BOYS

Class 5A

Boulder Panthers

Coach: Will LeBoeuf

Last season’s result: Finished 41st at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: “We have the biggest team we have had since COVID,” LeBoeuf said. “Although we are lacking in years of experience, we have very enthusiastic wrestlers and I’m excited to see what they can do.”

The Tea: Jr. Abraham Pomeroy is the lone returning state qualifier after losing in the first round of the 132-pound bracket. On The Mat ranks him sixth in 5A 138s this season. Expect Soph. Alex Smith (157s) to make noise by postseason time for the Panthers as well.

Centaurus Warriors

Coach: Arturo Mata

Last season’s result: Finished 32nd at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: Sr. Xavier Valentin-Bradford is back after placing fifth in 5A 285s a season ago. He is ranked second in the 5A heavyweight class by OTM.

The Tea: Valentin-Bradford is back after he lost in the semifinals and came back to place fifth in consolations. He is joined by another state qualifier in Jr. Mason Shore, who is ranked sixth at 190s. Mata said the team, which also features nice talent in seniors James Kohn (106s), Zander Wold (175), and juniors JR Spence (120s) and Javi Peña (138), wants to take “at least a handful” of wrestlers to state this year.

Fairview Knights

Coach: Jim Opperman

Last season’s result: Finished 35th at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: “With the large numbers we have on the team this year, the competition in the room will carry us far,” Opperman said. “I would not be surprised to see us finish well in the league and qualify four or five boys to the state tournament.”

The Tea: Sr. Sam Benton is back after he lost in the state quarterfinals to eventual 190s champ Quinn Funk of Legacy. Jr. Brock Kolstad is, too, after he exited in the first round. Others to watch include seniors Anthony De Martino (113s), Cyrus Sanzone (150s), Harrison Gardner-Stephens (157s) and Kai Rutherford (165s).

Legacy Lightning

Coach: Michael Thompson

Last season’s result: Tied for 14th at the state tournament as Quinn Funk won at 190s.

Testing 1-2-3: Funk is back after he won the 190-pound state title last season. This winter, he is ranked first in 215s by OTM.

The Tea: Funk is joined by returning state qualifiers in Sr. Brennon Joiner, who lost in the 132 quarterfinals last winter, and Soph. Matt Clifton, who dropped his first-round match in 113s. The Lightning are ranked 10th as a team and have another two of their wrestlers in OTM’s preseason individual rankings, with Soph. Jaxson Joiner sixth at 106s and Fr. Isaac Woolman 13th at 113s.

Monarch Coyotes

Coach: Ezra Paddock

Last season’s result: Finished 12th at the state tournament as grad Emilio Trujillo-Deen finished runner-up in 144s.

Testing 1-2-3: Juniors Liam Zyvoloski (106s) and Antonio Beall, both ranked inside the top 10 in their weight classes by On The Mat, are expected to challenge for state medals this winter, per Paddock.

The Tea: The Coyotes have more than 40 kids out for wrestling this season and they are led by returning state qualifiers in Zyvoloski and Beall, the latter of whom missed state last year after making it as a freshman. Others to watch include Fr. Levi Carlucci (120s) and Jr. Wyatt Carlucci (165s), who are the brothers of former state champ Cole Carlucci. Sr. Matt Bierle (190s) is a name to look out for as well.

4A

Broomfield Eagles

Coach: Jimmy Zechmann

Last season’s result: Finished 26th at the state tournament

Testing 1-2-3: Jr. Manny Lopez placed fourth in the 144-pound weight class last season. He is ranked third in 157s this winter by OTM.

The Tea: The Eagles could be in store for a big season with seven returning state qualifiers and eight wrestlers ranked inside the top 10 in their respective weight classes. Lopez (157s) lost in the 144 semifinals and Soph. Nick Penfold (126s) bowed out in the 113 quarterfinals last winter. Seniors Cody Tanner (120s), Will Abrams (150s), Landen Davidson (285s), and juniors Keegan Pottorff (132s/138s) and Mason Smiley (138s/144s) lost in the first round. Injuries hurt Broomfield late in the season, per Zechmann.

