DENVER – If he wanted to win a state championship at this year's state tournament, Dolores Huerta wrestler Daniel Apodaca knew he would likely have to beat two defending state champions along the way.
In the Class 2A 126-pound semifinals on Friday night at Ball Arena, Apodaca climbed over the first of two monumental obstacles between him and his first title by winning 8-4 over Mancos sophomore and reigning 113-pound champion Levi Martin.
The win sets Apodaca, a junior, up to take on Cedaredge senior Lane Hunsberger, who won a 120-pound title last season, in the championship match on Saturday night.
“I’m a little bit pumped, a little bit excited. But, the job’s not done,” Apodaca said. “I still got one more. That’s all I’m thinking about.”
Apodaca (29-7) pulled ahead with a takedown in the first period and Martin tied the match with a takedown of his own in the second period. After a reversal and a nearfall, Apodaca led 6-2 after two periods. Martin attempted a furious comeback, but Apodaca was able to outlast the offensive to reach the finals.
“He was pretty tough,” Apodaca said. “He kept fighting back, but I held off.”
Apodaca upset his way into the finals, where he’s fully aware of what’s awaiting him in Hunsberger, who has only lost one match this season at 42-1. While Hunsberger may have been expecting to face Martin in the championship, it doesn’t matter much to him who stands between him and his second title.
“One more match,” Hunsberger said. “It’s going to be a good match and I’m just going to go out there and wrestle the last match of the year. It’s the best of the best now.”
Camp keeps future four-time title hopes alive
It’s a long way off, but Buena Vista’s Caleb Camp kept his hopes of eventually becoming a four-time champion viable on Friday with a win in the 113-pound semifinals. The sophomore, who won a 106-pound title last year as a freshman, won a 5-2 decision over Merino freshman Coen Schmidt.
Nine total champions wrestling for No. 2 on Saturday
In nine of the 14 weight classes in 2A, whoever wins the title on Saturday night will take home a gold medal and put it next to another.
Buena Vista’s Caleb Camp (113), Cedaredge’s Lane Hunsberger (126), Wray’s Brady Collins (132), Byers’ Lain Yapoujan (138), Highland’s Zach Tittle (145), Centauri’s Eyan Chavez (152), Rye’s Remington Pierce (195), and Wiggins’ Laith Ibrahim (285) are all going for their second state championship in Saturday’s finals.
Meeker’s Kelton registers fastest pin of tournament
In the second consolation round on Friday night, Meeker 170-pounder Kelton Turner pinned his opponent in 11 seconds. It was the fastest pin of the state championships through two days.
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 |