Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Gavaldon helps lead Lambkins to title

By Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 6, 2008 at 7:18 p.m.
Updated December 6, 2008 at 7:18 p.m.

Text size  

Results

Team results

1, Fort Collins, 194.5. 2. Thompson Valley, 193.5. 3. Coronado, 178. 4. Arapahoe-Black, 140. 5. Aurora Central, 122.5. 6. Green Mountain, 93. 7. Englewood, 53. 8. Arapahoe-Gold, 42.

Championship matches

103-pounds: Keegan Gavaldon, Fort Collins, pinned Kevin Nguyen, Aurora Central, 1:56. 112: Phillip Nguyen, Aurora Central, def. Tyler Taylor, Thompson Valley, 5-4. 119: Adam Barela, Fort Collins, def. Jeff Ibaniz, Aurora Central, 10-6. 125: Cort Siegele, Green Mountain, def. Justin Hays, Coronado, 4-0. 130: Carter McElhany, Coronado, pinned Jimmy Zahtila, Thompson Valley, 3:54. 135: Jessie Werth, Fort Collins, def. Caleb Boll, Thompson Valley, 10-4. 140: Mikie Burgess, Green Mountain, def. Nathan Burak, Coronado, 3-0. 145: Nick Burghardt, Coronado, def. Charles Benitez, Fort Collins, 7-0. 152: Ethan Olson, Coronado, def. Scott Hansen, Arapahoe-Black, 7-4. 160: Jake Wilson, Arapahoe-Black, pinned Matt Webb, Thompson Valley, 3:56. 171: Tanner Huber, Fort Collins, pinned Tyler Burgess, Green Mountain, 1:23. 189: Mike Dellatto, Thompson Valley, pinned Jared Davis, Arapahoe-Black, 1:20. 215: Riley Ehrlich, Coronado, pinned Dalton Lynch, Thompson Valley, 1:30. 275: Justin Williams, Englewood, pinned Adrian Elias, Aurora Central, 1:44.

Third-place matches

103: Holland, Arapahoe-Black, def. Trowbridge, Thompson Valley, 12-9. 112: Montrey, Arapahoe-Gold, def. Thomas, Arapahoe-Black, 2-1. 119: Meeker, Green Mountain, def. Laureles, Thompson Valley, 11-7. 125: Steffen, Fort Collins, def. Garcia, Aurora Central, 13-7. 130: Dunnum, Fort Collins, pinned Levine, Arapahoe-Gold, 1:53. 135: Solis, Coronado, pinned Cohn, Arapahoe-Black, 2:45. 140: Spencer, Thompson Valley, pinned Dowler, Englewood, 1:40. 145: Harem, Thompson Valley, def. Holmes, Arapahoe-Gold, 4-1. 152: Lucero, Fort Collins, pinned Baldini, Green Mountain, 2:47. 160: Sheppard, Englewood, def. Massoudi, Fort Collins, 6-4. 171: Johnson, Arapahoe-Black, def. Traynor, Coronado, 12-4. 189: Sanchez, Coronado, pinned Guerrero, Aurora Central, :35. 215: Ellert, Arapahoe-Black, pinned J. Cu, Fort Collins, 1:53. 275: Remmo, Thompson Valley, def. Spallding, Fort Collins, 7-2.

More Wrestling

More stories »

LITTLETON — The future certainly looks bright for Fort Collins freshman Keegan Gavaldon after his inaugural day in high school wrestling competition.

Gavaldon pinned his three opponents at 103-pounds in a total time of 4:33 as he helped lead Fort Collins to the team championship Saturday in the 32nd Arapahoe Invitational Tournament in the Warriors gym. He wrapped up the tournament title pinning Aurora Central freshman, Kevin Nguyen in 1:56.

Fort Collins scored 194.5 points to edge Thompson Valley (193.5) for the title. Coronado was third with 178 points in the eight-team tournament. The Lambkins didn’t have the title in hand until Tanner Huber pinned Green Mountain’s Tyler Burgess in 1:23 in their 171-pound match to help provide his team with what would prove to be the one-point cushion. And, it was secured for sure at 215 when Coronado’s Riley Ehrlich pinned Thompson Valley’s Dalton Lynch in 1:30.

Indeed, Gavaldon is going to be a fresh face that a lot of folks are going to like to watch wrestle for the next four seasons. Prior to the high school season he also won the Big Horn tournament in Denver, the Panhandle tournament in Texas and was second in last month’s Monster Mash in Denver.

“I’m happy that I won and that I had a pretty good day,” Gavaldon said. “I’m not used to having a big team like this behind me and I’m glad I could open like this for my teammates. I’m pretty excited about the season and hope to do well.”

No doubt, Fort Collins coach Glenn Werth is excited about his young star. But, it appears the Lambkins could be in good shape the rest of the year. They sent five wrestlers into the championship round and came away with four titles.

Also winning for Fort Collins beside Gavaldon and Huber were Werth’s son, Jessie, at 135 with a 10-4 decision against Caleb Bolls of Thompson Valley, and Adam Barela at 119. Barela defeated Jeff Ibaniz of Aurora Central, 10-6.

“We have some boys who dug deep,” Werth said. “My son, Tanner, Adam, and Charles (Benitez). That little guy (Gavaldon) has wrestled for me about seven or eight years. You know it is nice having a 103-pounder who has wrestled so many years already. I won’t stress so much in these tournaments that he is the first guy out there for us.”

Benitez was the only Fort Collins wrestler to suffer a loss in the championship round, losing to Nick Burghardt of Coronado, 7-0 at 145.

Thompson Valley had its opportunities to win. And when Mike Dellatto, ranked No. 4 in the state by On The Mat, pinned Arapahoe’s Jared Davis in 1:20 of their 189-pound match, the Eagles had hope. But it was not to be as Lynch lost to Ehrlich in the following match.

“Number 4 is alright, but I beat a couple of the guys who are ranked ahead of me last year,” Dellatto said. “We’ll just have to see how the season goes. But I’m confident of having a good year. There were not many teams here (Saturday), so it’s also hard to get an early judge on what’s going to happen.”

It was not an entirely bad day for host Arapahoe, especially for 160-pound Jake Wilson as he won his third-consecutive Arapahoe Invitational title before the home folks. He pinned Thompson Valley’s Matt Webb in 3:56 for the win, also helping to put a damper on the Eagles’ title hopes.

And, the win also bodes well for Wilson in other ways.

“I was injured right after this tournament last year and didn’t wrestle the rest of the season,” Wilson said. “It’s nice to do this and it is fun with all the crowd behind you and your teammates watching you. I feel pretty strong going into the season and I’ll probably remain at 160. I’m excited for the rest of the year for sure.”

Those in attendance also got a good glimpse at Coronado’s Carter McElhany, who is ranked No. 1 by On The Mat and an All-American in Greco-Roman. McElhany pinned Thompson Valley’s Jimmy Zahtila in 3:54 at 130-pounds.

“I’m positive about the season with a lot of things to look forward too, but I’ve got to take it one match at a time,” McElhany said. “The rankings are great, but in the end you have to do it. I feel good, in good shape and have good chance to do well at state in the end.

“Making All-America at Fargo was my biggest achievement . I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish and it helps my confidence. In reality, I never thought I was a Greco wrestler and not good at it, but I did well in spite of things I didn’t think I could do well.”