ThunderRidge High School has at least four brackets at the Class
5A state mats to pay attention to.
The Grizzlies matmen qualified four grapplers to the state
championship tournaments Feb. 19-21 at the Pepsi Center in Denver
after regionals action.
Mountain Vista was able to qualify two wrestlers, while
Highlands Ranch will be represented by one grappler.
In the Class 4A championships, Rock Canyon has two wrestlers
headed downtown.
From the Grizzlies’ squad, junior Bryan Monahan contends for the
119-pound title with a record of 21-18 coming out of regionals. He
opens Round 1 against senior Eric Wilson of Grandview (40-4).
Derek Munsey, a junior, enters the 160 tournament with a 32-7
record. He will face Ponderosa sophomore Austin Gabel (25-3) to
start his run for a state medal.
Junior Cole Manhart takes a stab at the 215’s this year.
Carrying a 27-7 record into the Pepsi Center, Manhart faces
Heritage junior Logan Steppan (30-9) in the first round.
Lastly, ThunderRidge heavyweight Billy Wilson contends for state
after a 22-19 post-regional record. The senior faces Pomona junior
Gage Boyd (26-9) in Round 1.
Mountain Vista will have senior Gabe Smith in the 189-pound
tournament this year. Carrying a 29-10 record downtown, Smith pulls
a tough draw for the first round, as he faces Legacy senior Danny
Mitchell, who is undefeated coming into state at 19-0.
Junior Taylor Gutierrez will represent the Golden Eagles in the
heavyweight class. He walks into state with a 26-12 record and
kicks off his bracket against Rocky Mountain junior Greg Smith
(29-7).
Highlands Ranch only had three placers at regionals this year,
including heavyweight regional champion Michael Purcell, a senior
with a record of 33-2. Purcell barely missed state contention last
year. The Falcons’ CJ Cayou at 145 and Conner McClanahan at 171
missed state contention this year but finished fifth at
regionals.
“This was fantastic for us not having a full team and being in
Region 1 with Ponderosa, Pomona, Grandview and Arapahoe just to
mention a few,” Falcons coach Dennis Wagner said.
Purcell kicks off his 285-plus pound title run against
Fruita-Monument junior Anthony Martin (22-18) in the first
round.
In the Class 4A dance, Rock Canyon is represented by returning
qualifiers Alex Abreu and Jake Eggett. Abreu stakes a claim for a
medal in the 103-pound class and comes to the Pepsi Center with a
34-4 record through regionals. He faces Moffat County sophomore
Cody Nelson (40-5) in the first round.
Eggett, a senior at 215 pounds, walks downtown with a 32-7
record on the season. He kicks off his state show against Thomas
Jefferson senior Boris Tubic (35-5).
