Amer Tipura doesn’t mind if opponents know his favorite moves. They still have to stop him from using them.
That’s why the Overland senior 220-pounder freely discusses the ankle pick and high crotch shots that have helped him get to 36-1 and earn the No. 2 ranking in Class 5A by On the Mat, making him Aurora’s highest-rated wrestler.
Tipura will use those tools and more at the Feb. 15-16 Region 4 tournament, where hopes to earn his way back to the state tournament at the Pepsi Center. His ultimate goal is to become Overland’s first state champion since Dale King in 1996.
“I don’t mind anyone knowing that because it’s all about the set up; if they can’t stop the set up, what can they do?” questions Tipura, who has blossomed as a senior after taking up wrestling as a ninth-grader at the urging of football coaches.
Confidence is not a problem for Tipura, who Overland coach Bert Dalton affectionately calls “Gomer” (a morph of the phrase “Go, Amer,” which he found himself shouting during matches).
A summer of camps and more rigirous regiment in the weight room not only prepared Tipura for the football season — where he helped anchor the offensive line for the resurgent Trailblazers — it got him ready to go when mat time arrived.
He was determined to improve on last season, when he was seconds from reaching the placing round at state. Tipura was pinned by eventual state champion Austin Waterman of Greeley West in the second round, then lost a triple-overtime heartbreaker to Mountain Range’s Austin Dreiling.
“If I would have worked harder for five seconds more, I would have won,” Tipura said. “That’s how it is, you never know. I learned at state that anybody can beat anybody. If they have you down, they are going to hold you there.”
With improved skills, strength and a more measured approach Tipura won his first 36 matches of the season before a 4-2 triple-overtime loss to Columbine’s top-ranked Brian Mayberry on Feb. 2 in the semifinals of the Les Mattocks Invitational.
The loss left both wrestlers hurt and briefly stung the pride of Tipura, who will use it as fuel if the two see each other at the Region 4 tournament and again at state, possibly in the state championship match.
“Amer hates to lose more than any athlete I’ve ever been around,” said Dalton, who has another budding wrestler in senior 182-pounder Javier Alonso.
“He’s ready to take it to another level.”
Alonso has gained the most and progressed himself by working with Tipura, who helps him primarily with his positioning.
With not a single ranked 182-pounder in the Region 4 field, Alonso has a strong chance to reach the Pepsi Center and Dalton sees him surprising people by appearing on the medal stand when it’s all over.
Region 1: Four Aurora teams get to stay home for the Region 1 tournament, which is set for Smoky Hill High School. Of the city wrestlers involved from Eaglecrest, Rangeview, Regis Jesuit and host Smoky Hill, four — Eaglecrest 182-pounder Trevon Beauford and heavyweight Mike Howshar, Regis Jesuit 195-pounder Grant Neal and Smoky Hill 120-pounder Dan Kasberg — are looking for a second straight trip to the Pepsi Center. Neal is the highest-rated city wrestler in the field according to On The Mat, which has the junior in the third spot at 195 pounds. In the 120-pound class, Redman and Kasberg are both ranked, but could battle for 3rd place as top-ranked Mitch Finesilver of Cherry Creek and No. 2 Josh Rosales of Pomona are also in the field. Brackets at 132, 138 and 160 pounds look to be the most competitive with eight ranked wrestlers in each bracket vying for four berths in the state tournament.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
AURORA WRESTLING REGIONALS (FEB. 15-16)
CLASS 5A REGION 1 (at Smoky Hill High School)
Aurora teams: Eaglecrest, Rangeview, Regis Jesuit, Smoky Hill; Other teams: Adams City, Arapahoe, Castle View, Chatfield, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Heritage, Horizon, Legacy, Lincoln, Pomona, Ponderosa
