Final tune-up for A-West and Ralston Valley before 5A Jeffco League Tournament

ARVADA — Arvada West’s boys wrestling team honored its seniors and then celebrated a dual victory over rival Ralston Valley on Thursday night.

The Wildcats took a 51-27 victory over the Mustangs at Arvada West High School.

“Like I tell the guys, ‘It’s all practice until we get to February,’” A-West first-year head wrestling coach Adrian Green said after the Wildcats’ final dual of the season. “Every match and every dual is important. This is experience. If it goes well great. If it doesn’t go so well that fine. Either way just don’t get too high or too low. It’s all learning until you get to the end.”

A-West sophomore Auston Eudaly got the Wildcats off to a good start with a second-period pin in his 144-pound match against Ralston Valley sophomore Cooper Hineline. Eudaly is the Wildcats’ highest ranked wrestler, holding down the No. 4 spot in the Class 5A 144-pound rankings by One the Mat.

“He (Eudaly) is a very complete wrestler, especially on his feet,” Green said. “He has technique after technique. The sky is the limit for him.”

Eudaly just placed 6th at the Top of the Rockies Tournament last weekend at Centaurus High School.

“I heard so many people say it is way tougher than state,” Eudaly said of the Top of the Rockies Tournament. “I went into it knowing I could place. I just had to fight my way through and I ended up with sixth. I was totally happy with that.”

Eudaly was joined by senior Nathan Barnes (165 pounds), freshman Julian Vigil (175), sophomore Keegan Sturgeon (106), freshman Aiden Mena (113) and senior Cooper Best (138) with victories in matches that were wrestled. All but Best’s win came by pin.

Ralston Valley managed victories by sophomore Carter Coorough (150), junior Kyle Phipps (157) and freshman Auston Blattner (285) and junior Laine Kougl (132).

In less than 24 hours after the dual, A-West and Ralston Valley will see each other again.

The Class 5A Jeffco League teams — Arvada West, Chatfield, Columbine, Lakewood, Pomona, Ralston Valley and Valor Christian — will descend on Chatfield High School tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 27) for the 5A Jeffco League Tournament where the individual and team league titles will be decided. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

“Just go in and win it hopefully,” Eudaly said of his mindset heading to the league tournament. “That just wrestle my best.”

Pomona will again be a heavy favorite to capture the conference team title for the eighth straight year. The Panthers have been No. 1 in the On The Mat 5A rankings all season and will be going after their fifth 5A state team title next month down at Ball Arena.

“Right now they are the cream of the crop,” Green said of Pomona. “He (Pomona coach Sam Federico) has done a great job over there.”