GREELEY >> Several of the state’s top wrestlers made their way to Greeley’s Island Grove Event Center on Saturday for the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament.

Local boys’ teams in attendance included Mead, Holy Family, Erie, Broomfield, Frederick, Boulder, Centaurus, Longmont and Legacy. On the girls’ side, wrestlers from Mead, Broomfield and Holy Family competed in the esteemed mid-season tournament.

With many programs now taking time off for the holidays, the NCCT provided a valuable litmus test for those with state championship aspirations.

Boys and girls combined, four local wrestlers reached a championship match, including three from Mead.

Freshmen dominance

Mead freshman Renee Hudson continued an impressive start to her high school career by blowing through the girls’ 110-pound bracket. Hudson pinned all six of her championship-round opponents in the first period, including Pueblo Central’s Gionna Duran in the title match (38 seconds). In total, Hudson was on the mat for only 2:55.

“I was just like, ‘Whatever gets thrown at me, we’re gonna do it. If she shoots, she shoots,’” Hudson said of her championship match win. “I was ready to go into it win or lose.”

The NCCT has long been on Hudson’s radar, making her 110-pound title even more special.

“I’ve always talked about it,” Hudson said. “Ever since I started, I had to wrestle with the boys, so now wrestling with the girls, and going up and advancing, I’m super excited about it. It’s one of the bigger-ranking tournaments. This is like a pre-state, so I’m super pumped about it.”

Hudson wasn’t the only local freshman girl to find success. In the 105-pound division, Holy Family’s Veronika Hafer finished fourth after falling in the third-place match. Hafer credited her older teammates for helping her navigate these early matches.

“All my teammates are nice, especially two seniors, Charlii (Carbajal-Sanchez) and Jayci Pounders,” Hafer said.

The Mead girls finished sixth in the team standings, while Broomfield took 20th and Holy Family 26th.

Narrow win

In arguably the most dramatic championship match, 175-pound Mead senior Leister Bowling IV needed an overtime period to defeat Pueblo Central’s Genaro Pino, 8-5. The University of Iowa wrestling commit admitted that he could’ve entered his finals bout with a better approach.

“In the finals match, I didn’t come really that prepared,” said Bowling, last season’s Class 4A 175-pound state title winner. “Even though I won the match, he (Pino) wrestled his best day, and I wrestled my worst.”

Bowling was one of three Mead boys to finish top-five, joining 215-pound senior William Eilers (second place) and 190-pound junior Carter Woods (fifth). It’s still early in the season, but Mead is building momentum to repeat as Class 4A state champions.

“This year, some of the middle-tier guys have that confidence, and they’re winning because of that confidence.” Bowling said. “You can’t win a match against a guy that’s better than you if you don’t have that confidence. We’re rolling into tournaments with confidence, and we’re getting some things done.”

Mead finished 10th in the NCCT boys team standings, while Holy Family followed in 16th. The Tigers were led by Camden Austin, who took fourth at 215 pounds. Also of note, Centaurus’ Mason Shore took fourth in the 190-pound division.

Martinez takes girls’ 190s

One year after losing in the 170-pound girls NCCT championship quarterfinals, the now-190-pound Shayla Martinez rolled through the competition on Saturday. The Broomfield sophomore snagged the 190-pound crown by pinning Cheyenne East’s Joci Davis in 2:22 in the championship match.

“I got my confidence back and I realized how much of a good wrestler I am,” Martinez said. “I’m tall, so I learned how to use my length and my height to my advantage. I came in here trying to prove something to everyone that I can be the best.”

Following an impressive weekend in Greeley, Martinez hopes to remain undefeated on the season and compete for an individual state title.

Two other Broomfield girls earned a top-eight medal: Breezy Johnston took sixth at 130 pounds, and Kaliyah Schimpf was eighth in the 145-pound division.