Erie Tigers

Coach: Joe Ferrera

Last season’s result: Finished 12th at the state tournament as grad Ramon Salazar won a state title at 132s.

Testing 1-2-3: Carson Hageman, who was the leading tackler for Erie en route to the 4A title in football earlier in the month, is eyeing a state title in wrestling, too. He finished third in 144s last winter.

The Tea: Led by Hageman, who is ranked fourth at 175s, the Tigers have six returning state qualifiers. The list also includes Soph. Noah Bridgewater (120s), who lost in the 106 quarterfinals, as well as juniors Hunter Waneka (138s), Caleb McCollum (150s), Austin Muir (157s) and Soph. Wyatt Walston (165s), who were all first-round exits. “The message is always the same,” Ferrera said. “Be better than last year.”

Frederick Golden Eagles

Coach: Anthony Medina

Last season’s result: Tied for 37th at state.

Testing 1-2-3: “We finished 37th last year at the state tournament and are hungry to build on that,” Medina said.

The Tea: The Golden Eagles have three wrestlers ranked inside the top 15 of their respective weight classes by On The Mat, which includes juniors Nikolas Carillo (10th, 120s), Rico Moreno (15th, 144s) and Diego Rangel (12th, 157s). Jr. Wyatt Schust should be another name to keep an eye out for after he qualified for state at 138s a season ago. As is senior leader Kayler Reed at 138s.

Longmont Trojans

Coach: Matthew Engelking

Last season’s result: Finished 30th at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: Hunter Knight finished sixth in the 215-pound weight class last winter. He is ranked third in the class this winter by OTM.

The Tea: Engelking said the Trojans are a “young team looking to improve throughout the season.” Knight is their lone returning state qualifier, but they have talent at other spots, too. Among others to watch out for include juniors Peyton Nichols (106s), JD McCue (150s), Colton Payne (150s) and Sr. Adrian Lechuga (120s).

Mead Mavericks

Coach: Ty Tatham

Last season’s result: Finished seventh at the state tournament, led by champs Jake Glade (144s)and Dalton Berg (175s).

Testing 1-2-3: The Mavericks have five returning state qualifiers, including champs Glade, Berg and runner-up Leister Bowling IV.

The Tea: The Mavericks are the top team in the preseason rankings by On The Mat. Both Glade (157s) and newbie Otto Black (138s), who joins the team this winter, bringing with him a wealth of experience, are ranked first in their respective weight classes. Jr. Bowling (175s), Sr. Berg (190s), Soph. Trey Tatham (106s) are second in theirs. Sr. Will Guerra (132s), who also qualified for state last year, is fifth. Both Bowling and Black won titles at a 24-team tournament in Montana last weekend.

Niwot Cougars

Coach: Bobby Matthews

Last season’s result: Did not qualify for the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: “With 40 wrestlers out this year, things are building and growing in the program,” the ninth-year coach said. “There should be plenty of competition in the wrestling room, which will lead to better results on the mat.”

The Tea: Sr. Gavin Burrage (175s), ranked 10th in his weight class by On The Mat, and Jr. Ryder Evans (132s), who finished fifth at regionals a season ago, are both expected to make a run at state qualification this winter. Soph. Jonathan Lopez (285s) finished sixth at regionals and could make some noise, too.

Silver Creek Raptors

Coach: Chris Blair

Last season’s result: Finished 44th at state.

Testing 1-2-3: “This season, we are excited to compete,” the sixth-year coach said. “With numbers nearing 40, one of our biggest obstacles will be getting everyone mat time.”

The Tea: Kieran Carter was the Raptors’ lone wrestler to qualify for the state tournament last season and he graduated. Seniors Kyan Reuter (144s) and Tyler May (215s) are hoping to get into the state tournament after they narrowly missed out on qualifying last winter. Others to watch out for include juniors Ibrahim Kabore and Stephen Thomas.

