DENVER – Mullen’s Dale O’Blia did not lose a match as a freshman and is currently unbeaten as a sophomore through two days at the 2022 wrestling state championships.
With a 5-minute, 31-second pin of La Junta’s Elijah Montalvan in the Class 3A 106-pound semifinals, O’Blia pushed his record to 43-0 on the current campaign. But now that he’s in the championship match, where he will face Jefferson freshman Samuel Rosales for the title, his focus on the upcoming match that could deliver him a second state championship makes all the other victories fade into the background.
“I just want to go out there and win,” O’Blia said. “Tonight is that past. This isn’t what I’ve been working for. I didn’t work to get to get to the semifinals and stop. I worked to get to the finals and win.”
Vigil trailed 1-0 through the first two periods before turning the tables with a reversal in the third and then pulled ahead with a takedown to finish ahead.
“Dale can just wrestle,” Mullen head coach John Howes said. “He can really wrestle. He just keeps going and going … he was really patient. He takes what they give him and he goes. He doesn’t get discouraged and just keeps going.”
To reach the finals, Rosales won an 8-0 major decision over Holy Family sophomore Brayden Bach.
Matchup between Hankin and Garza-Alarcon is set
At 138 pounds, potential four-time champion Brady Hankin of Woodland Park and Fort Lupton’s sophomore sensation D’Mitri Garza-Alarcon have wrestled their way to meet one another in a title match with historic implications. Hankin is vying to become the 30
th four-time champion in Colorado history while Garza-Alarcon, who has already beaten Hankin this season, is going for his second title.
Estrada, Lozado both going for title No. 3
Advancing to the championship matches at their respective weight classes, Weld Central’s Roberto Estrada (120) and Jefferson’s Angelo Lozado (126) will each have a chance to finish their high school careers as three-time champions on Saturday night.
Dirksen, Marrero looking to double up
Eaton senior Ryan Dirksen (170) and Strasburg junior Zach Marrero (145) will both wrestle for a chance to add a second state title to their trophy cases when they take the mats for Saturday's finals.
Defending champions still in the mix
| Potential Four-Time Champions |
| Daniel Cardenas, Sr., Pomona, 5A 152 |
| Brady Hankin, Sr., Woodland Park, 3A 138 |
| Potential Three-Time Champions |
| Kobi Johnson, Sr., Loveland, 4A 120 |
| Roberto Estrada, Sr., Weld Central, 3A 120 |
| Angelo Lozado, Sr., Jefferson, 3A 126 |
| Potential Two-Time Champions |
| Ane'e Vigil, Jr., Prairie View, 5A 113 |
| Derek Glenn Jr., Sr., Cherokee Trail, 5A 120 |
| Jakob Romero, Jr., Pomona, 5A 126 |
| Elijah Olguin, Sr., Pomona, 5A 132 |
| Jackzen Rairdon, So., Thompson Valley, 4A 113 |
| Dominic Hargrove, Sr., Discovery Canyon, 4A 132 |
| Weston Dalton, Jr., Pueblo East, 4A 145 |
| Ryan Vigil, Sr., Broomfield, 4A 152 |
| Nico Gagliardi, Sr., Cheyenne Mountain, 4A 195 |
| Xavier Freeman, Sr., Pueblo East, 4A 220 |
| Matthew Moore, Jr., Mesa Ridge, 4A 285 |
| Dale O'Blia, So., Mullen, 3A 106 |
| D'mitri Garza-Alarcon, So., Fort Lupton, 3A 138 |
| Zach Marrero, Jr., Strasburg, 3A 145 |
| Ryan Dirksen, Sr., Eaton, 3A 170 |
| Caleb Camp, So., Buena Vista, 2A 113 |
| Lane Hunsberger, Sr., Cedaredge, 2A 126 |
| Brady Collins, Jr., Wray, 2A 132 |
| Lain Yapoujan, Jr., Byers, 2A 138 |
| Zach Tittle, Sr., Highland, 2A 145 |
| Eyan Chavez, Sr., Centauri, 2A 152 |
| Remington Peterson, Sr., Rye, 2A 195 |
| Laith Ibrahim, Jr., Wiggins, 2A 285 |