All the shuffling, positioning and strategizing is done in the prep wrestling world and all of it goes on display on the wrestling mat this weekend.
Aurora’s 11 teams spread out to three Class 5A regionals and one 4A tournament hoping to come away with as many berths in the Feb. 18-20 state tournament at the Pepsi Center as possible.
Many wrestlers have settled into new weight classes in recent weeks, hoping to put them in the best spot possible to earn a trip downtown and make a run at the medal podium. The top four wrestlers at each weight at each regional advance to state.
According to On The Mat’s Week 8 rankings, the teams headed to the 5A Region 1 tournament face the most difficult field, with a total of 63 ranked wrestlers in the field, 27 of them in the top six at their respective weights. Fifteen of those ranked wrestlers come from the Aurora teams in the field in Grandview, Hinkley, Overland and Regis Jesuit.
Coach Ryan Budd’s Centennial League champion Wolves sit No. 7 in OTM’s 5A team rankings and feature a ranked wrestler in eight of the 14 weight classes. Senior Josh Vigil-Harrison —who placed third last season — leads the way with the No. 2 ranking at 285 pounds and is aiming for a fourth state berth, as is senior Xavier Cardenas, who is one of six ranked wrestlers at 120 pounds.
Hinkley’s three returning state qualifiers — seniors Ben Rhoton (106) and Rafael Garibay (120) and junior Serj Chavez (138) — all have strong possibilities to qualify again, while Regis Jesuit’s Carl Composanto (138) and Nick Elgin (in his new 182-pound position and seeking a fourth state berth) are state veterans.
Four Aurora teams are also in the Region 4 mix and their road to the Pepsi Center travels through Grand Junction Central.
Aurora Central, Eaglecrest, Gateway and Rangeview take a combined 11 ranked wrestlers to the Western Slope with many in good position to make state.
Aurora Central senior Jonnathan Quijada is the second-highest rated 132-pounder in the field and aims for a third career trip to state. Eaglecrest’s Anthony Malone (220) and Gateway’s Jordon White (138) also seek state returns.
Cherokee Trail and Smoky Hill travel to 5A Region 2 at Doherty and the 5A sixth-ranked Cougars hope to come away with their largest contingent of state qualifiers, which would be eight or more.
Bolstered by the return from injury of 160-pound senior Michael Thelen, coach Jeff Buck’s Cherokee Trail team is loaded up top — Seth Bogulski is No. 1 at 170 pounds, Ezequiel Silva is No. 2 at 182 and Max Gonzales is No. 2 at 220 pounds — while they could also come through in several wide open weights in the middle.
Vista PEAK plays host to 4A Region 3 and hopes the home mat advantage can lead to its largest contingent of state qualifiers.
The Bison would need to get more than two in to set that mark and the pair that produced it last season — Marcus Guerra and Dilan Esparza — both return. Guerra (the Colorado 7 champion at 138 pounds), Esparza (113) and Tristan Curtis (No. 7 at 120) all carry ranked spots into the meet.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
