DENVER | Eaglecrest’s Blythe Cayko has only enhanced her profile as favorite to be a state champion through her first two matches at girls state wrestling tournament.
The dominant junior 185-pounder has made quick work of both of her opponents thus far in the first girls state tournament held at Ball Arena, as she has needed just 3 minutes, 13 seconds, to make her way into the final four.
Cayko captured a spot in Friday night’s 6:30 p.m. semifinals with a win by fall over Sorocco’s Makala Simpson in the closing seconds of the first period of their morning quarterfinal match. The victory moved Cayko to 30-0 and puts her into a semifinal against Yuma’s Mia Dishner (22-5), who has won both of her state matches by fall as well.
Cayko placed third at the same weight last season when the tournament was held in Pueblo due to the coronavirus pandemic and pinned the 2021 185-pound champion — Taylor Knox of Calhan — last week in the Region 1 championship match. A rematch could be ahead as Knox (15-2) is in the other semifinal against Vista Ridge’s Amya Norman (16-13).
The winners of the semifinal matches move into the championship round, which will be held Saturday alongside the boys finals at Ball Arena with the Parade of Champions kicking things off at 5:30 p.m. No matter what happens in the semifinals, Cayko has assured herself of a top-six place, which would be the third of her three-year varsity career.
Cayko joins Overland senior 105-pound Katelynn Czerpak in the semifinals (see story, here) among locals, while Raptors’ senior Savannah Smith made it to the 111-pound quarterfinals before losing by technical fall to Mesa Ridge’s Emma Cross, which puts her in the consolation bracket.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports