West, of Greeley West wrestling, battles through injuries to chase crown
DENVER – This prep wrestling season didn’t go according to script for Dylan West – especially early.
The Greeley West senior, who finished third at the 2014 Class 5A state tournament at 126 pounds, missed the first part of the year with a back injury.
“I hurt it at Fargo (N.D.) Nationals last summer and I didn’t get to wrestle this season until the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament (Dec. 19-20 in Greeley),” West said.
West was making up for lost time and then had to sit out a few more matches after banging his head in a couple of matches, the last being at the Top of the Rockies Jan. 24 at Centaurus High School.
“It was tough missing the first part of the season, because I had to get in shape,” said West, who was never diagnosed with a concussion, but sat out some matches for precautionary reasons.
Rather than dwell on lost time, West is healthy now and focused on winning a coveted gold medal at the Class 5A state tournament.
“Wrestling is a more of mental sport to me than physical,” West said. “My injuries stopped me a little bit, but I knew I had to keep going.”
West began his championship quest by muscling past ThunderRidge’s Alex Bezugly 3-1 at 138 pounds Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
“I didn’t even know who I was facing my first match,” said West, who improved his season record to 25-7. “I don’t like looking at any of the brackets. I know someone is going to wrestle me and I was able to go out there and do my thing.”
West took a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:30 mark of the first period. Bezugly did get within 2-1 with 41 seconds left in the second, but West added an escape at 1:01 of the third for the final margin of victory.
“I definitely felt in control the entire time even though the score was close,” said West, who is ranked No. 4 by On the Mat.
Up next for West at 12:45 p.m. Friday is a quarterfinal match against Lincoln’s Seth Rosales (41-6). Rosales upset Adam City’s Elias Deaguero (34-11) 5-4 in the first round. Deaguero was ranked No. 6 by On the Mat.
“I’ve never wrestled Rosales,” the 5-foot-8 West said. “I just want to stay aggressive and get after it out there on the mat. I know I feel comfortable at (138 pounds) and I feel strong. It would sure mean a lot to me if I could win state. I’ve been working hard this whole season and I know I can accomplish that goal if I just do my best, and don’t let the big stage get to me.”
No matter what happens this weekend, West plans on continuing his wrestling career in college.
“I have not signed with anyone yet, but I want to stay in state,” said West, a three-time state qualifier. “I would like to major in psychology that’s something that really interest me.”
Wonder twin powers: There have been 72 state championship wrestling titles won by Pueblo prep wrestlers.
Despite all those gold medals, no wrestler from the Steel City has won back-to-back state titles as a freshman and sophomore.
That could change this weekend. Pueblo County’s fraternal twin brothers, sophomores Grant and Hunter Willits are on the right path to make history.
Hunter won state at 106 pounds in 4A last year and Grant was the 132-pound state winner and each scored convincing wins Thursday in the first round – Grant at 113 pounds and Hunter at 138 pounds. Both are also ranked No. 1 by On the Mat at their weights.
“It was real exciting to win state, and then to do it with my twin brother made it even more special,” Hunter said. “I don’t think there’s any pressure on my brother and I this year (at state). We are just going to go out there and wrestle the best that we can.”
Pin master: Glenwood Springs’ Christian Gonzales is 44-0 and more impressive is all his victories – with the exception of forfeits – have come via pins. Gonzales improved to 45-0 Thursday night with, what else, a pin of Denver South’s Casey Seppelt.
Gonzales was 24-1 a year ago, but missed regionals with an injury and thus was unable to compete at state.
