The wrestling room Max Gonzales prepares in is different this season, but his goals remain unchanged: win a state championship.
The third-place finisher at 220 pounds at last season’s Class 5A state wrestling tournament, Gonzales transferred from Rangeview to Cherokee Trail and found an environment conducive to helping him reach his goals.
Gonzales comes into the season ranked No. 2 in 5A at 220 pounds by on On The Mat and rightfully so as he finished 42-5 a year ago and comes in stronger and more experienced as a junior.
“My goal this year is to take a step up from being top three to being state champion,” Gonzales said. “It’s been a big change (being at Cherokee Trail), but at the same time it’s still wrestling and you have teammates that want to work hard and push each other.”
Aspirations are high as a team at Cherokee Trail, as coach Jeff Buck’s team comes into the season ranked No. 9 in 5A.
In addition to Gonzales, who is rated only behind Ponderosa freshman Cohltin Schultz at 220 pounds, the Cougars return state qualifiers in senior Seth Bogulski — 35-10 last season and ranked No. 2 at 170 pounds — junior Ezequiel Silva (39-10 last season at 170 — including 2-2 at state — now ranked No. 4 at 182) and senior Michael Thelen (who the team hopes to have back later in the season as he recovers from a football injury) and have experience in other places in the lineup.
Adding newcomers such as freshman David Rivera — a middle school standout and preseason No. 14 at 126 pounds — the Cougars appear equipped to do damage this season in the Centennial League as well as at the state level.
The most state qualifiers Buck has had in the program in a single season is seven and he believes his team has the potential to reach double figures or even take the whole team this season.
A total of 16 5A and 4A state qualifiers return across Aurora —plus some who have made it previously, but not last season — so the Pepsi Center mats could again be jammed with locals at this season’s state tournament Feb. 18-20.
Coach Ryan Budd has three state qualifiers back in the room at Grandview, led by senior heavyweight Josh Vigil-Harrison, who placed third last season and comes into the new year justifiably ranked No. 1. Vigil-Harrison stopped playing football and put on significant weight, though not the expense of his quickness.
Senior Xavier Cardenas — a three-time state qualifier and ranked No. 9 at 120 pounds after a 31-8 season a year ago — and junior Armando Santillan (8th at 132 pounds) also return to help mold a Wolves team with a lot of young and underappreciated talent.
Junior Tyler Ross (No. 8 at 160 pounds), sophomore Giovanni Federico (No. 9 at 106 pounds) and senior Ben Ehrhard (No. 12 at 126 pounds) also received preseason rankings from On The Mat for Grandview.
Hinkley also returns three state qualifiers in seniors Ben Rhoton and Rafael Garibay, as well as junior Serj Chavez. Each of the Thunderbird’s “Three Amigos” has goals of using everything they’ve learned to return to state and earn a spot on the medal podium.
Garibay finished 2-2 in his debut at the state tournament last season and came just a win shy of placing and garnered a 37-13 overall record, while Rhoton finished 33-11 and feels ready to flourish with increased strength and experience at 106 pounds. Chavez (36-7 last season, 1-2 at state) had a fantastic offseason wrestling at national meets and is focused on a third straight trip to the state tournament.
Regis Jesuit graduated key figures in brothers Donovan and Logan Ronan (a two-time top four state placer), but gets back state veterans in senior Nick Elgin and junior Carl Composanto. Each has earned multiple trips to the Pepsi Center.
Aurora Central graduated its lone placer in Juan Fraire, but coach Conrad Parra returns state-experienced seniors Axel Pacheco (18-14 last season) and Jonnathan Quijada (31-11 last season). Quincy Moreno (126 pounds), Jose Millan (152) and Guido Umogwaneza (132) — all seniors — offer the Trojans more state potential this season.
Coach David Benedict’s Vista PEAK program, emerging in 4A, also has two Pepsi Center-experienced wrestlers in senior Marcus Guerra and junior Dilan Esparza. Guerra finished 1-2 in his state debut last season and posted a 30-9 overall record, while Esparza went 0-2, but had a positive 25-15 season he can build upon.
