers have road duals against Windsor and Ralston Valley on back-to-back nights — Jan. 11 and 12. The Panthers follow that up with the Arvada West Invite on Saturday, Jan. 14. The next week Pomona will take part in the two-day Top of the Rockies tournament at Centaurus High School Jan. 20 and 21.
Chatfield junior Earl C. Manzanares, facing, looks to escape. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“January is definitely a meat grinder, but that is what makes you better,” said Romero, who pinned Chatfield junior and state qualifier Earl C. Manzanares on Wednesday night. “Wrestling tough kids day-after-day is what makes you good. That is what makes Pomona so great. We are always chasing the toughest competition we can.”
Romero is one of the Panthers who will head to Fresno, CA this weekend for the two-day Doc Buchanan Invitational at Clovis High School.
The Panthers have already had success on the national level. Pomona won the 84-team Reno Tournament before winter break. Robison — Pomona’s lone returning state champion — won his weight class in Reno.
“It’s a big stretch here with four weeks in a row with tough tournaments,” Federico said. “Hopefully we come out of those in better shape and not injured to head toward regionals and the state tournament, that’s the plan.”
The goals and aspirations go beyond the wrestling mat for the Panthers.
“We want to keep pushing ourselves. Not only on the wrestling room, but also in our academics, or school and how we are as people,” Romero said. “We want to be all we can be all-around.”
Pomona will attempt to win the program’s fifth Class 5A state team title next month at Pepsi Center. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)