DENVER— A record 9,158 wrestlers from throughout the state were on hand for the beginning of preliminary bouts of the 65th annual Colorado High School Wrestling Championships Thursday, Feb. 17, at the new Pepsi Center.

Both Justin Peters of Dolores and Cole Allison of Montezuma-Cortez were on track to win individual state titles following first round action.

Peters — who won at 140 pounds last year, at 130 in 1998 and finished second as a freshman in 1997— had no problems against Zeb Wells of Akron, pinning him in 3:09.

"I really didn’t have too many problems with him," he said following the match. "The competition the rest of the tournament is going to be good, especially at this weight (152 pounds)."

"He’s off to a good start," Dolores coach Bill Kralicek said. "It was a warm-up."

If Peters wins Friday morning’s quarterfinals and Friday night’s semifinals, that would set up what could be a classic battle for the 152-pound crown providing that Andrew Wilkins of Crowley County wins his matches. Wilkins also is a two-time champion (145 in 1999 and 135 in 1998).

"I never wrestled him; I’m looking forward to it," Peters added. "At the beginning of the season I was going to go to any weight he did. This is something I want if we can meet."

Allison, meanwhile, was still undefeated, at 38-0, going into competition Friday. Only a junior, he did not place at State last year although he qualified.

Going up against Chris Ruiz of Florence, Allison completely dominated, taking a 12-1 major decision. Allison led the entire match.

"I didn’t really get the opportunity to use my legs against him like I normally do," Allison said afterward. "I worked him with my upper body. He was stronger than I thought he would be. I thought I didn’t really wrestle that well.

"The competition is going to get harder, so I will have to do better."

Peters and Allison weren’t the only area wrestlers to win first-round bouts.

Tyler Gray, 119 pounds of MCHS, decisioned Jay Sinner of Niwot, 7-5. Gray led all the way and was up 5-0 after the first period. The score was close at 6-5 late in the third, but Gray escaped with 20 seconds left and held on.

Cortez teammate Joey Wynes, 152, won by a fall in 4:38 over Taylor Steward of Grandview.

"They had some first-match jitters," MCHS coach Mike Allison commented. "I thought Tyler, Joey and Cole all wrestled pretty good."

Kyle Riddell, 103, of Dolores County took a one-minute pin over Mike Livengood of Custer County. DCHS’s Nick Montgomery decisioned Kyle Newsome of Limon 5-1 in a 112-pound bout.

Jeremiah Muniz of Mancos at 125 pounds had a quick 24-second pin against Jacob Thompson of Fowler. In another 125-pound bout, Shawn Everett of Dolores walloped Nate Steelman of Cheyenne Wells, 13-4.

Scott Koppenhafer of Mancos won by a 3:38 fall over Keith A-Kreuz of Cheyenne Wells. Jade Huskey (135) of Dove Creek won by pin in 2:41 against Gilbert Apodaca of Centennial. Mike Montoya of Mancos, also at 135, edged Josh Bailey of Hilltop Baptist 2-1.

Chess Johnson (145) of DCHS had perhaps the toughest match of the night, winning a 6-4 overtime decision over Justin Reynolds of Holyoke. Phillip Wilson (160) of Mancos decisioned Justin Sherwood of Holly, 6-4. Derek Thompson of Dolores, at 215, won by fall over Maine Andrew of Cheyenne Wells in 1:33. Stephen Snyder of Dolores (275) won by pin in 1:42 over Chris Goldsberg of Strasburg.

In every wrestling meet there are also losers. Lyle Benally, 112 of Cortez, lost by a fall in 2:17 to Matt Martinez of Pueblo East. Jared Carver, also of MCHS, was pinned in 3:00 by Pat Walsh, defending state champ of Alamosa in a 130-pound bout. Shaun Randolph, 189, of MCHS was pinned in 5:48 by Joey Bryant of Broomfield.

Quintin Seevers, 103-pounder from Dolores, lost by fall in 1:36 to Kevin Salazar of Sanford. Daniel Wilson of Mancos, at 112, lost by fall to B.J. Stivers of Akron. Casey Spitzer, 119, of DCHS was pinned by Kevin Harryman of Holyoke in 3:44. Kelly Mitchell, 119, of Mancos was pinned by Mark Hart of Akron in 3:05.

Randy Curtis of Dove Creek lost a 1:02 fall to Anthony Lopez of Manzanola in a 130-pound bout. At 152, Quincy Wood, also of DCHS, lost 1-10 to Lloyd Kadlec of Holyoke. Kevin Everett, 160, of Dolores was pinned in 5:07 by Dylan Stewart of Cheyene Wells. Bill Ransom, Dove Creek heavyweight, was pinned in 1:59 by Andrew Colglazer of Holyoke.

Kalicek said he was pleased on the whole with most of his wrestlers during the first round.

"We have four advancing on the championship side," he said. "There were really no surprises. The kids know what they have to do because it doesn’t get any easier.

"We wrestled like I thought we would."

Mancos coach Travis Bryant also was upbeat following the first round.

"We lost a couple. I was hoping we we’d be better at those two lower weights. Jeremiah (Muniz) got a pin in 24 seconds which is really something here.

"We have to step it up another level because every round it gets a bit tougher. They just have to keep working hard."

DCHS coach Shane Baughman also was pleased, although he was hoping to be 5-3 instead of 4-4 following the first round.

"It was about what I expected," Baughman said. "Riddell and Husky looked good. Montgomery looked sluggish. I was very happy with Chess Johnson in overtime."