This wrestling season has been unlike any other for Junior Casillas has experienced at Vista PEAK and he hopes the differences continue to multiply.
For the past two seasons, Casillas has made the trip to the state wrestling tournament at the Pepsi Center — alone — representing the fledgling Bison in the Class 3A tournament in 2012 and 4A last season, both times at 106 pounds.
Now up to 120 pounds as a senior, and currently ranked No. 12 in 4A by On the Mat, Casillas is optimistic that Vista PEAK will reach its goal of three or more state qualifiers coming out of the Feb. 14-15 4A Region 1 tournament at Broomfield High School.
“The team has gone to support me (at state), but I’m confident I won’t be alone this time,” said Casillas, who is 31-5. “I’ve seen the talent grow and I wouldn’t be at the level I’m at without them.”
New Vista PEAK coach David Benedict — a former Smoky Hill assistant — started a three-days-a-week morning conditioning program the team hadn’t had before and has seen plenty of development mentally and physically in the room this season.
The gains became tangible on Jan. 29, when the Bison won the first varsity dual meet in program history with a 36-29 decision over Kennedy.
Sophomore 126-pounder Marcus Guerra — who placed fifth at regionals last season — senior Jonathan Harrison (152) and sophomore John Salazar (160) each have shown glimpses. Guerra (17-6) and Harrison (15-13) have the only other winning records besides Casillas going into regionals.
“Anybody can qualify for state, it just takes the right draw and the right timing in the right match,” Benedict said.
Consistency has eluded many of the Bison, but not Casillas, who has been outstanding for the entire season at his new weight. He says he’s comfortable at 120 pounds from a strength standpoint — plus he can “eat the world” — though he aimed to be at 113.
Casillas lost to Elizabeth’s Gavril Houston — ranked No. 4 in 4A — 8-2 Colorado 7 Championship final Feb. 8, but the rest of his defeats came to 5A wrestlers, including No. 2 Maurisio Garcia of Northglenn and No. 4 Jackson Huffman of Horizon.
Casillas could get another shot at Houston in the championship match of the Region 1 tournament, though he also has fifth-ranked Trevor Wilch of Lewis-Palmer on his side of the bracket.
He just wants to make sure he gets back to the state tournament where he can put the lessons learned from the past trips into practice.
“I’m just training like it’s my last day; I want to make sure I have no regrets,” Casillas said.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
AURORA CLASS 4A WRESTLING REGIONAL
METRO (REGION 1 at Broomfield High School)
Aurora team: Vista PEAK; Other teams: Broomfield, Mead, Air Academy, Alameda, Arvada, Conifer, Elizabeth, Evergreen, Golden, Green Mountain, Kennedy, Lewis Palmer, Mullen, Niwot, Palmer Ridge, Valor Christian
Schedule (all times approximate): Feb. 14 — 3 p.m.: First round and consolation; Feb. 15 — 9 a.m.: Consolations begin; 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.: Consolation and Championship semifinals; 2:30-3:30 p.m.: 3rd and 5th place matches; 4:30 p.m.: Parade of Champions, championship matches (wrestlebacks to follow if necessary)
Vista PEAK wrestlers: 106 pounds — Dillon Esparza, fr. (12-12); 113 pounds — Ryan Seals, jr. (8-7); 120 pounds — Junior Casillas, sr. (31-5); 126 pounds: Marcus Guerra, soph. (17-6); 132 pounds: Brett Paul, soph. (4-14); 138 pounds: Andrew Yarbrough, fr. (4-13); 152 pounds: Jonathan Harrison, sr. (15-13); 160 pounds: John Salazar, soph. (6-14); 182 pounds: Matthew Lane, soph. (3-12)
