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Pueblo East dominates Day 1 of title defense; Central girls solidify quarterfinals spot

chris abdelmalek, the pueblo chieftain
·7 min read

The 2023 Colorado high school state wrestling tournament began Thursday at Ball Arena and nearly 50 athletes from the Pueblo area competed in the first round with dreams of advancing and winning a state title.

The defending Class 4A state champion Pueblo East Eagles started their title defense with wins in eight different weight classes. They sent 11 wrestlers to the tournament, which was the most of any Pueblo-area school. The Pueblo County Hornets sat in fifth-place after the first day. Each Pueblo school scored a victory on the boys side of the tournament.

On the girls side, Kenna Pino and Gabby Dowling both earned victories in their first-round matches, marking the first time in history the girls wrestling team has solidified a quarterfinals spot at the state tournament.

In Class 3A, the Pueblo Central Wildcats earned five first-round victories, including wins by Genaro Pino and Jordan Atencio. Central sat in fifth place in team points after Thursday's action.

The Class 2A Dolores Huerta Scorpions notched two quarterfinals appearances by AJ Jaramillo and Miguel Franco.

More:East Eagles seek to defend title as Pueblo sends nearly 50 wrestlers to state tournaments

Girls get first-round victories

Pueblo Central's Kenna Pino earns backpoints on Aryah Quintanilla of Fountain-Fort Carson during their 135-pound first round matchup in the girls wrestling state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
Pueblo Central's Kenna Pino earns backpoints on Aryah Quintanilla of Fountain-Fort Carson during their 135-pound first round matchup in the girls wrestling state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Out of the five Pueblo-area girls competing at this year's tournament, two were able to secure victories in the first round. Kenna Pino won by a 9-1 major decision over Aryah Quintanilla of Fountain-Fort Carson and Gabby Dowling won by pinfall over Sarah Christensen of Evergreen.

On day two of the tournament, Roxie Rodriguez and Lauren Martinez will still compete in the consolation bracket after suffering losses in round one. John Mall’s only wrestler, Ivey McAlhany, also suffered a loss on the first day and will compete in the consolation bracket.

Pueblo Central

  • Faith Vondy (Severance), 32-8, won by 5-3 decision over Roxie Rodriguez (Pueblo Central), 21-8.

  • Kenna Pino (Pueblo Central), 30-6, won by 9-1 major decision over Aryah Quintanilla (Fountain - Fort Carson), 19-11.

  • Gabby Dowling (Pueblo Central), 35-10, won by fall over Sarah Christensen (Evergreen), 23-10.

  • Alissa DuBois (Bennett), 31-5, won by fall over Lauren Martinez (Pueblo Central), 20-12

John Mall (Rye)

  • Hannah Rocklin (Chatfield), 41-6, won by fall over Ivey McAlhany (John Mall), 27-16.

Pueblo East dominates first round

Pueblo East's Manuel "Pocky" Amaro faces off against Billy Rodriguez of Thomas Jefferson during their 113-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
Pueblo East's Manuel "Pocky" Amaro faces off against Billy Rodriguez of Thomas Jefferson during their 113-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

The East Eagles are off to a great start in defending their state title as eight of the 11 wrestlers they sent to state won in the first round. The three to suffer defeats were Daniel Duarte, Kaelen Holmes, and Justus Freeman, all of whom will still compete in the consolation brackets.

The Pueblo County Hornets earned five first-round victories, including wins from defending state champion Zion Mares and current No. 1-ranked Boden White. The Hornets ended Thursday in fifth place in team points with 20.5 behind the Eagles' 25, which was good enough for first place.

Pueblo South earned two victories on the day from Marco Oliva and Cruz Martinez.

Pueblo West’s Thomas Mayer defeated Centennial’s Sal Mendoza to earn the Cyclones' only victory in the first round. The Bulldogs claimed three victories, including wins from last year’s third-place finisher Jason Soto, and Blake Roberts, who took the win against East’s Justus Freeman.

Sully DeHerrera of Pueblo East grasps the head of Adrian Casillas of Frederick High School during the first round of the CHSAA Class 4A state wrestling tournament held at Ball Arena on Feb. 16, 2023.
Sully DeHerrera of Pueblo East grasps the head of Adrian Casillas of Frederick High School during the first round of the CHSAA Class 4A state wrestling tournament held at Ball Arena on Feb. 16, 2023.

