Class 3A State Wrestling Championships Review
By Tyler Buhr
Eaton arrived with expectations, left with a trophy, and in between delivered the kind of complete team performance that defines a championship program. With three individual titles and a lineup that scored in wave after wave, the Reds controlled the 3A tournament from the opening whistle. Their middle‑weight core, Blake Hawkins at 120, freshman phenom Parker Wickam at 132, and grinder‑technician Paxton Pettinger at 165 did more than win titles, they set the tone for a roster that refused to give up ground in any round, piling up semifinal wins, bonus points, and clutch consolations that kept Eaton comfortably ahead of the field.
Alamosa made Eaton earn it. The Mean Moose opened finals night with a jolt when senior Jeremiah Delacerda took command of the 106 bracket, and the energy only grew when Uriah Martinez survived a high‑paced, high‑pressure final at 138—one of the best matches of the day. Add in podium finishes from Pablito Rodriguez and Daniel Martinez, and Alamosa built the kind of top‑end scoring that usually keeps a team in the title conversation. But every time the Moose surged, Eaton answered with another finalist or a bonus‑point win, and the gap slowly widened.
The most dramatic storyline unfolded in the race for third, where Fort Lupton and Mullen spent the entire weekend separated by inches. Fort Lupton leaned heavily on its lower‑weight finalists, Josiah Orozco at 113, Isaiah Rodriguez at 120, and Josiah Gonzales at 138 each of whom wrestled deep into championship Saturday. Mullen countered with power in the upper weights, highlighted by Isaak Chavez’s commanding title at 175 and a pair of runner‑up finishes from Estevan Loya (190) and Champion Dyes (285). In the end, the difference between the two programs was a single match swing, the kind of razor‑thin margin that defines the middle of a state‑caliber bracket.
Jefferson and La Junta rounded out the top tier with performances that blended grit and star power. Jefferson’s senior leader, Isaiah Gallegos, delivered one of the most dominant finals of the tournament at 150, while the Saints added three more top‑four placers to secure a top‑five finish. La Junta rode the Gamez brothers—Joseph at 113 and Jordan at 126—who combined for a title and a runner‑up finish, giving the Tigers the spark they needed to stay in the hunt.
Behind them, Valley, The Classical Academy, and Bennett formed a deep and competitive middle tier. Valley’s balanced lineup produced placers at 138, 150, and 175, while TCA’s Jackson Schipfer and heavyweight Hayden Kenney delivered podium finishes that kept the Titans in the top ten. Bennett’s mix of finalists and gritty consolations—especially from Caycen Scholz at 132 and Tommy Cearns at 157—rounded out a strong showing for the Tigers.
The tournament also showcased standout individual performances from programs outside the top ten. Salida’s undefeated senior Samuel Johnson (52–0) controlled the 157 bracket with the poise of a wrestler who expects to win every time he steps on the mat. Brush’s Ritchie Bruno powered through the 190 field with a veteran’s confidence. Berthoud’s Donavon Farrell pinned his way to a 215 title, and Resurrection Christian’s unbeaten heavyweight, Samuel Stockton, closed the tournament with a commanding finals fall to cap a 35–0 season.
What made this tournament memorable wasn’t just the dominance at the top—it was the depth, the parity, and the number of programs that produced signature moments. From freshman breakthroughs to undefeated seasons, from razor‑thin team battles to heavyweight fireworks, the 3A field delivered a full weekend.
Final Team Scores
| Place | Team | Score |
| 1 | Eaton | 149.0 |
| 2 | Alamosa | 119.5 |
| 3 | Fort Lupton | 100.0 |
| 4 | Mullen | 98.5 |
| 5 | Jefferson | 82.0 |
| 6 | La Junta | 81.0 |
| 7 | Valley | 75.5 |
| 8 | Classical Academy | 72.0 |
| 9 | Bennett | 69.0 |
| 10 | Gunnison | 61.0 |
| 11 | Holy Family | 59.5 |
| 12 | Weld Central | 57.5 |
| 13 | Fort Morgan | 55.5 |
| 14 | Platte Valley | 50.5 |
| 15 | Brush | 47.5 |
| 16 | Salida | 47.5 |
| 17 | Alameda | 44.0 |
| 18 | Delta | 44.0 |
| 19 | Berthoud | 43.0 |
| 20 | Resurrection Christian | 40.0 |
| 21 | Wellington | 36.5 |
| 22 | Centauri | 31.0 |
| 23 | SkyView | 29.5 |
| 24 | Pagosa Springs | 27.5 |
| 25 | Pueblo Centennial | 27.0 |
Placers by Team (Top 15 Teams)
1. Eaton — 149.0
- 1st: 120 Blake Hawkins, 132 Parker Wickam, 165 Paxton Pettinger
- 3rd: 113 Braxton Smith, 144 Dylan Paris
- 5th: 138 Ethan Deal
2. Alamosa — 119.5
- 1st: 106 Jeremiah Delacerda, 138 Uriah Martinez
- 3rd: 132 Pablito Rodriguez
- 5th: 144 Daniel Martinez, 120 Anthony Meder
- 6th: 150 Tony Griego
3. Fort Lupton — 100.0
- 2nd: 113 Josiah Orozco, 120 Isaiah Rodriguez, 138 Josiah Gonzales
- 4th: 190 Donavon Buschman
4. Mullen — 98.5
- 1st: 175 Isaak Chavez
- 2nd: 190 Estevan Loya, 285 Champion Dyes
- 4th: 106 Dustin Alvarado
5. Jefferson — 82.0
- 1st: 150 Isaiah Gallegos
- 4th: 126 Isaac Quiroz Garcia, 138 Ricky Martinez, 144 Enzo Hernandez
6. La Junta — 81.0
- 1st: 113 Joseph Gamez
- 2nd: 126 Jordan Gamez, 150 Santos Nunez
7. Valley — 75.5
- 3rd: 138 Diego Manriquez, 150 Carlos Corral
- 5th: 132 Trenton Mestas
- 2nd: 175 Rocky Hoffschneider
8. The Classical Academy — 72.0
- 3rd: 175 Jackson Schipfer
- 3rd: 285 Hayden Kenney
- 6th: 132 Nathaniel Perkins
- 2nd: 215 Andrew Richins
9. Bennett — 69.0
- 2nd: 132 Caycen Scholz
- 5th: 150 Ethan Jordan
- 4th: 157 Tommy Cearns
- 4th: 165 Kenneth Jordan
10. Gunnison — 61.0
- 1st: 144 Zach Benson
- 3rd: 106 Zayne Benson
- 6th: 138 Julian Patrick
11. Holy Family — 59.5
- 6th: 106 Nester Pino
- 4th: 113 Tyler McCracken
- 3rd: 157 Adam Moore
12. Weld Central — 57.5
- 5th: 126 Cooper Howell
- 3rd: 165 William Ellerman
- 4th: 150 Gavin Kitzman
13. Fort Morgan — 55.5
- 6th: 113 Ulysses Montes
- 4th: 285 Mael Zannou
- 6th: 165 Ben Fritzler
14. Platte Valley — 50.5
- 2nd: 144 Logan Vannest
- 3rd: 190 Jason Harrison
- 6th: 157 Miguel Contreras
15. Brush — 47.5
- 1st: 190 Ritchie Bruno
- 2nd: 165 Austin Ley
MileHigh Prep Report 