MEAD >> Looking to protect last year’s team state crown, Mead will send another crowded group of wrestlers to Denver next week for Colorado’s prep wrestling championships.

At Saturday’s Class 4A Region 2 tournament held at Mead High, seven Mavericks earned a trip to Ball Arena, including regional champions Breckan Palko (120 pounds), Leister Bowling IV (175s), William Eilers (215s) and Grant Gordon (285s).

Palko, a junior headed to his second state tournament, believes Mead has the talent to make another run at history.

“We’re still trying to prove people wrong,” Palko said following his home floor victory. “We think we’re better than some people think we are, so we have good confidence.”

Next week, Bowling and Gordon will each strive to defend their respective state titles. Eilers returns to Mead’s state team after placing second as a junior last year.

En route to winning the 120-pound regional title, Palko beat Frederick senior Nikolas Carrillo in his first-place bout via a 12-3 major decision. While both are headed to state, Saturday marked another memorable chapter between the two longtime foes. “It’s been competitive each match,” Palko said. “We were teammates when we were younger, 6, 7 years old. It’s not much of a rivalry, but there’s definitely a thing where you don’t want to lose.”

Carrillo wasn’t the only Frederick wrestler to perform well at regionals, with five other Golden Eagles landing in the top four to qualify for state. Diego Rangel (157s) and Nacoa Meisinger (285s) joined Carrillo with a runner-up result on Saturday.

Longmont’s Hunter Soule is state-bound once again after finishing runner-up in the 132-pound division. Soule said he struggled under the bright lights of Ball Arena last year, but the junior believes he’ll have an easier time adjusting to Colorado’s biggest stage.

“I’m gonna be ready for the experience,” Soule said. “Last year, I was a little deer-in-the-headlights and wasn’t ready for the environment. This year, I think I can go into it and wrestle better because I understand the environment.”

Soule, Longmont’s lone state qualifier, hopes to represent his community well at state.“My goal is to go win it, obviously, but I want to get better, get the mat time, and make my friends, family and school proud,” Soule said.

Niwot, led by state-qualified senior Ryder Evans, rounded out the local field. After earning his 100th career win in the consolation semifinals, the 144-pound Evans pinned Riverdale Ridge’s Truland Stearns to secure third place.

Fellow Cougars Eli Quesada (165s) and Jonathan Lopez (285s) also qualified for state.

In the Region 2 team standings, Mead finished second (219.5 points) behind champion Falcon (231).

The state wrestling championships will begin Thursday.

Finals are set for Saturday.

“(The postseason) makes the hard regular season worth it,” Palko said. “That’s what I found out last year being a part of a state championship team.”