Grandview edges Pomona to win Arvada West Wrestling Invite

ARVADA — It’s rare for Pomona wrestling to finish runner-up, but it happened Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Arvada West Wrestling Invite.

Grandview edged out the Panthers — who have claimed six straight Class 5A state teams titles from 2019 to 2024 — by a slim 266 to 258.5 margin. However, Pomona coach Sam Federico didn’t have his full slate of varsity wrestlers with the Top of the Rockies Tournament scheduled for this coming weekend.

Grandview captured four individual titles with JR Ortega (120), Gunner Lopez (157), Charlie Herting (175) and Leland Day (285) coming home with first-place medals. Pomona also came away with four first-place wrestlers in Lincoln Valdez (106), Logan Dellow (113), Derek Barrow (144) and Kalob Ybarra (165).

Pomona is ranked No. 1 in Tim Yount’s On the Mat rankings, while Grandview was No. 3.

Windsor — No. 5 in 4A — finished a distant third with 193 points and Thompson Valley — ranked No. 6 in 4A — took fourth with 176.5 points.