ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONALS

If you didn't get in this one, make sure you do next year. This was a fantastic and well run National Tournament at your door step!!!! There were an incredible 1800 contestants from 24 states. The tournament ran 2 days on 14 mats. Specific age divisions and weight classes were run on one mat. This made it very easy for the kids, all their matches were on the same mat. Teams were entered as well as individuals.

I could not stay to see who won the team awards, but Wasatch from Weber, UT was a good bet in the HS division. Do you wonder why they are ranked #5 in the country? Because they are still wrestling after the HS season is over! That's what makes a great program! Teams that close their wrestling room doors in March will never be there.

Wyoming had a good turnout with 20+ wrestlers, mostly from Douglas and Evanston with Rock Springs bringing many younger kids. Hats off to Bob Bath and Larry Wagstaff for keeping their kids in the thick of it. My appologies to any other coaches that were there that I may have missed.

Ok, Wyoming had 3 National Champions! Bryce Leonhardt went in seeded first and finished it that way, great job Bryce!!!

Our next Champ was Tyson Shatto at 130. Tyson was seeded 4th. The top seeds were Cody Degroot, Poudre, CO (29-8), Frank Gutierez, Valley, NM (25-0), Marc Cruz, AZ (135-19), Travis Bender, MT, Tony Mock, CO (22-5) and Richie Cordova from Wasatch, UT (36-2). Cordova is currently ranked #6 in the nation. I do not know if Tyson Wrestled Cordova, but I do know he won the title.

Brandon Sainz was seeded 1st as well and took home a National Title! Top seeds at 275 were Brian Benight, CO, (40-2), Jay Parker, CO, Gilbert Salazar, WY and Gavino Archuleta, NM (30-11). Brandon defeated a familiar foe in the finals, Tyler Rhodes of Mountain View. Congratulations boys, you both did a great job!!!!!!

At 125, Justin Gomez went in as the top seed and placed 4th, no details available.

At 152, Beau Burnham finished 6th. Beau lost a tough match in double OT to one of the finalists. I believe he suffered an injury as well. Top Seeds at 152 were Jared Deaguero, CO (36-0), Rayes Gonzales, NV (42-2), Brandon Koel, CO (32-5), Antonio Lucero, NM (52-6), Matt Archbold, CO (34-4), Henry Martinez (37-1), NM and Jeremy Schutt, CO (34-4).

Pete van der Heiden wrestled a tough tournament, considering he had no opportunity for post season training. He has been running and weight training for 3 weeks. Pete was seeded 1st among some very tough competitors- Grant Lyons, CO (26-5 4th in State), Pete Julander, Wasatch, UT (31-6, State Champ), Mark Studer, AZ (50-2, State Champ) Tyler Lancaster, MT (36-1), Elgin McCurdy, Uintah, UT (40-5, State Champ), Eddie Rodriquez, CO (33-1) Alex Ventura, CO (29-5, 3rd in State) Trevor Denning, CO (4th in State) Jeff Cole, Douglas, WY (29-8, 4th in State) and Tony Gianinetti, CO (32-3). Of course I followed this wrestler a little closer, so I can tell you more details. Pete defeated Tyler Axleson, CO 8-2 in the first round. Then Randy Torres, CO (21-7) by TF 17-1. In the quarterfinals he pinned Tony Gianinetti, CO (32-3). Pete then faced Pete Julander, Wasatch, UT. After a scoreless 1st period and a warning for stalling, Pete was frustrated as Julander was playing defense most of the time. Pete had a couple of close takedowns on the line. 2nd period, Pete chose neutral. Pete continued to attack and Julander continued to defend, with a shrug attempt here and there. Then Pete backed up to defend a shot and was hit for stalling. Immediately, he shot off balance (reacting to the stalling point) and Julander spun around for 2. The period ended with Julander leading 3-0. 3rd period- Julander chose down, Pete let him up and shot a nice double, taking Julander to his back on the line. Before Pete could pull him in, the whistle blew. Pete left him up again and went after the takedown, but Julander played defense well and scooted around Pete's shot again. Pete got another escape, but his lack of recent training was showing and he didn't have enough left to rally. The final score was 10 -4. After the match, that many were watching, 4-5 coaches that I had never met, came over and declared that Pete was the victim of poor officiating and felt Pete could have won the match. Julander went on to defeat Mark Studer, AZ, (50-2) in the finals 8-2.
In the consolation semi, Pete was down by 3 and was caught in a granby attempt and pinned by Tyler Lancaster, MT (36-1) in the 3rd period.
To finish 5th Pete had to beat Alex Ventura, Horizon, CO (29-8), Alex finished 3rd in CO 5A @ 160. Pete found something to get him going and destroyed Ventura 16-2, capturing 5th place.

