Area wrestlers advance in state tournament

Area wrestlers advance in state tournament

Feb. 17, 2001

By Jim Thomas
Journal Sports Editor

DENVER — All the local wrestling competitors who had placed at the state tournament last year seem to be headed to the medal stand again. They all won first-round matches Thursday night at the 2001 Colorado High School Wrestling Championships in Denver’s Pepsi Center.

Cole Allison, 171 pounds, seems destined to follow his father, Coach Mike Allison, in becoming a two-time state champ. His father won the 160-pound class in 1968 and 1969 while at Fountain-Fort Carson. The young Allison won the Class 4A 160-pound title in 2000.

Now a Montezuma-Cortez High School senior, he improved his record to 38-1 with a first-period pin of junior Mike Baron of Elizabeth in 1 minute, 24 seconds.

Allison, who is the top seed, took nearly half that time to grab hold of his opponent. The score was 0-0 with 1:08 left in the two-minute bout. Once Allison finally was able to get a grip, he put Baron in a fireman’s carry and tossed him to the mat. Allison then turned him over and scored with a three-point nearfall with 36 seconds left.

In 14 more seconds, the referee was raising Allison’s hand in the air.

The rest of the 2000 placers returning to this year’s tournament are from the Class 2A ranks. Scott Koppenhafer of Mancos, who finished as state runner-up a year ago at 135, also pinned his first-round opponent.

He improved his record to 37-0 in the 135-pound bout. Koppenhafer won in 3:08 over Dennis Montoya of Del Norte.

Koppenhafer took control early in the first period. He took Montoya down but was called for an illegal hold a few seconds later. Montoya tied the score at 2-2 with an escape.

But Koppenhafer regained control and scored on a two-point nearfall to lead 5-2 when the period ended. Koppenhafer, following a takedown, got Montoya into a cradle to lead 9-2. He pulled Montoya over with a half-Nelson and pinned him.

Dolores County’s Kyle Riddell, who finished as runner-up at 103 a year ago, had no problems with Jason Holzworth of Fowler. Riddell quickly tossed him to the mat, turned him over and pinned him in 57 seconds.

Jeremiah Muniz of Mancos, who was fifth a year ago at 125, won by pin in 5:17 over Jordan Schultz of Peyton. The score was deadlocked at 0 through most of the first period, as neither grappler could gain an advantage.

Muniz, starting in the up position in the second, got free and took Schultz down. Muniz momentarily got into trouble but recovered with a reversal and led 4-2 going into the third round. Starting down, Muniz escaped, yanked Schultz over and pinned him.

Mike Montoya of Mancos, who was state runner-up last year at 135, decisioned Jon Medina of Sanford 14-0 in the 140 bout. Montoya and Medina battle to a 0-0 score until late in the first period, when Montoya, who briefly found himself in trouble, made a reversal. He quickly took Medina down and scored again to go up 1-0. Montoya manhandled Medina and scored almost at will. He led 9-0 at the end of the second. Montoya tossed his opponent to the mat and scored several more points through the rest of the contest.

Mancos’ Philip Wilson, who placed fifth last year at 160, won by pin in 3:11 over Keith Hurley of Stratton. Wilson dominated the match from the get-go. With 23 seconds left, Wilson was up 7-1. He led 10-1 when he nearly pinned Hurley at the buzzer. Starting down, Wilson made a reversal and then scored with a nearfall to go up 15-1 at 1:09. He then pinned Hurley 20 seconds later.

Derek Thompson of Dolores, who finished sixth at heavyweight a year ago, improved to 26-0 with a quick pin in 1:01 of Bryon Adolf of Akron. Adolf scored early but Thompson tied at 2 and the match was soon over.

In other opening-day matches for the Panthers, Tyler Gray (119) won but Nic Martinez (145) and Elias Lehi (heavyweight) both lost.

Gray decisioned Jeff Cole of Pueblo Centennial 12-5. Gray and Cole tied at 2 at the end of the first. Gray actually trailed 3-2 at the end of the second, but he dominated all of the third.

Martinez fell behind 3-11 at the end of the first to Mitchell Johns of Denver Mullen. He made a spectacular comeback in the second and trailed 12-10. But Martinez made several mistakes in the third.

Lehi and Englewood’s Heath Soderstrom battled like two walruses, with neither grappler able to gain a hold. But Soderstrom made his move and Lehi was quickly on his back. He pinned Lehi in 2:42.

In other 2A winners on the day: Mancos’ Vince Bazile (103) won by pin in the first period (1:10) over Zach Arnold of Kiowa; Anthony Mestas (112) of Mancos pinned Chris Miller of Strasburg in 1:21; and Casey Spitzer of Dove Creek (119) pinned Craig Potthoff of Wiggins in 2:58.

Dove Creek’s Matt Beanland (112) lost by fall, Mancos’ Daniel Wilson (119) was pinned, Dove Creek’s Trinity Cressler (125) lost by fall; DCHS’ Randy Curtis (130) was upset and lost by fall, Dolores’ Shawn Everett (140) was decisioned 16-9, Mancos’ Kelly Mitchell (145) was pinned, Mancos’ Jakob Talleut (152) was pinned, Dolores’ Casey Garvin (170) lost by fall, Dolores’ Colter Dunagan (171) was pinned, Dolores’ Tyler Hicks (215) was pinned, and Mancos heavyweight Kevin Schlemmer was pinned.

Quarterfinal and semifinal matches highlighted Friday’s activities. Today, all top six places will be decided. The Parade of Champions (finals) starts at 6:30 p.m.