4A boys wrestling: Pueblo East and Cheyenne Mountain battling for team title after semis

DENVER – There was no way that the energy inside of Ball Arena during the state wrestling semifinals could be subdued. Fans have waited two years for wrestling’s return to its longtime home, so it was sure to be an energized crowd even if there was no drama on the mats.
 
But adding the drama didn’t hurt.

Heading into the semis, a narrow race for the Class 4A team championship had started to unfold. Defending champion Cheyenne Mountain held the lead over Pueblo East. The Eagles had nine total wrestlers still on brackets (counting consolation) when semis began compared to the Red-Tailed Hawks’ eight. 
 
All eyes were on the 138-pound semifinal where Cheyenne Mountain’s Nicholas Grizales took on East’s Tatum Rivera. What started as a back-and-forth affair ended with Rivera slipping into a vulnerable position and Grizales taking advantage.
 
The pin kept the Hawks within arm’s length of East as they seek out a second straight championship. It was a huge win for the team, but Grizales saw it as simply doing his job.
 
“I honestly don’t pay attention to team sport or team anything until the end,” Grizales said. “I just have to worry about my own wrestling. As much as I love my team, it’s important for them that they just let me wrestle and do what I need to do.”
 
That’s a team approach. And it’s the important approach to have as a player and that’s why the point watch is more fun for the coaches. 
 
“It’s fun to pay attention to everything,” Cheyenne Mountain coach Tyler Seaney said. “We look for pins, we look for guys winning and losing. It makes it fun.”
 
The Eagles won the session and head into the finals with a 112.5-87.5 advantage over the Hawks. 
 
A couple of early-round consolation matches factored into the race as well. Pueblo East scored a major upset as freshman Niko Fernandez scored three late points to eliminate Patrick Ransom, the No. 2-ranked wrestler in 126 pounds.
 
The Hawks had a chance to avenge that loss as Zach Johnson took on Sullivan DeHerrera in 160. DeHerrera took an early 2-0 before Johnson scored a couple of escapes to tie the match. A takedown right at the end of the second period put Johnson in the lead for the first time. DeHerrera had a three-point lead late, but Johnson battled back and scored another escape late in the third to get a 7-6 win.
 

 
Previous champions living up to the standard
 
Thompson Valley sophomore Jackzzen Rairdon advanced to the 113-pound championship with a 7-0 decision over Riverdale Ridge’s AJ Haug. A championship on Saturday against Pueblo East’s L.J. Herburger would give him a 50-0 record on the season. He has yet to lose in his high school career. So far, only two wrestlers in state history have finished their high school careers as four-time, undefeated state champions.
 
Loveland’s Kobi Johnson needed just one minute, three seconds to pin Roosevelt freshman Travis Long and advance to the 120-pound championship match. Johnson won the 113-pound championship last year and watched as his sister Morgan won the 100-pound girls title. The siblings will have a chance to share another championship moment. Johnson will see Windsor’s John Kenney in the final.
 
Discovery Canyon’s Dominic Hargrove has won in every dominant fashion possible at the state tournament. He has recorded a fall, a technical fall and a major decision en route to the 132-pound championship match. He’ll take on league rival Isaiah Blackmon in the state championship match.
 
Pueblo East’s Weston Dalton has been regarded as the top 145-pound wrestler this whole season, and with good reason. The 2020 120-pound champion has been on a mission to recapture state gold this year and has cruised through the bracket. He pinned Loveland’s Isaac Padgett in 2:39 to advance to the final where he’ll see Falcon’s Tyler Valdez.
 
Broomfield’s Ryan Vigil had a bit of a scare but rebounded nicely to pin Cheyenne Mountain’s Raife Manjarrez to reach the 152-pound championship match. He’ll see Pueblo East’s Sebastian Freeman, who has been dominant in his own right this week. 
 
Cheyenne Mountain’s Nico Gagliardi has yet to spend at least 90 seconds wrestling in a single match. He cruised into the 195-pound championship match after pinning Eagle Valley’s William Geiman in just 1:25. He’ll face Erie’s Gavin Malek in the championship match.
 
Pueblo East’s Xavier Freeman will be going for his second career state title as he’ll take on Falcon’s Josiah Aldinger in the 220-pound final. Freeman has pinned all three of his opponents in the state tournament and will be looking for a sweep in his quest for another trip to the top of the podium.
 
Mesa Ridge’s Matt Moore might be unstoppable. The defending 285-pound champion is back in the final after making quick work of Cheyenne Mountain’s Matthew Lessard. Moore pinned Lessard in 1:09, cementing his place in Saturday’s Parade of Champions. To win a second straight title, he’ll have to beat Montrose’s Dmarian Lopez who has yet to suffer a loss this season.