Armando Santillan has never been hungrier to get on the wrestling mat, and that bodes well for Grandview in 2016-17.
The senior spent an agonizing year rehabbing an injury and watching his teammates have a very successful season that included an undefeated dual record and nine Class 5A state tournament qualifiers.
Santillan watched younger brother Fabian make a splash in his varsity debut with a fourth-place state finish as a freshman and it further stoked his fire.
So, coach Ryan Budd gets back a healthy, motivated wrestler with state experience to add to a group that includes returning state qualifiers in seniors Gabriel Baumgartner, Tyler Ross, Shem Brown and Robert Woods (a transfer from Smoky Hill), and junior Giovani Federico, who won 42 matches last season.
The Wolves face a brutal schedule, but should be as seasoned as any given the competition they will face externally and internally. The trio of Armando and Fabian Santillan and Federico have set a tone like no other in the room.
Cherokee Trail is headed by a duo of training partners in seniors Max Gonzales and Ezequiel Silva, who both return after making it onto the state medal podium last season.
Gonzales’ bid to become the program’s first state champion ended in the first period of the 220-pound final when nationally-ranked Ponderosa freshman phenom Cohl Schultz pinned him for just his third loss in 38 matches. Schultz is back for another season and Gonzales is angling for a rematch, though there has been some talk of a move to heavyweight. That would be taxing for Gonzales, who would give away 50 or more pounds to many heavyweights.
Silva struggled with the good and bad parts of confidence at last season’s state tournament and ended up in fourth place at 182 pounds. Now at 195 pounds, Silva is aiming to go out on top. Schultz’s brother, Trenton, who goes to Mountain Vista, is likely to stand in his way.
Coach Jeff Buck returns a third state qualifier in sophomore David Rivera, while seniors Chad Powell and Josh Richardson, and junior Drake Davis, help solidify the lineup.
Trevor Griffin is Overland’s third head coach in as many seasons, but the return of two state qualifiers — senior Sean Kelly and junior Kaelin Chin — helps with any transition, while sophomore Isaiah Bradley was a regional placer last season.
Aurora Central also has a new coach in Steve Stobaugh, who takes over a program led for the previous decade by the recently-retired Conrad Parra. The Trojans — who have only their third wrestling coach in the last 30 years following Parra and Dave Demski — also feature two wrestlers who competed at the Pepsi Center last season in senior Omar Gonzales and junior Octavio Lopez.
After a lengthy hiatus, Brent Bieshaar has returned to coach the Regis Jesuit program and finds numbers significantly down from his previous stint, which included a run to third place in 5A in 2007.
Bieshaar has noted a decline in the interest in the sport at the prep level and is taking steps such as offering Friday matches instead of all-day Saturday tournaments that may turn away some kids who may be interested. He has a returning state qualifier in senior Brandon Minear, plus other strong seniors in Brian Butler and Brian Hodes, and junior Sean Dunnington.
Hinkley graduated two of its three state qualifiers last season, but invigorated senior Serj Chavez is back aiming for his fourth trip to state and his first time on the medal podium. Chavez will take the lead for the team, while coach Terrance Goodroad has about a handful of other wrestlers, including seniors Jonathan Perdomo, Jaden Gooden and Carlos Argueta, who could break through. A new arrival from Wyoming, freshman Emery Bemis, also holds promise for the future for the Thunderbirds.
State-qualifying senior heavyweight Ryan Campbell returns to lead a Smoky Hill program under the new leadership of alum T.J. Loyd, a 2003 graduate. Campbell suffered a meniscus tear shortly after the start of practice and will ease back into competition. Seniors Tristen VandenHout and Alan Velasquez are among a small group of returners.
Among Aurora’s 5A teams, Eaglecrest, Gateway and Rangeview all lost their state qualifiers from last season. Veteran coach Tim Corby’s Raiders do feature senior Deron Solomon, who made it to state as a freshman. Ranked for the first half of last season, a torn meniscus derailed Solomon’s season. The Raptors and Olys — both in second seasons under their current coaches — welcome many new faces.
In 4A, Vista PEAK returns two-time state qualifier Dilan Esparza, while juniors Tristan Curtis and Jayden Smith aim to break through this season for coach David Benedict’s team.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2016-17 AURORA WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Returning Aurora Class 5A state placers: Max Gonzales, Cherokee Trail, sr. (2nd, 220 pounds); Fabian Santillan, Grandview, soph. (4th, 113 pounds); Zeke Silva, Cherokee Trail, sr. (4th, 182 pounds)
Returning Aurora 5A/4A state qualifiers: Gabriel Baumgartner, Grandview, sr.; Shem Brown, Grandview, sr.; Ryan Campbell, Smoky Hill, sr.; Serj Chavez, Hinkley, sr.; Kaelin Chin, Overland, jr.; Dilan Esparza, Vista PEAK, sr.; Giovani Federico, Grandview, jr.; Omar Gonzales, Aurora Central, sr.; Sean Kelly, Overland, sr.; Octavio Lopez, Aurora Central, jr.; Brandon Minear, Regis Jesuit, sr.; David Rivera, Cherokee Trail, soph.; Tyler Ross, Grandview, sr.; Robert Woods, Grandview, sr.
Other Aurora wrestlers to watch: Carlos Argueta, Hinkley, sr.; Emery Bemis, Hinkley, fr.; Grant Bradley, Overland, fr.; Isaiah Bradley, Overland, soph.; Brian Butler, Regis Jesuit, sr.; Alex Casillas, Grandview, sr.; Tristan Curtis, Vista PEAK, jr.; Drake Davis, Cherokee Trail, jr.; Sean Dunnington, Regis Jesuit, jr.; Avery Fafita, Vista PEAK, sr.; Isaiah Gonzales, Gateway, jr.; Jaden Gooden, Hinkley, sr.; Brian Hodes, Regis Jesuit, sr.; David Nuttall, Rangeview, sr.,; Jonathan Perdomo, Hinkley, sr.; Chad Powell, Cherokee Trail, sr.; Dillon Ranieri, Grandview, soph.; Jarrett Reigies, Gateway, jr.; Josh Richardson, Cherokee Trail, sr.; Alex Santillan, Grandview, fr.; Armando Santillan, Grandview, sr.; Jayden Smith, Vista PEAK, jr.; Deron Solomon, Rangeview, sr.; Blake Thomas, Gateway, sr.; Tristen VandenHout, Smoky Hill, sr.; Alan Velasquez, Smoky Hill, sr.