Pueblo East

  • L.J. Herburger (Pueblo East), 32-5, won by fall over Brogan Bartholomew (Pueblo County), 20-11.

  • Manuel Amaro (Pueblo East), 35-5, won by fall over Billy Rodriguez (Thomas Jefferson), 9-20.

  • Julian Espinoza (Pueblo East), 39-8, won by 15-2 major decision over Cody Tanner (Broomfield), 23-11.

  • Niko Fernandez (Pueblo East), 35-14, won by 5-4 decision over Robert Cole Good (Eagle Valley), 29-8.

  • Tatum Rivera (Pueblo East), 35-12, won by 10-2 major decision over Austin Muir (Erie), 17-13.

  • Weston Dalton (Pueblo East), 39-4, won by tech fall over Trevin Brannon (Palisade), 9-13.

  • Sully Deherrera (Pueblo East), 36-12, won by 10-4 decision over Adrian Casillas (Frederick), 25-10.

  • Blake Roberts (Pueblo Centennial), 36-8, won by 8-7 decision over Justus Freeman (Pueblo East), 22-9.

  • Sebastian Freeman (Pueblo East), 36-6, won by fall over Max Johnson (Evergreen), 28-13.

  • Kodiak Kellogg (Glenwood Springs), 29-9, won by 4-3 decision over Daniel Duarte (Pueblo East), 30-14.

  • Antonio Camey-Valdez (Harrison), 33-4, won by fall over Kaelen Holmes (Pueblo East) 20-22.

Pueblo County's Boden White shoots in for a takedown on Pueblo South's Kenshin Siffring during their 138-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
Pueblo County's Boden White shoots in for a takedown on Pueblo South's Kenshin Siffring during their 138-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Pueblo County

  • L.J. Herburger (Pueblo East), 32-5, won by fall over Brogan Bartholomew (Pueblo County), 20-11.

  • Zion Mares (Pueblo County), 32-6, won by fall over Isaicc Nomura (Mesa Ridge), 9-11.

  • Wyatt Faris (Pueblo County), 27-15, won by 12-2 major decision over Elias Garcia (Littleton), 24-13.

  • Thomas Velasquez (Pueblo County), 37-10, won by 3-2 decision over Kamron Alegria (Montrose), 20-3.

  • Izaiah Padilla (Pueblo County), 39-4, won by fall over Jackson Eversman (Thompson Valley), 27-20.

  • Boden White (Pueblo County), 39-7, won by tech fall over Kenshin Siffring (Pueblo South), 29-14.

  • Tony Macaluso (Pueblo County), 33-10, won by fall over Sachin Rajpal (Denver South), 20-15.

  • Daniel Alcazar (Montrose), 31-9, won by fall over Christofer Vazquez (Pueblo County), 19-11.

Pueblo West's Tom Cruz faces off against Javani Majoor of Falcon during their 157-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
Pueblo West's Tom Cruz faces off against Javani Majoor of Falcon during their 157-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Pueblo West

  • AJ Hague (Riverdale Ridge), 41-3, won by fall over Benjamin Kauffman (Pueblo West), 14-9.

  • Javani Majoor (Falcon), 39-1, won by 8-1 decision over Tom Cruz (Pueblo West), 12-10.

  • Ricardo Castillo (Greeley West), 22-10, won by 5-4 decision over Samuel Clark (Pueblo West), 34-10.

  • Thomas Mayer (Pueblo West), 37-5, won by fall over Sal Mendoza (Pueblo Centennial), 10-14.

Pueblo South's Antonio Martinez faces off against David Estrada of Thomas Jefferson during their 120-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
Pueblo South's Antonio Martinez faces off against David Estrada of Thomas Jefferson during their 120-pound first round matchup in the Class 4A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Pueblo South

  • David Estrada (Thomas Jefferson), 35-8, won by fall over Antonio Martinez (Pueblo South), 27-13.

  • Boden White (Pueblo County), 39-7, won by tech fall over Kenshin Siffring (Pueblo South) 29-14.

  • Cruz Martinez (Pueblo South), 32-10, won by fall over Maddox Leggett (Skyline), 19-7.

  • Marco Oliva (Pueblo South), 25-7, won by fall over Jackson Cowgill (Erie), 8-5.

