DENVER - Cedaredge grappled the peak that had been unreachable by every other team who dared on the path of a state championship.
The 2024 Bruins came close, losing to Meeker by just five points, and then 2025 again left no shortage of heart-stopping action in the boys 2A wrestling state championships. Cedaredge did finally get that first victory, but only 3.5 points separated it from North Fork.
“Last year was heartbreaking,” junior Jared Roberts said. “We’ve been trying for so long. It’s been a constant loss every year for so many years, and to finally get over that is amazing.”
Roberts beat Sedgwick County/Fleming’s Nathan Gonzales in a 9-2 decision to take first in the boys 106-pound classification.
As a junior, Roberts has the opportunity to put himself in exclusive company as a repeat champion.
“I just have to keep putting in that work for next year,” Roberts said. “I have to stay consistent.”
Roberts will have the chance to return with his teammate Cash Martinez, who pinned Swink’s Thomas Valdez in three minutes and 44 seconds, to get his first title in the 120-pound classification.
With hopes of repeating as a champion, it isn’t about lighting a fire for Martinez, but keeping that fire burning.
“I want to win again,” Martinez said. “Fire doesn’t stop until I’m out of high school.”
For both Gonzales and Martinez the realization that they had been crowned champions happened when they scanned the crowd and saw their loved ones and everyone cheering them on.
That realization happened for a multitude of competitors across the 2A bracket Saturday, several of whom repeated as state champions.
The biggest name in that category was Fowler’s Traven Sharon, who became just the 35th four-time state champ in Colorado wrestling history, among boys and girls.
“If you’d told me I’d be a four-timer, I would have laughed,” Sharon said. “I never thought I’d have a chance.”
Wray junior Austin Collins took home his second championship in a row in the 132-pound classification, after winning the 126 bracket last year.
While Merino senior Coen Schmidt grabbed his first title in the 138-pound classification, he ended his last season with a perfect 50-0 record.
Holly senior Tripp DuVall also finished his high school wrestling career on a high note, winning his second state title in as many years in the 165 bracket this year. Last year, DuVall took home gold in the 150-pound classification.
Meeker senior Cade Blunt successfully defended his title in the 175 bracket.
While Wray senior Tavery Chappell joined Schmidt as an undefeated wrestler winning their first title, doing so in the 215-pound bracket, going 43-0.
While so many victors were crowned, Cedaredge capturing its first school title ever might have been the most special.
From the boys who wrestled at 106 pounds to the heavy weights, leadership ran strong top to bottom.
“It was absolute leadership from top to bottom and work ethic day in and day out,” coach Cutter Garrison said. “These two guys right here (Martinez and Roberts) are state champions, they live it. They live wrestling, it’s a lifestyle that they choose. And just the work they put in every day is so inspiring. I’m super blessed to be able to coach every guy on this team.”