4A Boys Wrestling: Pueblo East Wins Third Time in Four Years

DENVER – The Pueblo East boys weren’t going to let another one slip away.

The Eagles took home the 4A team title in 2022 and 2023, but failed to capture the three-peat, losing to Mead a year ago.

Maybe it isn’t four in a row but winning the 4A title in three out of the last four is still a pretty incredible feat.

“It’s a feeling like no other,” said senior Nico Fernandez, who took home his first title in the 4A-138 classification. “After last year we had a chip on our shoulders, and we went into that room and we embraced it. We enjoyed the grind every day and we knew we were going to come back and dominate.”

And dominate they did. The Eagles put up 192.5 points, 61.5 more than second place Roosevelt.

Fernandez took down Roosevelt’s Malakii Martin in a 7-2 decision. Taking home both the individual and team awards in his final appearance at the state tournament meant the world for Fernandez.

“It’s a feeling like no other,” Fernandez said. “I can’t even explain it. To have the perfect ending to my high school career is — perfect.”

Fernandez wasn’t alone in that story tale ending. Standing beside him on that podium was Julian Espinoza, who also captured his first championship, taking home gold in the 126-pound division.

The senior beat Durango’s Ryan Dugan in a narrow 1-0 decision.

“It’s still hitting me,” Espinoza said. “I’m just excited about my future honestly.”

Sophomore Deven Lopez had his first taste of capturing the team title, though it wasn’t his first experience standing atop the podium.

After winning the 126-pound classification a year ago, Lopez came back to capture his second title in the 132 pound classification. He defeated Palisade’s Kadin Mulfurd in a 9-4 decision. A second title in two years is the halfway point to becoming a four-time champion. For Lopez his desire to achieve that has never been a question.

“Since before high school, people have expected me to be a four timer,” Lopez said. “I just want to prove them right.”

While that desire is strong, Lopez understands the importance of balance as a competitor and outside the sport.

“It would mean a lot, but it doesn’t mean the most to me,” Lopez said. “I know I have a life after wrestling, so this doesn’t mean too much. I love it, but I love family, friends and God more than anything else.”

Joining Lopez as a repeat champion were several other competitors from different schools.

Severance sophomore Drake Vombaur placed first in the 113-pound classification, after taking home the 3A-106 title a year ago.

Mountain View senior Isaiah Harrison took home his third title in the 120-pound classification and finished with a perfect 53-0 record, alongside winning wrestler of the year honors.

Roosevelt’s Chris LaLonde won in the 144-pound classification, becoming a two-time champion following his 2023 victory in the 126-pound classification.

Mead’s Leister Bowling repeated as state champion in his final year of competition, repeating in the 175 classification.

Windsor’s Evan Perez also finished with a perfect record, going 41-0 en route to his 215-pound classification victory.

While the field put up a fight, after dropping last year’s competition, the Pueblo East boys had their eye on one thing coming into the 2025 state tournament.

That thing: the banner and championship trophy that they carried onto the bus.

“That just shows the amount of work we put in,” Espinoza said. “Last year we learned the hardest way possible, but now we’re back on top.”