The “Fist” hopes to do some damage at the Class 5A state wrestling tournament.
That moniker refers to the five Rangeview wrestlers that earned coveted spots in the season-ending Feb. 20-22 tournament at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Veteran Raiders coach Tim Corby has never taken that many wrestlers to the state tournament at one time, but he will this season in juniors Sam Maes and Dominic Wenger, sophomore Kipp Corby and freshmen Max Gonzales and Deron Solomon.
“I think it’s really going to help for them to go as a group,” Corby said of his fivesome, all of whom will make their state debuts.
“It’s going to be really overwhelming, but I think it’s great to get this opportunity for the freshmen and sophomore to use this experience to get seasoning and set goals higher for next year.”
The significant achievements for Rangeview start with the fact that Maes, a 152-pounder, became the first wrestler from the school to make a regional championship match since Matthew Bomareto way back in 2005. Bomareto is also the last freshman Corby had qualify for state (back in 2002), but he has two going this season in Solomon at 138 pounds and Gonzales at 195 pounds.
They have wide-ranging goals — Maes hopes to place in the top four, Gonzales and Solomon hope to make their way onto the medal podium, Wenger looks to get a takedown in his first match and Kipp Corby to pull at least one upset in the 132-pound bracket — but they are glad they get to experience it all together.
“When one of us does well, it definitely riles the rest of us up,” Wenger said.
Added Maes: “It’s pretty exciting for all of us to get there. Maybe next year, we can help even more of our team get to Pepsi Center.”
Corby will be running around the Pepsi Center mats like crazy keeping up with his wrestlers’ matches, but so will Regis Jesuit’s Rick Schultz, who has six qualifiers in the state field in his first season as head coach.
At the 5A Region 3 tournament in Fort Collins, Schultz’s team had a pair of regional champions in undefeated senior 220-pounder Grant Neal and junior 145-pounder Logan Ronan, the only city regional champions other than Region 1 220-pound winner Dexter Bess of Smoky Hill.
The dominating Neal is a returning 5A state champion, while junior Donovan Ronan (132) and sophomore Nick Elgin (195) earned a return to state and freshmen Carl Composanto (120) and Trenton Schultz (160) make their debuts.
Eaglecrest is next up with four state qualifiers, even with two-time qualifier Trevon Beauford unable to advance out of Region 4 due to injry. The Raptors’ state contingent is made up of juniors Jake Dugan (132), Dominique Evans (138) and Aldin Puris (160), along with sophomore Anthony Malone (220).
Grandview’s foursome of state qualifiers from Region 2 shrunk to three when coach Greg Maestas had to scratch junior 138-pounder Seth Brown because of an injury, but two of the three — sophomores Xavier Cardenas (120) and Josh Vigil (285) — have state experience.Vigil placed a year ago.
Smoky Hill’s heavy senior trio of Bess — a favorite on his side of the bracket to make the 220-pound title match — Demarcus Curtis (195) and Josiah Neumann (182) is potent, as is Hinkley’s group of seniors Max Carbajal (another contender at 220 pounds) and Tyler Manual (285), plus freshman Serj Chavez at 132 pounds.
Cherokee Trail came away with just two state berths from Region 1 on its home mats, but both 106-pound junior Danny Constant and senior Harley Korte at 160 pounds stand good chances to place, as Korte did last year. Aurora Central also has a pair of qualifiers in sophomore Jonnathan Quijada (126) and senior Abe Bereras (138).
Among individual qualifiers, Gateway sophomore Deyaun Trueblood — a Region 4 runner-up is a bonafied 152-pound title contender, while Vista PEAK senior Junior Casillas has a third chance to place at state in the 4A 120-pound ranks.
