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103 pounds of fight

Golden's Sauer is first girl to reach boys state tourney

Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 14, 2006 at midnight

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GOLDEN - Brooke Sauer remembers one day in particular when she had to beg her father to take her to a wrestling practice.

And now, as his daughter prepares to make history this week in the 70th annual boys state tournament at the Pepsi Center, Dave Sauer is more than pleased he gave in.

On Thursday, Sauer, a 103-pound senior from Golden, will become the first girl to participate in the boys state tournament. Making it all the more meaningful for the Sauer family is the fact Dave Sauer is Golden's head coach.

The first round in Class 4A begins Thursday at 7:15 p.m., and Sauer's first match is against freshman Jeremy Aguero of Pueblo South (25-8). Win or lose, she will be wrestling again Friday.

Brooke Sauer (26-12), 18, helped lead Golden to a fourth-place team finish Saturday in the Region III tournament held at Grand Junction High School. The Demons qualified six wrestlers, the most in coach Sauer's six seasons at the school.

"That one particular practice, when I was younger, was on my birthday and I wanted to go because Kyle Sand (Arvada West's unbeaten, four-time state champion) was going to be there," said Sauer, the lone senior in her weight class at state. "We've known him for about 10 years and, for some reason, I had to beg dad. He gave in.

"But I was kind of a tag-a-long when I was little and around wrestling my whole life. Qualifying for the boys state tournament makes me feel good in a sense that I have come a long ways. I guess this is just in my blood."

Needless to say, Dave Sauer is proud of his daughter.

He fondly remembers working with former Brighton and Pomona coach Jimmy Johnson in their junior program and watching his daughter while holding practice.

"I would say, 'Why don't you just stay home?' But she would come along," Sauer said. "I would look down and she would be rolling around with the other kids."

Dave Sauer, who was a state qualifier when he wrestled for Golden (1975-1977), realizes this is a historic moment.

"Brooke is also here because of these other five guys (on the Golden team)," Sauer said. "They have worked their butts off with her and they all share in this, every bit of it. The year is not over and she has another tournament and she has higher goals. I'm just extremely happy and proud of her."

Brooke Sauer, who had a 19-21 record last season and finished sixth in the region, credits her teammates for much of her success. And her teammates are glad they could contribute to her success.

"We have all wrestled with her," said Ryan Sprackling, who is ranked No. 9 in the state (33-3) at 140 pounds and will work with Sauer through this week's practice sessions. "As for techniques, Brooke probably has better moves than anyone on our team. She has to because she is not quite as strong as the others."

This season, Sand wanted to lend a helping hand to Sauer. While home at Thanksgiving, he went to the Golden wrestling room and spent the practice session with her.

"It was one of the best practices I've ever had, really amazing," said Sauer, who started wrestling in the eighth grade. "Kyle made me realize that I can have what it takes. That practice helped push me over the edge. He helped me realize that it doesn't make any difference who you are, you can do it."

Actually, state and national competition is not new to Sauer. She has been a state runner-up at the past two girls state tournaments (a club sport in Colorado) and also wrestled in the Fargo, N.D., freestyle nationals last summer.

"Freestyle has really helped Brooke," said her dad. "She is fine on her feet. I think half her wins this season have been by pins, so she does well on the mat, too."

Wrestling was sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association in 1936. There have been several girls wrestle on boys teams over the past 10 years but never one to reach the state tournament.

Last year, 17 girls nationally qualified for boys state tournaments and six placed.

On Feb. 4, Michaela Hutchison of Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska, became the first girl to win a high school title in a boys state tournament. She won at 103 pounds and finished with a 45-4 record.

"It was nice to see a girl win a title," Brooke Sauer said. "I would like to follow her, but being the first (to qualify for the state tournament) in Colorado is a great accomplishment."

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