Aurora ranked wrestlers: Eaglecrest — Andrew George (19th, 126), Jake Dugan (15th, 132), Ace Ellison (14th, 145), Adin Puris (16th, 170), Trevon Beauford (12th, 182), Mike Howshar (5th, 285); Rangeview — Jon Askew (8th, 145), Brandon Read (16th, 152); Regis Jesuit — Josh Redman (9th, 120), Donovan Ronan (16th, 126), Logan Ronan (27th, 138), Grant Neal (3rd, 195); Smoky Hill — Dan Kasberg (12th, 120); Colby Tate (22nd, 138), Dexter Bess (8th, 220)
Schedule: Feb. 15 — 3 p.m. (opening round), 6 p.m. (quarterfinals, 1st round consolations); Feb. 16 — 9 a.m. (2nd round consolations), 11:15 a.m. (semifinals, 3rd round consolations), 2:30 p.m. (consolation semifinals), 4 p.m. (championship, 3rd, 5th-place matches, wrestlebacks to follow if necessary)
CLASS 5A REGION 2 (at Doherty High School)
Aurora team: Grandview; Other teams: Arvada West, Doherty, Fort Collins, Fountain-Fort Carson, George Washington, Lakewood, Legend, Liberty, Littleton, Mountain Range, Mountain Vista, Palmer, Pine Creek, Rampart, Rock Canyon
Aurora ranked wrestlers: Grandview — Tanner Patterson (15th, 106), Jaime Cardenas (18th, 132), Seth Brown (20th, 138), Jordan Brown (7th, 160), Josh Vigil-Harrison (13th, 285)
Schedule: Feb. 15 — 5 p.m. (opening round), 6:30 p.m. (quarterfinals, 1st round consolations); Feb. 16 — 9 a.m. (consolation round), 10:30 a.m. (semifinals, 3rd round consolations), 1:30 p.m. (consolation semifinals), 3 p.m. (championship matches, wrestlebacks)
CLASS 5A REGION 3 (at Loveland High School)
Aurora team: Cherokee Trail; Other teams: Bear Creek, Brighton, Centaurus, Central (G.J.), Fairview, Greeley West, Loveland, Monarch, Montbello, Northglenn, Poudre, Prairie View, Ralston Valley, Rocky Mountain, Thornton
Aurora ranked wrestlers: Cherokee Trail — Bruno Nicoletti (6th, 132), Harley Korte (9th, 152), Jalen Reyes (12th, 160), Diego Rogel (15th, 170), Trent Rogers (14th, 182), Garrett Zimmerman (12th, 285)
Schedule: Feb. 15 — 1 p.m. (opening round); 4:15 p.m. (quarterfinals, 1st round consolations); Feb. 16 — 9:30 a.m. (consolation 2nd round), 11:30 a.m. (semifinals, consolation quarterfinals), 3:30 p.m. (consolation semifinals), 5:30 p.m. (championship matches), 7 p.m. (wrestlebacks if necessary)
CLASS 5A REGION 4 (at Standley Lake High School)
Aurora teams: Aurora Central, Gateway, Hinkley, Overland; Other teams: Boulder, Chaparral, Columbine, Chaparral, Denver East, Fossil Ridge, Fruita Monument, Grand Junction, Highlands Ranch, Standley Lake, ThunderRidge, Westminster
Aurora ranked wrestlers: Aurora Central — Dan Valdez (16th, 132); Gateway — Sergio Marquez (8th, 113), Josh Butler (6th, 138), Deyaun Trueblood (9th, 145), Abdelaziz BenQadi (7th, 152); Hinkley — Max Carbajal (19th, 220); Overland — Javier Alonso (13th, 182), Amer Tipura (2nd, 220)
Schedule: Feb. 15 — 3 p.m. (opening round), 5 p.m. (quarterfinals, 1st round consolations); Feb. 16 — 9:30 a.m. (2nd round consolations), 10:45 a.m. (semifinals, 3rd round consolations), 1:30 p.m. (consolation semifinals), 2:30 p.m. (3rd, 5th-place matches), 4 p.m. (championship matches, wrestlebacks to follow if necessary)
CLASS 4A REGION 4 (at Montrose High School)
Aurora team: Vista PEAK
Other teams: Alameda, Battle Mountain, Delta, Durango, Eagle Valley, Falcon, Glenwood Springs, Montezuma Cortez, Montrose, Palisade, Pueblo Centennial, Rifle, Sierra, Steamboat Springs, Summit, Thompson Valley
Schedule: Feb. 15 — Noon (opening round), 3 p.m. (quarterfinals, 1st round consolations), 6 p.m. (2nd round consolations); Feb. 16 — 9 a.m. (semifinals, consolation quarterfinals), noon (consolation semifinals), 1 p.m. (third-, fifth-place matches), 2:30 p.m. (championship matches, wrestlebacks to follow if necessary)
FYI, Mike Howshar is making his 3rd trip to the state tournament.