Class 3A Week 1 Wrestling Report by Tyler Buhr

Class 3A Week 1 Wrestling Report

By Tyler Buhr

Wrestling season has officially kicked off and we are just a few quick months away from filing into Ball Arena for the State Championships.  The season will kick off this weekend with some solid tournaments as well as a few duals. Before we get to that, let’s take a look at the current team standings and dive into that just a little bit.

3A Team Standings

Let’s take a look at the current top 10 team standings by both CHSAA, and from On The Mat Rankings.

CHSAA (Preseason Coaches Poll)	On The Mat Rankings by Tim Yount
1.Eaton	1.Alamosa
2. Alamosa	2. Holy Family
3. Brush	3. Eaton
4. Fort Lupton	4. Mullen
5. Bennett	5. Brush
6. Mullen	6. Valley
7. Valley	7. Jefferson
8. La Junta	8. Fort Lupton
9. Jefferson	9. Bennett
10. Centauri	10. La Junta

Colorado 3A Wrestling Preseason Team Spotlights

Some familiar names up there as we would expect.  Obviously lots will change but going off what we have here lets take a quick dive into the make-up of each of these teams.

Alamosa

Strengths: Proven stars in the lower and middle weights. Senior Jeremiah DeLaCerda (state champ at 106), junior Anthony Meder (runner‑up at 113), and junior Uriah Martinez (runner‑up at 126) give Alamosa a championship core.

Outlook: If others like Pablito Rodriguez (1 away at 120) and heavyweight Aaron Jordan (qualifier at 285) step up, Alamosa could control the team race.

Eaton

Strengths: Depth and tradition. Senior Blake Hawkins (state champ at 113), senior Dylan Paris (4th at 132), and senior Ethan Deal (5th at 138) headline a balanced roster. Junior Paxton Pettinger (runner‑up at 157) adds upper‑weight scoring.

Outlook: Eaton’s mix of veterans and promising newcomers makes them a perennial contender for the crown.

Brush

Strengths: Dominant upper weights. Senior Austin Ley (state champ at 165), senior Ritchie Bruno (two‑time champ at 175), and senior Christaun Astorga (4th at 215) can rack up points.

Outlook: If lighter wrestlers like Eian Blake (state qualifier at 106) and Elias Barraza (qualifier at 126) contribute, Brush could push into the top five.

Mullen

Strengths: Star power across weights. Senior Isaak Chavez (runner‑up at 175), senior Estevan Loya (4th at 190), and junior Champion Dyes (3rd at 285) provide podium potential.

Outlook: With freshmen PJ Martinez and Dustin Alvarado joining, Mullen’s blend of veterans and youth could keep them in the title mix.

Valley

Strengths: Tradition and balance. Sophomore Xavier Garcia (1 away at 106) and senior Trenton Mestas (1 away at 126) headline, with senior Diego Manriquez (6th at 132) and junior Carlos Corral (1 away at 138) adding depth. Sophomore Rocky Hoffschneider (3rd at 165) strengthens the upper weights.

Outlook: Valley’s pedigree makes them a perennial threat to win it all.

Fort Lupton

Strengths: A mix of veterans and rising stars. Senior Josiah Gonzales (3rd at 138) and senior Donavon Buschman (1 away at 190) anchor the lineup. Freshman phenom Josiah Orozco (youth national placer) and sophomore Isaiah Rodriguez (5th at 106) add depth.

Outlook: With freshman Lorenzo Arellano (MS champ) joining, Fort Lupton could surprise in the team race.

Jefferson

Strengths: Proven leaders. Senior Isaiah Gallegos (state champ at 144) and senior Enzo Hernandez (6th at 150) headline. Veterans like Aaron Quiroz Garcia (1 away at 106) and Ricky Martinez (qualifier at 138) add balance.

Outlook: If Jefferson can push eight wrestlers downtown, they’ll be in the hunt for a podium finish.

Bennett

Strengths: Technical precision. Senior Caycen Scholz (4th at 126) and senior Daniel Jordan (state qualifier at 106) lead. Sophomore Liam Sanchez (qualifier at 113) and senior Tommy Cearns (qualifier at 150) add depth.

Outlook: With senior Ethan Jordan (5th at 157) and junior Kenneth Jordan (qualifier at 165), Bennett has enough quality to stay relevant.

La Junta

Strengths: Rising stars. Junior Jordan Gamez (state champ at 120) and senior Joe Gamez (4th at 106) headline. Senior Santos Nunez (1 away at 150) and sophomore Raif Robinson (1 away at 132) provide mid‑weight scoring.

Outlook: With junior Josia Martinez (qualifier at 175), La Junta has balance across weights and could crack the top ten.

Holy Family

Strengths: Surging talent. Senior Lorenzo Trujillo (3rd at 120), sophomore Adam Moore (6th at 138), and sophomore Jake Pounders (6th at 144) headline. Senior Fisher Reenan (1 away at 165) adds upper‑weight scoring.

Outlook: With freshman Tyler McCracken and senior Kaden McCracken (qualifier at 113), Holy Family could be a legitimate title contender.

Centauri

Strengths: Small but mighty. Junior Caden Casias (3rd at 113 in 2024) and Senior Spencer Smith (4th at 175) look to be the centerpieces.  Upper weights Dorian Quintana (qualifier at 215) and Aaden Quintana (qualifier at 190) give the Falcons strength up top.

Outlook: With junior Konnor Horton (state qualifier) and junior Aiden Knecht and freshman Noah Weyers (incoming MS champ), Centauri has enough firepower to stay competitive despite a smaller roster.

Where to watch 3A Wrestling in Week 1

A quick rundown of a few places where some 3A teams are congregating this weekend.

Buena Vista Demon Duals – Buena Vista High School

Teams attending: Bennett, Centauri, Florence, Salida

Chuck Annand Invitational – Akron High School

Teams attending: Brush, Eaton, Fort Morgan, University

Greeley West Dual Tournament – Greeley West

Teams attending: Eaton, Holy Family, Platte Valley