Skyline Falcons

Coach: David Speckl

Last season’s result: Tied for 17th at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: The Raptors return three state qualifiers from last winter, including juniors Brody Hufford (106s), Tobias Pinson (138s) and Sr. Rene Perez (285s).

The Tea: Under their first-year coach, Pinson is back after bowing out in the 132 quarterfinals. Hufford and Perez return after first-round exits, though Perez went through consolations and placed sixth. Perez is ranked second in his class by On The Mat, Hufford third and Pinson seventh. Another name to watch out for is Jr. Lucas Anson (150s), who was a regional placer a year ago.

3A

Holy Family Tigers

Coach: Ernie Derrera

Last season’s result: Finished 19th at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: Sr. Abram Moore is the favorite to win at 215s per On The Mat after finishing runner-up last season.

The Tea: Sr. Brayden Bach (150s), the team’s leading tackler during the football season and a three-time placer in wrestling, is also back after bowing out in the 138 semifinals last winter. He’s ranked second in his weight class. Other state qualifiers include Sr. Lorenzo Avila, who lost in the 120 quarterfinals, and Jr. Camden Austin (190s), who dropped his first-round match. “Our goal is to qualify seven wrestlers for the state tournament and for the team to finish in the top three at regionals,” Derrera said.

2A

Lyons Lions

Coach: Gary Gantzer

Last season’s result: Finished 23rd at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: Jaden Gardner is ranked first in the 165-pound weight class after placing second in 157s.

The Tea: Gardner went 40-3 last season but lost to Buena Vista’s David Arellano by a 4-2 decision in the 157 finals. “He is in a great position to finish his high school campaign with over 100 high school victories and a state title,” Gantzer said. Others to watch out for include juniors Eamon Osborne and Canyon Andrist, who Gantzer hopes can both find their way to Ball Arena this season.

GIRLS

Broomfield Eagles

Coach: Adam Beeson

Last season’s result: Tied for 30th at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: Sr. Samantha White finished fifth at 130s last winter and is ranked fourth in the class by OTM.

The Tea: White is one of three returning state qualifiers for the Eagles, who also saw Kaliyah Schimpf (145s) and Jr. Lizette Cedillo (155s/170s) make it to Ball Arena before falling in their first-round matches. “We have some gritty, hard-working wrestlers that are eager to compete this season,” Beeson said. “Our returning state qualifiers all learned valuable lessons last year and are driven to be a top-10 team by the end of this season.”

Holy Family Tigers

Coach: Ernie Derrera

Last season’s result: Did not have a team.

The Tea: Leandra Armendarez placed fourth in 135s at the 30-team Greeley West tournament earlier in the month as the program made its debut.

Legacy Lightning

Coach: Rusty Lamb

Last season’s result: Tied for 57th at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: The Lightning have no returning state qualifiers from last winter.

The Tea: The Lightning had a few nice finishes at the 22-team Arapahoe Girls Invitational earlier in the month. It included a fourth-place finish from Soph. Bettie Rains (120s), a fifth from Sr. Ari Hen (135s), and sixth-place finishes from juniors Danielle Proo (100s), Kayla Bishop (125s) and Soph. Brooklynn Gustafson (115s).

Mead Mavericks

Coach: Rachel Salaz

Last season’s result: Finished 17th at the state tournament.

Testing 1-2-3: On The Mat has Jr. Ashley Booth as the favorite to win the 140-pound weight class this winter.

The Tea: The Mavericks have about 25 wrestlers on roster, Salaz said. Which is impressive since that’s up from just six when the program started four years ago. Booth is the headliner after she lost to Chatfield’s Ryen Hickey in the 140 finals last season. She should make another run at gold this year. Jr. Erin Young is an exciting wrestler to keep an eye out for at 125s and the Mavs have more solid talent in Soph. Gianna Barela (105s), Sr. Yalin Tan (120s) and Jr. Olivia Adams (190s). Salaz said they expect to have 6-8 wrestlers qualify for state this season.