ARVADA — Pomona’s dominance on the wrestling mat seems endless.
The Panthers have won four Class 5A team state titles and six team championships in the last seven years. Saturday’s 2023 Arvada West Wrestling Invite was another example of what Pomona’s present and future could look like.
With only half of the Panthers’ starting lineup due to game limits between Pomona’s out-of-state tournament and a two-day Top of the Rockies tournament scheduled for this week, Pomona has 201 team points. Won the team title. Thompson Valley finished second in distance with his 165.5 points.
Pomona manager Sam Federico said, “I’m happy with the performance of our young guys. A lot of our guys have lost six or seven times, but they’ve been beaten by some of the best wrestlers in the country. increase.”
Pomona senior Jose Rosales (215 lbs) won four individual titles for the Panthers at the A-West Invite alongside three freshmen (Karob Ybarra (144 lbs), Emmitt Manson (157 lbs) and Maddux Najera (175 lbs)). won.
“They are tough,” Rosales said of the freshman class. “A lot of hard workers, they’re good at wrestling. They go out there and chase it. I think they’re ready to win the state title.”
Ybarra won the title in a rivalry against A-West sophomore Auston Eudaly. Ibarra was ranked fourth in the on-the-mat rankings of the 144-pound individuals coming into the match, with Euderly third, but Ibarra came out with a 6-2 decision.
Both Manson and Najella were impressive in title matches. Manson won the £157 title with his 15–0 victory over Grandview his sophomore Charlie Harting. Najera had the pin in the second period against Montrose senior Micah Simpson in a 175-pound title fight.
Federico said, “If you play really good games at all weights, you feel like this team.” I don’t know what will happen if I go to
Rosales ended Saturday night with a big 10-1 decision against Montrose Sr. Raul Lascon. After a first-round bye, Rosales had two pins to advance to the final.
Rosales has been a Pomona heavyweight since his freshman year, but will be competing at 215 in his final season.
“I pushed him three years in a row. I won’t do it again,” Federico said of Rosales, who is 215 this year. He did it for the team. He knew we were better off with him.”
Rosales is currently No. 1 in the 5A £215 ranking by On the Mat.
“I’m very happy to be No. 215. I felt really small in the heavyweight division,” said Rosales, who finished third in the heavyweight division last year and fifth in his sophomore year. “I weighed 220 last year and wrestled a guy who weighed 285.”
Rosales is looking not only for his sixth consecutive win, but also for his first individual victory.
“It means the most,” Rosales said of his hopes of winning his first individual title. I feel like this is the year I can put it in.”
Lincoln Gregerson is also looking for his first wrestling title, but he will also be Ralston Valley’s first state wrestling champion in the school’s history. Ranked in
“I try not to think too much,” Gregerson said of his chance to make history.
Gregerson reached the £113 title match at Ball Arena last year but lost 13-7 to Prairie View’s Aneye Vigil.
“All summer long, I kind of forgot about it. I tried to get over it.” ”
Gregerson won the £126 title at the A-West Invite. He had a pin, a crucial decision and two technical falls to complete his 21-2 record on the season.
“It’s my first big tournament back from the Winter Break,” says Gregerson. “I just wanted to work. Next week is a big week.”
Gregerson will head to the Top of the Rockies tournament at Centaur High School on Friday and Saturday. Pomona also heads to the top of the Rocky Mountains this week.
“Next weekend is going to be a good story,” Federico said of the Top of the Rockies.