Pueblo Centennial's Adrion Lopez-Vigil attempts to roll Fadigui Atore of Denver South during the first round of the CHSAA Class 4A state wrestling tournament held at Ball Arena on Feb. 16, 2023.
Pueblo Centennial's Adrion Lopez-Vigil attempts to roll Fadigui Atore of Denver South during the first round of the CHSAA Class 4A state wrestling tournament held at Ball Arena on Feb. 16, 2023.

Pueblo Centennial

  • Jason Soto (Pueblo Centennial), 33-3, won by 9-4 decision over Tyson Stahlecker (Palmer Ridge), 25-11.

  • Blake Roberts (Pueblo Centennial), 36-8, won by 8-7 decision over Justus Freeman (Pueblo East), 22-9.

  • Adrion Lopez-Vigil (Pueblo Centennial), 29-12, won by fall over Fadigui Atore (Denver South), 24-7.

  • Thomas Mayer (Pueblo West), 37-5, won by fall over Sal Mendoza (Pueblo Centennial), 10-14.

Wildcats and Scorpions leave their mark

Pueblo Central's Genaro Pino cranks the neck of Florence's Skyler Davis during their 160-pound first round matchup in the Class 3A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
Pueblo Central's Genaro Pino cranks the neck of Florence's Skyler Davis during their 160-pound first round matchup in the Class 3A state tournament at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

After sending 10 wrestlers to the state finals, half of the Central Wildcats squad were able to win their first matches to advance to the quarterfinals. Onesimo Rodriguez, David Sanchez, Jordan Atencio, Genaro Pino, and Mariano Romero-Garcia all earned victories for the Wildcats in the first round, and all occurred by pinfall except for Atencio's, which ended in a major decision.

The rest of the squad will still compete in the consolation bracket with a chance to finish in the top five in the state.

The Class 2A representatives from Pueblo come from Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School, which had three wrestlers qualify for the state tournament, with AJ Jaramillo and Miguel Franco both earning victories in their first-round matches. Franis Saint Peter will compete for the Scorpions in the consolation bracket.

Pueblo Central (Class 3A)

  • Dawsen Drozdik (Delta), 44-4, won by fall over Roman Barela (Pueblo Central), 15-16.

  • Onesimo Rodriguez (Pueblo Central), 37-5, won by fall over Brandon Hansen (Valley), 29-10.

  • Brock Fry (Gunnison), 33-8, won by 11-1 major decision over Brandon Mascarenas (Pueblo Central), 17-9.

  • Dyson Woodward (Alamosa), 32-10, won by fall over Joseph LeGrand (Pueblo Central), 22-9.

  • Colby Schaffer (Valley), 28-8, won by fall over Cameron Piper (Pueblo Central), 32-11.

  • Jack Fetzer (Conifer), 40-6, won by fall over Joseph Castro (Pueblo Central), 18-6.

  • David Sanchez (Pueblo Central), 30-6, won by fall over Aron Aguliar (Moffat County), 17-10.

  • Jordan Atencio (Pueblo Central), 30-4, won by 15-2 major decision over Ridge Blackwood (The Classical Academy), 16-13.

  • Genaro Pino (Pueblo Central), 40-2, won by fall over Skyler Davis (Florence), 16-8.

  • Mariano Romero-Garcia (Pueblo Central), 26-3, won by fall over Donovan Mann (Berthoud), 23-14.

Miguel Franco of Dolores Huerta Prep gains top control over Aiden Trujillo from John Mall in the CHSAA Class 2A state tournament first round held at Ball Arena on Feb. 16, 2023.
Miguel Franco of Dolores Huerta Prep gains top control over Aiden Trujillo from John Mall in the CHSAA Class 2A state tournament first round held at Ball Arena on Feb. 16, 2023.

DHPH (Class 2A)

  • AJ Jaramillo (Dolores Huerta Preparatory), 27-4, won by tech fall over Porter Snyder (Byers), 24-20.

  • Miguel Franco (Dolores Huerta Preparatory), 33-5, won by fall over Aiden Trujillo (John Mall), 11-21.

  • Landon Martin (Cedaredge), 35-9, won by fall over Franis Saint Peter (Dolores Huerta Preparatory), 18-15.

The quarterfinals of the tournament begin Friday morning with the girls, Class 2A and 3A boys competing, followed by Class 4A and 5A boys in the afternoon. Semifinals will take place in the evening on Friday starting around 6 p.m.

Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on Twitter @chowebacca

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo East dominates Day 1 of state wrestling title defense