DENVER — Perhaps the only instance in which an Eaton wrestler had zero reason to wrestle with team accolades in mind just so happened to be in the most important matches of the season.

Reds freshman 106-pounder Blake Hawkins and junior 157-pounder Jackson Tribbett both competed in title matches at the Class 3A boys wrestling state championships Saturday night at Ball Arena.

And they wrestled without any pressure to further contribute to a team title.

Eaton had that team title all wrapped up well before the finals even began and Hawkins and Tribbett stepped on the mat.

The Reds won their second consecutive 3A team title with 128 points. They secured enough points to effectively pull away from runner-up Severance (109.5) during the latter stages of the consolation rounds earlier in the day Saturday.

Reds sophomore 175-pounder Gunnar Clary (33-13) and senior 285-pounder Ryder True (32-8) clinched the title for Eaton with pins in their third-place matches.

"It's hard to get to the top, but the hardest thing is staying at the top," said Reds coach Tony Mustari, who was named 3A coach of the year. "We battled some adversity this week with some bracket changes, seeding criteria, and stuff like that. But, they answered the call. I couldn't be more proud of them."

Hawkins (21-5) dropped his title match at 106 pounds to Elizabeth sophomore Thomas Lee (39-4) via a 7-2 decision.

Tribbett (44-9) lost a heart-breaker, 5-3 via sudden victory in overtime against Platte Valley senior Jonathan Malovich (40-1).

Nonetheless, 12 of the Reds' 14 state qualifiers scored team points. In addition to Tribbett and Hawkins, four other Eaton wrestlers earned spots on the podium with top 6 finishes: junior 144-pounder Preston Smith (5th, 29-13), sophomore 175-pounder Gunnar Clary (3rd, 33-13), sophomore 190-pounder Cal Sidwell (4th, 33-6) and senior 285-pounder Ryder True (3rd, 32-8).
 
Wired differently
Even though he brings a certain youthful exuberance to his approach, when Fort Lupton junior D'mitri Garza-Alarcon steps on the mat, his sport is anything but a child's game.

Wrestling represents a way to prove himself, a way to further himself, a way to show his tightly knit family and the legions of supporters within his community that he hears them. He feels them. And, he's grateful for every ounce of support they've provided.

And, boy, has Garza-Alarcon given his family and community plenty of reason to support him.

Garza-Alarcon (42-4) planted the latest feather in his cap when he earned a 2-1 decision against Mullen's scrappy freshman Isaak Chavez (37-6) in the 138-pound finals of the Class 3A state wrestling championships.

It was Garza-Alarcon's third state title in as many years of high school. He became the third three-time champion in Fort Lupton's decorated history, with an eye, already, on becoming the program's first four-time champ a year from now.

"This makes me feel like I want to cry, but it also makes me feel like I want to go run a marathon or go wrestle another state match," Garza-Alarcon said. "I've put so much heart and dedication into this sport, and I lay my heart out on the line. I'm a first generation (domestically born United States citizen). And I want to make it somewhere that my parents did not. So, I'm laying my life on the mat. I come out here and I let it all out."

Silver medal for Silver Knights
In just its fourth year since the school opened, Severance earned a runner-up finish in the 3A team race with 109.5 points — second only to back-to-back champion Eaton's 128 points.

The Silver Knights had a trio of finalists Saturday night.

Senior 190-pounder Colby Runner (34-5) defended his title from a year ago by defeating Manitou Springs senior Wes Reeves (39-2) via a 2-0 decision.

Junior 113-pounder Jonathan Morrison (26-7) placed second, dropping a 17-6 major decision to Mullen's junior three-time champion Dale O'Blia (40-3).

Senior 144-pounder Killian Schultz (37-6) also placed second, falling 4-2 to Strasburg senior three-time champion Zach Marrero (40-2).

In addition to that trio, two other Severance wrestlers earned spots on the podium with top 6 placements: 138-pounder Tommy Thomas (5th, 29-13) and 285-pounder Dominic Butts (4th, 14-5).

A year ago, Runner made school history by being the first Silver Knights athlete to win a state title in any sport.

This year, he tacked on to his place in the school's record book by becoming the first two-time wrestling champion.

"It was great; it's what I expected, it's what I worked for all season," Runner said. "It was a little slower (of a title match) then I pictured going in. All respect to (Reeves), he's a tough wrestler. But I was confident the whole match."

Short celebration
Mullen junior Dale O’Blia continued on his own path toward becoming a potential four-time state champion when he earned a 17-6 major decision over Severance junior Jonathan Morrison (26-7) in the 113-pound finals.

