2A boys wrestling: Wray pins way to fourth team title in five years

DENVER – Whistle. Slap. Roar.

That was a common cadence for the Wray wrestling team on their way to the 2022 2A state wrestling team championship Saturday night inside Ball Arena.

The Eagles racked up 21 pins, the most in 2A and the second-most in the tournament, on their way to a decisive 167.5 team points. It is Wray’s fourth team title in five years and ups their lead for the most team titles across all classifications with 15.

“Wray is just an awesome community,” head coach Matt Brown stated. “We have great support from the parents, coaching staff and administration, there’s no better place to be. Wrestling is a priority to everyone, and it’s been fun to win these titles.”

Individually, the lone Eagle wrestler to win an individual title was junior Brady Collins, who completed his undefeated 43-0 season in style with a pin in 4:22. Collins won all four of his state championship matches via the pin, totaling 11:36 of mat time. Collins joins his brother, Tyler, as a fellow two-timer. Collins was named the 2A most outstanding wrestler at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.

“This win feels great,” Collins said. “I had a great bounce back from last year when I lost in the finals. I definitely feel like I earned it.”

“My brothers inspire me a ton,” Collins added. “They push me to be the best I can be. Through the highs and lows, they are always there to pick me up. Tyler is the best practice partner I could ask for and I love him.”

Wray’s crowd brought the roar all weekend, as the fans shrouded in purple were consistently one of the most raucous group of fans. Each time a Wray wrestler secured a pin, the fans within Ball Arena knew it.

“They are the best fans here,” Collins exclaimed. “There’s no other fan base like them. They get loud, they fire our team up, they’re just the best.”

Wray had two others finish runner-up with 182-pounder Caeden Bauer and heavyweight Tell Wade. Also medaling for the Eagles were 106-pounder Austin Snapp (6th), 145-pounder Samuel Meisner (4th), 152-pounder Koy Smith (6th), 160-pounder Reid Brown (5th), 170-pounder Payten Wade (3rd), and 195-pounder Grady Linman (5th).

Meeker took second in the team race with 146, while defending champs Centauri finished right behind with 144. Rounding out the top-five were Cedaredge (138), and Buena Vista (116).

2A brings the two-timers

Entering the day, the 2A weight class has the most wrestlers looking for their second individual title with eight, and all eight delivered. Joining Collins were Buena Vista’s 113-pounder Caleb Camp (Pin 0:34), Cedaredge’s 126-pounder Lain Hunsberger (MD, 15-2), Byers’ 138-pounder Lain Yapoujian (Dec, 8-1), Highland’s 145-pounder Zach Tittle (Dec, 5-2), Centauri’s 152-pounder Eyan Chavez (Dec, 8-4), Rye’s 195-pounder Remmington Peterson (MD, 16-2), and Wiggins’ heavyweight Laith Ibrahim (Dec, 5-1)

Three complete undefeated seasons

Among the two-timers, three of them completed undefeated 2022 campaigns. Joining Collins were Peterson, who went 33-0, and Ibrahim, who finished a perfect 36-0.

A four-timer clock has begun

Starting off the day at 2A was the 106-pound bout between a pair of freshmen, Traven Sharon of Fowler and Tripp Duvall of Holly. Sharon came away with a 9-5 decision win to officially kick-off his clock for a potential four-timer. Sharon, who finished the season 49-5, had won each of his matches via fall before the tight decision win in the finals.

Reyes and Harvey add to storied program histories

At 120-pounds, Rocky Ford junior Dezmon Reyes won his matchup over Trae Kennedy of Meeker to win his first-ever title. It adds to Rocky Ford’s already impressive amount of individual titles with 71. They trail only Grand Junction, who has 76 all-time. Later in the evening, Meeker’s sophomore 220-pounder Judd Harvey won his first title via fall in 3:26. Meeker now has the third-most individual champions of any program with 63.

Burr finishes off one-loss season

Sedgwick County 160-pound senior Hayden Burr finished off an impressive 49-1 season with his first individual title. He pinned Josh Polkowske of Centauri in just 1:29 to secure the victory. Burr is just the sixth individual champion in the history of the Sedwick County program. Two-timers Yapoujian and Hunsberger also had one loss on the season.

Defending champs get two individual titles

Centauri, who won last year’s team championship, had two individuals win titles this season. Joining Chavez was junior 170-pounder Erik Mestas, who defeated Ty Walck of Cedaredge in a tight 7-4 decision. Centauri now has 37 individual winners in its storied wrestling history.

Moss finishes on top

At 182 pounds, senior Seth Moss of Buena Vista finished his high school career on top with a 5-4 decision victory. He scored four points in the fourth period, including the decisive takedown with just 22 seconds left, to win his championship. His and Camp’s titles give Buena Vista 13 in their program’s history.