Paonia's wrestling program has received more than its fair share of accolades over the years.
The Eagles have five state championships to their credit, including taking the Class 2A title in each of the previous three seasons. Last winter the squad dominated the rest of the field, taking home another trophy with five individual champions and 180 points – 67.5 points ahead of second-place Baca County.
But this season Paonia is hoping to add some history to that resumé. The Eagles certainly are in pursuit of a fourth consecutive crown, but senior Jesse Reed comes into the 2014-15 season with the opportunity to become the school's first four-time state champion and the 18th in Colorado overall.
"Going for No. 4 is tough, but they've all been tough," Eagles coach Andy Pipher said. "There's a lot of pressure I'm sure, but he handles it well. He goes in and works hard every day. He goes in and goes to work and does the same thing on the weekend."
The start to Reed's championship run coincided with Paonia's team run in 2012. He pinned Burlington's Miguel Torres as a freshman and posted a 7-5 decision over Baca County's Stetson Loader as a sophomore.
Last February he capped a perfect season by edging Swink's Austin Coy 6-4, running his career mark to 109-7. He is already the school's first three-time state champion; Bobby Reed (1978-79) and Isaac Knight (1995-96) are the only other repeat winners in the school's history.
Broomfield's Phil Downing was the last Colorado wrestler to accomplish a four-peat, reaching the milestone in 2014. The last 2A wrestler was Crowley County's Torben Walters (2002-05).
Reed starts the season ranked first at 126 pounds in the On The Mat rankings. Fellow defending state champions Bo Pipher (138) and Zach Milner (160) are also ranked first for the Eagles. Josh Altman (132), Gunnar Chesnik (152) and Logan Schopp (195) are ranked third and Colton Godwin (106) is fourth.
"These kids wrestle a lot of matches in the summer and that makes a big difference for them," said Pipher, who has eight returning varsity wrestlers. "For the last three years we've had really good kids, and this group this year is just really outstanding. They learn so fast; you don't have to spend a lot of time showing them moves over and over."
With the season already under way, Paonia joins defending 5A state champion
Arvada West as a preseason No. 1. With
Broomfield now in 5A,
Thompson Valley (Loveland) is the preseason favorite in 4A, and
Brush gets the 3A nod just ahead of defending champion
Valley (Gilcrest).
In addition to the Reed-Paonia storyline, there are a number of other individuals and team races to keep an eye on this season:
•
Meeker's T.J. Shelton is in pursuit of a little history of his own. The junior has won titles in each of his first two seasons, and the junior is ranked first at 182 pounds in 2A this winter. Shelton pinned his way through the 170-pound bracket last March.
• Jareb Aziz of
Centauri (La Jara) is in the same situation. After winning 3A titles his sophomore and junior years, the senior and his teammates are now in the 2A classification. Aziz begins the year ranked first at 195 pounds as he pursues a third state title.
• The battle for the 3A title between defending champion Valley and top-ranked Brush should be a good one. Valley returns two state champions in Ruben Lucero and Brendan Gonzales, and Macoy Flanagan starts the season ranked first at 160. The Beetdiggers' Conrad Cole (120) and Joe Carwin (285) are ranked first after taking second at state a year ago. Cole won a state title two years ago.
• With two-time defending state champion Broomfield now in 5A, the 4A chase figures to be a fight. Thompson Valley,
Pueblo County,
Windsor and
Pueblo South each started the season with two wrestlers ranked first in their weight classes. Pueblo County returns two state champions in twins Grant and Hunter Willits, while Windsor has Josh Villa back and Thompson Valley returns Parker Simington.
• The 5A Jeffco rivalry between Arvada West and
Pomona (Arvada) will be worth watching as well. The defending state champion Wildcats return two state champions in Payton Tawater and Devin Rothrock, and runner-up Jimmy Rothwell is ranked first at 145 pounds. Pomona has three wrestlers ranked first, including defending state champs Tomas Gutierrez and Deyaun Trueblood, who won his first title with Gateway last season.
•
Grand Junction's Jacob Trujillo is also in pursuit of a third consecutive state title. Trujillo won the 145-pound 5A crown as a sophomore and the 160 title as a junior with an 8-4 decision. He begins the season ranked first in the same weight class. Teammate Josiah Rider is ranked first at 138 pounds.
Class 5A
2013-14 State Champion: Arvada West
Returning Individual State Champions: Tomas Gutierrez, Jr., Pomona (106 pounds); Ryan Deakin, Jr., Legacy (113); Payton Tawater, Sr., Arvada West (145); Deyaun Trueblood, Jr., Pomona (152 with Gateway); Jacob Trujillo, Sr., Grand Junction (160); Devin Rothrock, Sr., Arvada West (195).
Class 4A
2013-14 State Champion: Broomfield
Returning Individual State Champions: Grant Willits, So., Pueblo County (106); Josh Villa, Sr., Windsor (113); Sam Turner, Jr., Discovery Canyon (120); Hunter Willits, So., Pueblo County (132); Parker Simington, Jr., Thompson Valley (145); Toby McBride, Jr., Fort Morgan (220).
Class 3A
2013-14 State Champion: Valley
Returning Individual State Champions: Sage Budd, Sr., Mead (126 in 4A); Ruben Lucero, Sr., Valley (132); Joseph Prieto, Sr., Holy Family (138); Jimmy Fate, Jr., Berthoud (138 in 4A); Joel Contreras, Sterling (145); Brendan Gonzales, Sr., Valley (160); Seager Oliver, Sr., Montezuma Cortez (170 in 4A); Jacob Ornelas, Sr., Fort Lupton (220).
Class 2A
2013-14 State Champion: Paonia
Returning Individual State Champions: Jonathan Andreatta, So., John Mall (106); Talon Harris, Sr., Norwood/Nucla (113); Jose Duran, Jr., Monte Vista (113 in 3A); Jesse Reed, Sr., Paonia (126); Bo Pipher, Jr., Paonia (132); Ryan Nordyke, Sr., Holly (138); Blake Denton, Sr., Swink (145); Zach Milner, Sr., Paonia (160); T.J. Shelton, Jr., Meeker (170); Jareb Aziz, Sr., Centauri (195 in 3A).