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
2014 CLASS 5A STATE WRESTLING BRACKETS
106 pounds: Upper bracket — Tomas Gutierrez, soph., Pomona (39-0) vs. Jacob Espinosa, soph., Lincoln (31-6); Owen Lamb, soph., Poudre (38-8) vs. A.J. FEDERICO, FR., GRANDVIEW (29-11); Josh Finesilver, soph., Cherry Creek (35-12) vs. Gerimie Meier, fr., Castle View (21-11); Robert Burger, soph., Northglenn (33-9) vs. Tony Balderas, sr., Brighton (29-7); Lower bracket — Jordan Martinez, fr., Pine Creek (39-7) vs. Stephen Ikeler, soph., Fort Collins (23-1); Hunter Matney, fr., Ponderosa (30-12) vs. Cody Fatzinger, fr., Arvada West (34-6); DANNY CONSTANT, JR., CHEROKEE TRAIL (35-3) vs. Louie Romero, fr., Mountain Range (41-4); Tanner Mooney, jr., Douglas County (38-7) vs. Fabian Gutierrez, soph., Adams City (41-3)
113 pounds: Upper bracket — Ryan Deakin, soph., Legacy (41-0) vs. DOMINIC WENGER, JR., RANGEVIEW (25-12); Jonathan Garcia, jr., Doherty (22-11) vs. Anthony Cortez, sr., Arvada West (18-4); Jack Bullock, jr., (Douglas County) vs. Riley Garner-Orr, fr., Central G.J. (32-7); Nick Noonan, sr., Poudre (32-12) vs. Hayden Karren, sr., Ponderosa (27-10); Lower bracket — Jostyn Owens-Hailey, jr., Palmer (27-5) vs. Jared Garcia, jr., Brighton (22-10); Wendell Berry, soph., Thornton (29-13) vs. Matt Finesilver, soph., Cherry Creek (40-6); Rocky Nava, jr., Northglenn (30-6) vs. Aaron Beltran, sr., Horizon (30-6); Cody Lacy, soph., Grand Junction (31-11) vs. Frank Martinez, jr., Chaparral (40-4)
120 pounds: Upper bracket — Josh Rosales, sr., Pomona (40-3) vs. Logan Hammermeister, jr., Doherty (23-16); Timmy Romero, jr., Mountain Range (31-14) vs. Josiah Vigil, jr., Adams City (35-10); Maya Nelson, jr., Denver East (28-10) vs. CARL COMPOSANTO, FR., REGIS JESUIT (30-12); Keynan Davis, jr., Prairie View (34-15) vs. Juan Rodriguez, fr., Pine Creek (34-9); Lower bracket — Jaysen Yakobson, sr., Bear Creek (35-4) vs. Josh Boulton, fr., Fort Collins (24-12); Kohlby Wells, jr., Grand Junction (24-9) vs. Isaac Dinette, soph., Lakewood (26-10); XAVIER CARDENAS, SOPH., GRANDVIEW (27-5) vs. Maurisio Garcia, jr., Northglenn (32-3); Seth Sanchez, fr., Lincoln (16-6) vs. Jackson Huffman, soph., Horizon (32-0)
126 pounds: Upper bracket — Mitch Finesilver, sr., Cherry Creek (43-1) vs. Dawson Cranmer, soph., Chaparral (35-13); Michael Garcia, jr., Northglenn (33-8) vs. Nathan Gonzales, sr., Doherty (36-4); Brandon Madril, sr., Pomona (33-10) vs. John Daniel, jr., Arapahoe (29-4); Tony Deaguero, soph., Adams City (31-15) vs. Raymond Baca, jr., Brighton (33-9); Lower bracket — Kade Snider, jr., Ponderosa (35-7) vs. Ian Konrad, sr., Fruita Monument (37-8); Zack Martinez, soph., Mountain Range (33-11) vs. Dylan West, jr., Greeley West (30-5); Nico Martinez, sr., Denver East (24-11) vs. Dominic Alvarez, sr., Fort Collins (20-7); JONNATHAN QUIJADA, SOPH., AURORA CENTRAL (22-11) vs. Jess Hankin, jr., Coronado (41-4)
132 pounds: Upper bracket — P.T. Garcia, sr., Bear Creek (38-0) vs. Grady Brewster, jr., Liberty (30-20); AJ Curtis, jr., Cherry Creek (32-13) vs. Bradley Lehmann, soph., Prairie View (33-7); SERJ CHAVEZ, FR., HINKLEY (31-7) vs. Jason Romero, fr., Pomona (28-13); JAKE DUGAN, JR., EAGLECREST (26-11) vs. Chase Frye, sr., Pine Creek (27-12); Lower bracket — Devin House, sr., Ponderosa (19-6) vs. DONOVAN RONAN, JR., REGIS JESUIT (40-7); JT Stancil, sr., Chaparral (37-5) vs. Alex Bezugly, soph., ThunderRidge (20-16); Bennie Pachello, jr., Arvada West (32-7) vs. Ty Mervin, sr., Legend (36-12); KIPP CORBY, SOPH., RANGEVIEW (30-15) vs. Adrian DelaCruz, sr., Greeley West (37-5)
