AURORA — It’s time for teams to make the final push towards them trying to make an appearance for Colorado High School Activities Association-sponsored State Championships.

For wrestling and girls swimming, it is only a month away. The Class 2-5A Wrestling Championships will be held Feb. 15-17 in the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Class 4A-5A Swimming and Diving Championships will also be held Feb. 15-17 in the Eldora Pool and Ice Center in Fort Collins.

The first session for wrestling will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. The tournament features a 10-mat format with two classes wrestling on five mats each day. Class 2A-3A start the action Thursday afternoon, followed by a 7:15 p.m. session for 4A-5A schools. The 10 mats remain on the floor for all but the final session on Saturday evening, Feb. 17.

Tickets are now on sale for both the 2001 Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships. Order forms can be requested by contacting the CHSAA Ticket Office at (303) 340-1818. All ticket orders must be received by Feb. 7.

Tickets may also be purchased starting Feb. 5 by phone through TicketMaster at (303) 830-8497 and they also may be purchased at The Pepsi Center box office.

However, for the first day of the tournament on Feb. 15, only general admission tickets will be sold. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. Session 1 (from 3-6:15 p.m.) will be for Class 2A-3A preliminary bouts and Session 2 (7:15-10:45 p.m.) will be 4A-5A prelims.

The championship quarterfinals and first round consolations will get under way at 10 a.m. Feb. 16 for 2A-3A and at 1 p.m. for 4A-5A. Consolation semifinals for 2A-3A and 4A-5A will start at 7 p.m. All seats are reserved.

Consolation (Session 5) for all classes start at 11 a.m. These are also general admission only. Ticket prices are $8 adults and $7 children and seniors. Championship finals begin at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17. All seats are reserved. Premium seats are $11 and upper level for $9 adults and $7 for children and seniors.

Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestlers compete in 4A while Mancos, Dolores, and Dolores County wrestlers in 2A.

For more information about the wrestling tickets, phone the CHSAA at (303) 340-1818.

For swimming under the three-day format, Class 5A swimming preliminaries will get under way Thursday, Feb. 15. The 4A swimming preliminaries will start at noon Friday and 5A division at noon that same day. The 5A finals are set for 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. The 4A diving prelims start at noon Friday. The 4A finals will conclude later that day at 5 p.m. Only MCHS, which competes in 4A, participants in swimming around here.

Skiing championships are coming up Feb. 23-24 at Copper Mountain Resort. No area high school teams participates in that sport. Ice Hockey Championships are set Feb. 26 and 28 at the United States Air Force Academy. But again, no area teams participate.

The 2001 State Basketball Tournament is coming up a little bit down the road, March 7-10 in the Pepsi Center for Class 4A-5A.

Tickets are also on sale for the tournament. The tournament is set March 7-10 at The Pepsi Center for Class 4A-5A only.

Order forms can be requested by contacting the CHSAA Tickets Office at 340-1818. All ticket orders must be received by Feb. 21.

Tickets can also be purchased starting Feb. 26 by phone through TicketMaster (930-8497. And tickets may also be purchase starting that day at The Pepsi Center box office. A box office fee of $1.50 will be charged. The Class 4A boys quarterfinals (3:30, 5:10, 6:50 and 8:30 p.m.) will get under way. Reserved tickets only. Adult premium seats are $10 while upper level are $8 children and $7 seniors.