The race for this season’s Class 4A wrestling state championship runs through the Steel City.
Two-time defending champion Pueblo County, the top-ranked 4A team by On The Mat, has the talent to make it a three-peat. And right on their heels is Pueblo East, which is capable of the program’s first championship following 2017’s fourth-place finish.
“Pueblo’s always had a strong tradition in wrestling, but right now, with how big the youth clubs in the city are getting, it’s evolved and it’s gotten even tougher,” Pueblo County coach Eddie Soto said. “Pueblo West is really good, too, so the best competition in the state is right in our backyard.”
The Hornets, who were so dominant last season that they secured the team title before the championship round of the state meet, return plenty of ammo.
Junior Brendon Garcia (113 pounds) was last season’s champion at 106, while 2017 state runner-ups in senior Josiah Nava (120), junior Nathan Bonham (126) and senior Dante Garcia (220) also boast plenty of prime-time experience.
Meanwhile, Pueblo East brings back a reigning champ in sophomore heavyweight Andy Garcia, in addition to a pair of seasoned juniors, Ryan Roth (120) and Jace Trujillo (126).
The depth of both programs has other top 4A teams, such as two-time defending runner-up Greeley Central, as well as Windsor, knowing that it will be an uphill climb to nab a trophy Feb. 15-17 at the Pepsi Center.
“It’s the same song and dance — County is so talented, so a lot of things would have to go wrong for them and right for us for us to catch them,” Greeley Central coach Eric Penfold said. “But state’s a weird place — last year, East was very deep also and they just had a bad run of luck (with six semifinal losses) so we were able to get second, but I don’t see those guys making the same mistakes again.”
Pueblo County and Pueblo East have already flexed their muscle — albeit in different ways — with victories in their respective pools in the Battle of the Best dual tournament, which the Hornets won to open the season.
“Those two teams have two completely different styles of wrestling,” Penfold said. “If you take your focus for a second off East, they’re going to throw you to your back with a headlock or a spladle — they’re looking to catch you and pin you, and they’re putting constant pressure on you. Whereas County is very technical — they’ll take you down, ride you hard to wear you down, and then at the end they put it to you.”
Penfold’s Wildcats have gritty competitors too, especially in a pair of defending champions, senior Josh Nira (120/126) and junior Andrew Alirez (145). And Windsor also returns one defending champion, sophomore Dominick Serrano (120), in addition to landing another via transfer in junior Isaiah Salazar, the 152-pound 3A title winner for Eaton last year.
“Windsor and us will be waiting in the wings,” Penfold said. “If those two top Pueblo schools slip up, we’ll be there to try and grab a trophy at state.”
Class 4A returning state champions
Name, Year, School, 2017 Weight
Brendon Garcia, Jr., Pueblo County, 106
Josh Nira, Sr., Greeley Central, 113
Dominick Serrano, Soph., Windsor, 120
Andrew Alirez, Jr., Greeley Central, 126
Andy Garcia, Soph., Pueblo East, 285