138 pounds: Upper bracket — Zach Finesilver, sr., Cherry Creek (43-3) vs. Jared Seely, soph., Fruita Monument (20-10); DOMINIQUE EVANS, JR., EAGLECREST (28-11) vs. ABRAHAM BERERAS, SR., AURORA CENTRAL (30-12); Dylan Wood, soph., Ralston Valley (31-9) vs. Corelio Rothgeb, jr., Fountain-Fort Carson (22-14); Emilio Rubio, sr., Greeley West (26-14) vs. Dakota Colonese, jr., Pine Creek (35-9); Lower bracket — Joseph Huber, jr., Ponderosa (20-6) vs. Dominic Dincola, sr., Bear Creek (19-9); Melvin Gutierrez, sr., Fairview (29-10) vs. Isaac Rider, jr., Grand Junction (18-4); Danny Murphy, jr., Rocky Mountain (33-3) vs. Tyler Zunich, jr., Coronado (14-8); DERON SOLOMON, FR., RANGEVIEW (20-17) vs. Jimmy Rothwell, jr., Arvada West (9-0)
145 pounds: Upper bracket — Payton Tawater, jr., Arvada West (32-5) vs. Chris Cos, sr., Pine Creek (38-10); Adam Otterson, sr., Legacy (24-13) vs. Luis Bejerano, sr., Prairie View (36-7); Jozef McClure, jr., Adams City (38-7) vs. Jared Todd, soph., Heritage (33-6); Payton Killion, sr., Fossil Ridge (25-12) vs. Robert Gambrell, jr., Douglas County (38-7); Lower bracket: LOGAN RONAN, JR., REGIS JESUIT (44-4) vs. Josh Wininger, soph. Fountain-Fort Carson (25-18); Louis Guillen, sr., Grand Junction (43-7) vs. Seth Rosales, jr., Lincoln (40-3); Chase McElhany, soph., Coronado (29-17) vs. Camden Roach, soph., Chaparral (36-10); Hunter Lucas, sr., Horizon (21-9) vs. Torry Williams, sr., Ponderosa (17-6)
152 pounds: Upper bracket — Roman Ortiz, jr., Rocky Mountain (35-0) vs. Kaden Fife, sr., Fruita Monument (37-11); Aaron Trygstad, soph., Chaparral (32-9) vs. SAM MAES, JR., RANGEVIEW (31-9); DEYAUN TRUEBLOOD, SOPH., GATEWAY (35-3) vs. Cameron Gonzales, fr., Pomona (28-13); Ryan Robb, sr., Cherry Creek (19-14) vs. Grady Pina, sr., Coronado (32-10); Lower bracket — Taylor Bergquist, jr., Arvada West (29-5) vs. Tyler Turco, jr., Ponderosa (22-17); Diego Garcia, sr., Arapahoe (28-6) vs. Martin Selby, jr., Boulder (34-7); Idan Peek, soph., Pine Creek (16-8) vs. Matthew Emerson, sr., Horizon (37-7); Patrick Romero, jr., Mountain Range (34-11) vs. Rashawn Benford, sr., Fountain-Fort Carson (34-4)
160 pounds: Upper bracket — Jacob Trujillo, jr., Grand Junction (24-1) vs. ALDIN PURIS, JR., EAGLECREST (28-14); Karl Breidenbach, sr., Columbine (35-3) vs. Konnor Schmidt, jr., Rocky Mountain (24-10); HARLEY KORTE, SR., CHEROKEE TRAIL (38-4) vs. TRENTON SCHULTZ, FR., REGIS JESUIT (38-9); Dylan Dashner, jr., Pine Creek (30-13) vs. Darion Thomas-Trujillo, sr., Arvada West (25-12); Lower bracket — Brandon Dunnum, sr., Fort Collins (25-1) vs. Jason Miller, sr., Fountain-Fort Carson (29-17); Jimmy Weaver, fr., Coronado (37-5) vs. Giovanni Torres, sr., Montbello (23-1); Brandon Supernaw, sr., Doherty (37-7) vs. Jacob Tarr, sr., Chaparral (13-4); Jimmy Preciado, jr., Loveland (23-11) vs. Kelton Good, sr., Ponderosa (12-1)
170 pounds: Upper bracket — Tony Silva-Bussey, sr., Arvada West (33-5) vs. Josh Burns, jr., Liberty (34-18); Brayden Hubbard, sr., Poudre (29-13) vs. Alex Munoz, sr., Prairie View (34-12); Alex Klaer, sr., Rocky Mountain (29-9) vs. Joshua Cordova, soph., Thornton (32-8); John Olaka, jr., Geo. Washington (26-6) vs. Kaleb Geiger, sr., Castle View (34-5); Lower bracket — Dylan Formby, sr., Monarch (24-3) vs. Nicolas Rivera, sr., Adams City (25-8); Richard Davis, sr., Rock Canyon (24-10) vs. Isaac Ortiz, sr., Pine Creek (20-7); Khyre Burns, sr., Denver East (31-7) vs. Luke Engler, jr., Douglas County (26-15); Tanner Olson, jr., Ponderosa (26-13) vs. Mason Harms, sr., Cherry Creek (38-4)