O’Blia (40-3) obviously earned the right to celebrate his latest title.

However, one doesn’t get where O’Blia is by celebrating for too long.

Mere minutes after his championship victory, O’Blia admitted he was already looking forward to the chance to compete for a coveted fourth state title next winter.

“I started thinking about it as soon as this match ended,” O’Blia said. “Every match I treat the same way. I prepare for my competition the same way. I just keep training as hard as I can, pushing myself to my limits and just keep thinking about my next competition.”

No more doubt
Strasburg senior Zach Marrero (40-2) admitted he hasn’t always had the most confident of approaches throughout his high school career.

However, having won his third state title, there is little reason for him to doubt himself any longer.

Marrero locked up his third title with a 4-2 win over Severance senior Killian Schultz (37-6) in the 144-pound title match.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of self-doubt over my time in high school,” he said. “That inner-weakness starts to creep in during times like this. But this year has just been different. I’ve been doing the extra work to make sure no one can catch me, talking to God.”

More champions crowned
In addition to the aforementioned 3A state champions, 10 others topped the podium Saturday night.

Elizabeth sophomore Thomas Lee (39-4) earned a 7-2 win over Eaton freshman Blake Hawkins (21-5) in the 106 final.

Jefferson sophomore 120-pounder Samuel Rosales (33-4) defeated Centauri junior Riley Valdez (31-13) via a 16-8 major decision.  

Moffat County senior Kaden Hixson (49-7) edged Brush sophomore Nick Dardanes (38-4) via a 10-8 sudden decision in overtime.

Gunnison junior Royce Uhrig (48-0) completed an undefeated season by earning a 9-0 major decision against Bennett senior Carson Hawkins (40-8) in the 132-pound final. This was Uhrig’s second consecutive championship.

Skyview senior Isaac Ibarra (53-1) capped his stellar season with a 9-1 major decision over Alamosa senior Kyler Liddell (37-7) in the 150-pound title match.

Platte Valley senior Jonathan Malovich (40-1) gained redemption from a runner-up finish at state a year ago, defeating Eaton junior Jackson Tribbett (44-9) via a 5-3 sudden decision in overtime of the 157-pound final.

University senior Paxton Daggett (46-2) beat Centauri junior Josh Polkowske (39-4) via a 3-2 decision in overtime. Daggett then celebrated by playfully suplexing his assistant coach and practice partner Justin Anderson near the side of the mat.

Mullen senior 175-pounder Kaleb Valdez-Lemos (41-3) earned a 5-1 decision in the 175-pound title match against La Junta junior Dilian Ruiz (34-4).

Salida senior Drew Johnson (40-0) finished his undefeated season with a 215-pound title. He pinned Holy Family junior Abram Moore (35-4) in 1:12 in the finals.

Valley senior Aidan Trujillo (35-5) capped his high school career with a second consecutive 285-pound title. He pinned Pueblo Central senior Mariano Romero-Garcia (28-4) in 4:43.

FULL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH RESULTS

106: Thomas Lee (Elizabeth) def Blake Hawkins (Eaton) – Dec 7-2
 
113: Dale O’Blia (Mullen) def Jonathan Morrison (Severance) - MD 17-6
 
120: Samuel Rosales (Jefferson) def Riley Valdez (Centauri) – MD 16-8
 
126: Kaden Hixson (Moffat County) def Nick Dardanes (Brush) – SV 10-8
 
132: Royce Uhrig (Gunnison) def Carson Hawkins (Bennett) - MD 9-0
 
138: D`mitri Garza-Alarcon (Fort Lupton) def Isaak Chavez (Mullen) – Dec 2-1
 
144: Zach Marrero (Strasburg) def Kilian Schultz (Severance) – Dec 4-2
 
150: Isaac Ibarra (Skyview) def Kyler Liddell (Alamosa) – MD 9-1
 
157: Jonathan Malovich (Platte Valley) def Jackson Tribbett (Eaton) – SV 5-3
 
165: Paxton Daggett (University) def Josh Polkowske (Centauri) – TB 3-2
 
175: Kaleb Valdez-Lemos (Mullen) def  Dilan Ruiz (La Junta) – Dec 5-1
 
190: Colby Runner (Severance) def Wes Reeves (Manitou Springs) – Dec 2-0
 
215: Drew Johnson (Salida) def Abram Moore (Holy Family) – Pin (1:12)
 
285: Aidan Trujillo (Valley) def Mariano Romero-Garcia (Pueblo Central) – Pin (4:43)