Eagle Valley's Harvey takes wrestling title

Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 28, 2007 at midnight

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When you beat a state champion, people take notice. And, that was the situation Saturday at the Lincoln Invitational wrestling tournament.

Eagle Valley's James Harvey, who is ranked No. 7 in Class 4A, pinned Arrupe Jesuit's Class 3A state champion Richard Apodaca in 1-minute, :27 seconds of their 130-pound semifinal, then defeated Dylan Lewis of Wheat Ridge, 4-3, for the tournament title. For his efforts, Harvey, who improved to 28-3, was voted the Most Valuable Wrestler by the attending coaches.

However, Thompson Valley's Johnny Ortega, who is ranked No. 1 in 4A, made a good run at MVP honors, as well, pinning his way through the 171-pound weight class and leading the Eagles to the team title in the process. The Eagles, ranked No. 6 in 4A by On The Mat, scored 179 points to outdistance Pomona (156) and Heritage (129.5).

Harvey made use of a pair of takedowns to win, one each in the second and third periods when both wresters started in the neutral position. Lewis, who was ranked No. 10 in 5A, dropped to 19-5 on the season. Apodaca fell to 27-4 with his loss. He opened by pinning Pueblo South's Darryl Cunningham in :43, then Aurora Central's William Bedker in 1:56.

"The coaches tell us to think that no one can beat you," Harvey said. "That was the mentality I had today. I just went out and pounded my way through. I worked everything I could work and did what I could do. Even with Apodaca, I went out with the thought I could beat this kid. Obviously he is an animal and it is always fun to have matches like that and I really enjoyed it."

Thompson Valley sent three wrestlers into the finals, Ortega, Sean Ender at 112 and James Rowell at 125. But the Eagles also had the depth to carry the day with third-place finishes from Jason Horne at 135, Jeff Phillips at 140 and Mike Dellato at 189. Ender was defeated by Gavin Peters of Standley Lake, 11-3, while Rowell lost to A.J. Maestas of Adams City, 5-3.

"I just had a good week of practice and went out and wrestled hard," said Ortega, now 26-2 on the season. "We knew we had to wrestle good and I think hitting our peak right now. And, it's the tournaments where it counts the most."

Bryce Penn of Englewood was the only undefeated wrester to enter the tournament, but he did not leave that way. Daniel Armijo of Auroar Central came away with an 8-5 victory to claim the 135-pound title. And, it was the fourth tournament he has won this season.

"He had beat me before, his record was a little scarry at 24-0," said Armijo, who improved to 28-4. "But I just went out and wrestled him. It's been a good run. I've now won Rangeview, Evergreen, Kennedy and now the Lincoln tournaments in a row."

Eaton's Brandon Kammerzell, who is ranked No. 1 in 3A, had his hands full with Poudre's Brandon Doyle, ranked No. 2 in 5A. But Kammerzell prevailed with his second win over Doyle this season, improving to 29-1. Doyle fell to 23-3 with the loss.

"I had wrestled him before and I knew he was going to come after me harder today," said Kammerzell, who has lost only to Brock Smith from Gering, Neb. "I knew I had to wrestle my best, be tough and keep the pace hard. I beat him at the Roosevelt Invite. I wanted to improve on my last match with him."

Runner-up Pomona picked up titles at 119 when No. 1 ranked Nick Jones, defeated Arrupe Jesuit's Vincente Gallegos, 6-1, and Trevor Schuch, ranked No. 2 at 152, beat Chris McWhorter of Pueblo South, 10-6. However, the Panthers suffered two big defeats at 189 and 285.

Eagle Valley's Brendan Best (29-1) defeated Willie McClure at 189, 7-3, and Ranum's Moises Alcala upended Joe Boyd, 5-3, at 285.

Eaton and Aurora Central also came away with two titles. Eaton's Matt Smith won at 140, beating Standley Lake's Daniel Nissen, 3-1. Central's Donnie Featherman defeated Jason Amador of Adams City, 5-2, for the 145-pound crown. o beat Andrew Lujan of Standley Lake, 9-7. The nights final title was won by Matt Johnson of Cherry Creek, 7-5 in overtime, over James Anthofer of Heritage at 215.

Team scores: Thompson Valley 179, Pomona 150, Heritage 129.5, Standley Lake 11.5, Poudre 109, Eaton 108, Pueblo South 106.5, Adams City 89.5, Columbine 85, Aurora Central 79, Cherry Creek 79, Eagle Valley 76, Wheat Ridge 72, Smoky Hill 71.5, Ranum 66, Eaglecrest 53.5, Arrupe Jesuit 53, Englewood 48.5, Conifer 35.5, Denver West 33.5, Middle Park 27, Denver South 17, Lincoln 14.5, Gateway 14, Denver North 4, Jefferson 3, George Washington 2.

Championship matches

103 — Joe Martinez, Ranum, def. Andrew Lujan, Standley Lake, 9-7 (0t). 112 — Gavin Peters, Standley Lake, def. Sean Ender, Thompson Valley, 11-3. 119 — Nick Jones, Pomona, def. Vincente Gallegos, Arrupe Jesuit, 6-1. 125 — A.J. Maestas, Adams City, def. James Rowell, Thompson Valley, 5-3. 130 — James Harvey, Eagle Valley, def. Dylan Lewis, Wheat Ridge, 4-0. 135 — Daniel Armijo, Aurora Central, def. Bryce Penn, Englewood, 8-5. 140 — Matt Smith, Eaton, def. Daniel Nissen, Standley Lake, 3-1. 145 — Donnie Featherman, Aurora Central, def. Jason Amador, Adams City, 5-2. 152 — Trevor Schuch, Pomona, def. Chris McWhorter, Pueblo South, 10-6. 160 — Brandon Kammerzell, Eaton, def. Brandon Dyle, Poudre, 3-2. 171 — Johnny Ortega, Thompson Valley, def. Matt Schnepfe, Heritage, 11-0. 189 — Brendan Best, Eagle Valley, def. Willie McClure, Pomona, 7-3. 215 — Matt Johnson, Cherry Creek, def. James Anthofer, Heritage, 7-5 (ot). 285 — Moises Alcala, Ranum, def. Joe Boyd, Pomona, 5-3.

Third-place matches

103 — Aaron Ortiz, Adams City, def. Andrew Mares, Pueblo South, 9-7. 112 — Gabe Mamigonian, Heritage, def. John Toplyn, Poudre, 5-0. 119 — Jeremy Aguero, Pueblo South, def. Nolan Myers, Smoky Hill, ff. 125 — Zach Mamigonian, Heritage, def. Chad Pompa, Pueblo South, 7-2. 130 — Richard Apodaca, Arrupe Jesuit, def. Dane Vickers, Standley Lake, 10-5. 135 — Jason Horne, Thompson Valley, def. Bryant Hicks, Heritage, 3-1. 140 — Jeff Phillips, Thompson Valley, def. Dylan Fader, Poudre, ff. 145 — Brian Eakin, Eaglecrest, def. Adam McCallister, Wheat Ridge, 16-1. 152 — Tyson Blatter, Columbine, def. Zach Bekkedahl, Poudre, 7-0. 160 — Jairin Potter, Englewood, def. Mitch Schubert, Columbine, 6-4. 171 — Christian Griffith, Eaton, def. Matt Adams, Cherry Creek, 5-3. 189 — Mike Dellato, Thompson Valley, def. Mitch Strum, Columbine, 7-6 (ot). 215 — Kyle Taafee, Pomona, pinned Jesus Gonzales, Denver West, 3:26. 285 — Anthony Curiel, Middle Park, def. Jake Richmeier, ff.