182 pounds: Upper bracket — Dylan Gabel, sr., Ponderosa (40-2) vs. Jacob Thomas, jr., Westmisnter (32-12); Hunter Pasternack, sr., Cherry Creek (30-11) vs. Ty Taylor, jr., Fruita Monument (33-10); Cito Balsells, sr., Fairview (27-13) vs. Hudsen Marker, jr., Castle View (26-10); JOSIAH NEUMANN, SR., SMOKY HILL (31-19) vs. Dalton Wadkins, jr., Brighton (17-4); Lower bracket — Forrest Lalaguna, soph., Centaurus (28-6) vs. Geoffrey Curtis, sr., Pine Creek (31-9); Tyler Lewis, jr., Arvada West (19-10) vs. Wilson George, sr., Chatfield (27-6); Hayden Starr, sr., Chaparral (21-9) vs. Cody Driver, sr., Fountain-Fort Carson (31-7); Dan Williams, sr., Rocky Mountain (21-9) vs. Jaylen Mosqueira, sr., Arapahoe (31-2)
195 pounds: Upper bracket — Payton Tapia, sr., Fossil Ridge (34-2) vs. NICK ELGIN, SOPH., REGIS JESUIT (9-6); Matthew Stanley, jr., ThunderRidge (32-9) vs. DEMARCUS CURTIS, SR., SMOKY HILL (38-8); Kaid Beziou, sr., Liberty (38-9) vs. MAX GONZALES, FR., RANGEVIEW (22-10); Rowdy Allen, jr., Central G.J. (25-13) vs. Luis Perez, sr., Rocky Mountain (28-8); Lower bracket — Dylan Seeman, sr., Chatfield (32-2) vs. Ryan Bollar, sr., Pine Creek (12-7); Rocky Michaelson, jr., Ralston Valley (36-9) vs. Braden Pape, sr., Monarch (31-9); Devin Rothrock, jr., Arvada West (21-2) vs. Tyler Gallegos, jr., Adams City (25-8); Brett Erklenz, sr., Ponderosa (21-16) vs. Jacob Seely, fr., Fruita Monument (42-0)
220 pounds: Upper bracket — GRANT NEAL, SR. REGIS JESUIT (35-0) vs. Zach Summers, jr., Douglas County (19-16); Adail Froome, sr., Arvada West (12-8) vs. Daniel Chavez, jr., Pomona (27-9); Kody Kleman, sr., Mountain Range (29-14) vs. Kadim Phillip, sr., Fountain Fort-Carson (13-9); Michael Steele, jr., Centaurus (23-17) vs. Tyler Zook, jr., Grand Junction (32-8); Lower bracket — Matthew Young, sr., Fossil Ridge (33-8) vs. Cruz De Lara, jr., Northglenn (28-15); Taylor White, jr., Pine Creek (33-9) vs. MAX CARBAJAL, SR., HINKLEY (35-3); Ryan Strabala, soph., Coronado (30-15) vs. Dan Macoubrie, sr., Rocky Mountain (27-7); ANTHONY MALONE, SOPH., EAGLECREST (20-9) vs. DEXTER BESS, SR., SMOKY HILL (42-3)
285 pounds: Upper bracket — Jorge Rodriguez, sr., Mountain Range (40-1) vs. TYLER MANUAL, SR., HINKLEY (14-17); Joe Hunt, sr., Coronado (28-5) vs. Jacob Schoenberger, sr., Fountain-Fort Carson (19-6); JOSH VIGIL, SOPH., GRANDVIEW (38-6) vs. Dorean Gonzales, sr., Lakewood (26-8); Sam Jackson, sr., Brighton (32-11) vs. Clayton Morgan, sr., Rocky Mountain (11-6); Lower bracket — Mitchell Chism, sr., Pomona (28-9) vs. Blake Jacobs, sr., ThunderRidge (27-11); Jerell Nettles, jr., Montbello (24-3) vs. Logan Lyons, sr., Legacy (25-12); Dane Drimmer, jr., Chaparral (37-5) vs. Ian Scott, soph., Monarch (28-14); Anthony Gibson, jr., Columbine (21-10) vs. Adam Tate, sr., Douglas County (31-9)
2014 CLASS 4A STATE WRESTLING BRACKET
120 pounds: Upper bracket — Jon Lewis, sr., Windsor (37-2) vs. Tom Hancock, jr. WOPA (29-7); Matthew Lavengood, jr. Durango (29-7) vs. Trevor Wilch, jr., LEPA (37-12); Chris Sandoval, fr., Pueblo Co. (33-2) vs. Donald Sisneros, sr., Mullen (26-8); Tylar Francis, sr., Roosevelt (22-12) vs. Aaron Carrera, sr., Pueblo East (36-6); Lower bracket — Gavril Houston, sr., Elizabeth (37-4) vs. Hayes McCracken, sr., Delta (24-9); Sage D’Ambrosia, sr., Thompson Valley (33-11) vs. Davis Baxter, sr., Pueblo South (30-13); Juan Lopez, sr., NORT, sr. vs. Samuel Freeman, soph., ME (35-6); JESUS CASILLAS, SR., VISTA PEAK (35-7) vs. Sam Turner, soph., Discovery Canyon (35-2)