Eaglecrest (Anthony Malone) and Gateway (Jordon White, 18-14 last season) give their programs a state qualifier in the room and both are under new coaches in Javier Quintana and David Larson, respectively.
Coach Tim Corby’s Rangeview team also has two state-experienced wrestlers senior Kipp Corby and junior Deron Solomon, who both made it in the 2013-14 season, but didn’t qualify last season. Senior Nicholas Sanchez-Jans returns from injury to further bolster the Raiders, who are experienced in quite a few places.
Overland has a new coach in Cameron Seeger, who takes over for longtime boss Bert Dalton, and at least one potential state qualifier in junior Sean Kelly. Holdover Mikkel Knight and move-in Brandon Gustafson also looks to be strong for the Trailblazers.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2015-16 AURORA WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Returning Aurora Class 5A state placers: Max Gonzales, Cherokee Trail, jr. (3rd place at 220 pounds); Josh Vigil-Harrison, Grandview, sr. (3rd place at 285 pounds)
Returning Aurora 5A/4A state qualifiers: Seth Bogulski, Cherokee Trail, sr. (160 pounds, now at 170); Xavier Cardenas, Grandview, sr. (126 pounds, now 120); Serj Chavez, Hinkley, jr. (145 pounds, now 138); Carl Composanto, Regis Jesuit, jr. (138 pounds, now 145); Nick Elgin, Regis Jesuit, sr. (195 pounds); Dilan Esparza, Vista PEAK, jr. (106 pounds); Rafael Garibay, Hinkley, sr. (120 pounds, now at 126); Marcus Guerra, Vista PEAK, sr. (132 pounds, now 138); Anthony Malone, Eaglecrest, sr. (285 pounds); Axel Pacheco, Aurora Central, sr. (106 pounds); Jonnathan Quijada, Aurora Central, sr. (132 pounds, now 138); Ben Rhoton, Hinkley, sr. (106 pounds); Armando Santillan, Grandview, jr. (132 pounds); Zeke Silva, Cherokee Trail, jr. (170 pounds, now at 182); Michael Thelen, Cherokee Trail, sr. (152 pounds, injured to open season); Jordon White, Gateway, sr. (126 pounds, now 138)
Other Aurora wrestlers to watch: Kipp Corby, Rangeview, sr. (138 pounds); Tristan Curtis, Vista PEAK, soph. (120 pounds); Ben Ehrhard, Grandview, sr. (126 pounds); Giovanni Federico, Grandview, soph. (106 pounds); Brandon Gustafson, Overland, soph. (145 pounds); Jayden Jackson, Cherokee Trail, sr. (195 pounds); Elijah Kelly, Gateway, sr. (182 pounds); Sean Kelly, Overland, jr. (132 pounds); Mikkel Knight, Overland, sr. (138 pounds); Cassandra Ledger, Hinkley, sr. (132 pounds); Jose Millan, Aurora Central, sr. (152 pounds); Quincy Moreno, Aurora Central, sr. (126 pounds); David Nuttall, Rangeview, jr., (106 pounds); Charles Reigies, Gateway, sr. (170 pounds); Alec Rivera, Eaglecrest, soph. (126 pounds); David Rivera, Cherokee Trail, fr. (126 pounds); Gabe Rodriguez, Eaglecrest, sr. (152 pounds); Tyler Ross, Grandview, jr. (160 pounds); John Salazar, Vista PEAK, sr. (170 pounds); Nicolas Sanchez-Jans, Rangeview, sr. (120 pounds); Fabian Santillan, Grandview, fr. (113-120 pounds); Jayden Smith, Vista PEAK, soph. (170 pounds); Deron Solomon, Rangeview, jr. (145 pounds); Guido Umogwaneza, Aurora Central, sr. (132 pounds)
