Valley makes wrestling history by winning 3A team title
DENVER — The town of Gilcrest located on Highway 85 can be called “Valley of the Class 3A state wrestling champions.”
The Valley Vikings claimed the first team wrestling title in school history Saturday night at Pepsi Center.
“It probably won’t hit anyone on the team until we get to hold up that trophy,” Valley senior Jackson Wright said after taking a 13-3 victory at 170 pounds. “We all know we did something special here and made school history.”
Valley’s version of the Fab Five — Ruben Lucero (126), Omar Sotelo (138), Macoy Flanagan (145), Brendan Gonzales (160) and Wright (170) — all reached the championship bouts in their respective weight classes. The Vikings racked up 154 points to hold off Centauri (137.5), Brush (117) and Monte Vista (103.5) for the team title.
“It’s amazing. Everyone has been working so hard for it,” Lucero said after winning at 126. “It’s so cool. I can’t even put it into words.”
Lucero officially wrapped up the team title with a 6-3 victory over Florence senior Jake Yslas. The only way the Vikings could have lost the team title is if all five Valley wrestlers lost and all three of Centauri’s finalist pinned their opponents.
Lucero, Wright and Gonzales came away with individual titles in the historic night for Valley.
“I think people will start to realize that Valley produces some pretty good wrestlers,” Wright said. “Coach (Mike Caciari) is a great coach.”
Also making history Saturday night was Holy Family junior Joseph Prieto. A 4-0 victory over Sotelo at 132 gave Holy Family its first individual state wrestling champion in school history.
The cafeteria at Holy Family doubles at the wrestling room and the program’s only mat is one given by Bishop Machebeuf.
“It’s feels good. I know now it’s just another win. I’m going to have to keep doing it next year,” Prieto said. “It’s cool to make school history.”
Centauri did manage a pair of individual state champions in senior Jason Buhr (152) and junior Jareb Aziz (195). Both are now two-time state champions after claiming titles last year.
Buhr had one of the most dominating performances in the 3A championship bouts with a 17-2 technical fall over Middle Park senior Adam Visconti.
“I just hoped for the win, but I’m glad it ended that way and I could get a tech,” Buhr said. “We came in ranked third as a team. We are happy with second right now.”
Monte Vista senior Diondre Garcia also became a two-time state champion with a 2-0 victory over Alamosa freshman Isaiah DeLaCerda at 106. It was even more special with his cousin, sophomore Jose Duran, claiming the 113 title for Monte Vista.
“It’s a great feeling,” Garcia said. “I dropped down so my cousin could win a state title too. It’s great that we can both celebrate.”
Dolores Huerta senior Jared Mestas grabbed his second state title that eluded him as a junior. He placed fourth last year after winning the 126 title as a sophomore. Huerta edged Holy Family junior Julian Prieto, Joseph’s twin brother, 6-5 in the 132 match.
One of the most intriguing championship bouts in any classifications Saturday was the 3A 120 match. Returning state champion Conrad Cole from Brush faced undefeated Trenton Piatt of Olathe.
Piatt had an early takedown and near-fall to take a 5-0 lead. That would all he would need to finish on top of the podium.
Pagosa Springs senior Creede Wylie completed his wild three-day ride with a heavyweight championship title to conclude the tournament. Wylie came in as the top seed last year at 285, but didn’t place.
Wylie pinned Centauri sophomore Devon Chacon at the 1:33 mark in the first period to finish his high school career with a state championship.
His journey to the championship match wasn’t easy this year. He had to squeak out a 5-4 first-round match Thursday.
“It’s such a long three days,” Wylie said. “This is a great way to end it.”