Other WYO wrestlers competing were:

Troy Shelton- placed 6th at 119.
Todd Titeson- did not place.
Mikel Randall- did not place.
Kirby Degraw- did not place.
Nate Gerrard- did not place.
Mark McCoy- did not place.
David Lym- did not place.
Brian Lonsway- did not place.
Kendall Barker- did not place.
Jeff Cole- went 3-2 did not place
Trent Kirchefer- seeded 1st, did not place
Cody Eardley- placed 5th at 189.

Pete vs. Torres in quarterfinals.

Pete vs. Julander in semifinals.

Pete vs. Ventura for 5th place.

High School Division Results

103

1. Bryce Leonhardt, Wyoming
2. S. Vigil, Colorado
3. A. Gutierrez, Colorado
4. D. Medina, Colorado
5. D. Good, Colorado
6. L. Phanmance, Colorado

112

1. F. Gonzales, Colorado
2. R. Gonzales, Colorado
3. C. Hacking, Utah
4. M. Leyva, New Mexico
5. B. Corbell, Arizona
6. J. Hicks, Utah

119

1. B. Strong, New Mexico
2. D. Polkowski, Colorado
3. R. Montour, Colorado
4. P. Gomez, New Mexico
5. J . Blatner, Colorado
6. T. Shelton, Wyoming

125

1. M. Murray, Kansas
2. L. Francis, Utah
3. C. Bernard, Colorado
4. J. Gomez, Wyoming
5. F. Whipple, New Mexico
6. T. Binkley, Colorado

130

1. T. Shatto, Wyoming
2. T. Bender, Montana
3. M. Cruz, Colorado
4. D. Page, New Mexico
5. B. Slafter, Colorado
6. R. Pino, Colorado

135

1. R. Cordova, Utah
2. B. Vasquez, Colordo
3. R. Casillas, Arizona
4. M. Sanchez, New Mexico
5. G. Re, New Mexico
6. A. Lee, Kansas

140

1. J. Braccomonte, New Mexico
2. J. Johnson, Oklahoma
3. B. Schuman, Colorado
4. C. Smith, Arizona
5. T. Linscum, Arizona
6. M. Patt, Colorado

145

1. M. Morgan, Utah
2. M. Brown, Colorado
3. M. Smith, Arizona
4. K. Kostur, Colorado
5. M. Laiminger, Colorado
6. A. Allsup, Arizona

152

1. C. Gable, Colorado
2. J. DeAguerro, Colorado
3. T. Robinson, Colorado
4. C. Allen, Montana
5. B. MacCeachen, New Mexico
6. Beau Burnham, Wyoming

160

1. P. Julander, Utah
2. M. Studer, Arizona
3. G. Lyons, Colorado
4. T. Lancaster, Montana
5. P. vanderHeiden, Wyoming
6. A. Ventura, Colorado

171

1. L. DelPonte, Colorado
2. J. Carlils, Utah
3. S. Serna, Colorado
4. B. Grouker, Colorado
5. J. Steinpreis, Arizona
6. B. Neiter, Montana

189

1. C. Colardo, Rhode Island
2. C. Phelps, Colorado
3. T. Linscum, Arizona
4. M. Eisenhour, New Mexico
5. C. Eardley, Wyoming
6. W. Messner, Montana

215

1. J. Rusher, Colorado
2. D. Hoffschneider, Colorado
3. R. Laforge, Montana
4. J. Carwin, Colorado
5. N. Martinez, Colorado
6. D. Ortega, New Mexico

275

1. B. Sainz, Wyoming
2. T. Rhodes,Wyoming
3. B. Benight, Colorado
4. J. Parker, Colorado
5. S. Hensleigh, Montana
6. G. Gurule, New Mexico