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Graff wins fourth straight wrestling title

By Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 23, 2008 at 11:28 p.m.

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Loveland’s Tyler Graff now has a unique place among Colorado’s greatest wrestlers. Not only is he the 15th wrestler to win a fourth-state championship, but because he has become the all-time leaders in victories.

Graff pinned Rocky Mountain’s Tino Laureles in 1-minute, :33-seconds to win his second consecutive Class 5A title at 130-pounds before an appreciative crowd of 18,569 at the Pepsi Center and finish his senior season with a 40-0 record.

But here’s the good part for Graff, who is headed for the University of Wisconsin and had won his previous titles at 103 and 119-pounds. His career record is a glittering 162-1, one win better that Greeley Central’s Tony Mustari, who won 161 matches while winning three titles from 2003-2005.

And, it was a milestone night for Ponderosa as the Mustangs won their sixth-consecutive title and eighth overall under retiring coach Tim Ottmann. However, it was a bit bitter sweet as Ottmann’s son, Jake, was defeated in his 215-pound final by defending state champion Robert Tucker of Grand Junction, 3-2.

One might have believed that Graff would not have been wary, considering his overall record and accomplishments.

“I felt nervous from the excitement,” said Graff, who pinned his way through the tournament and his final victory was acknowledged with a standing ovation. “It was different tonight because I knew it was my last one in high school and I wanted to cherish it as much as I could. I appreciated it a bunch and I feel appreciated by the state of Colorado and that I did my best to make everyone proud.

“Now it’s time to get ready for the US Open (in Las Vegas in July),” Graff said. “It’s been a great experience working with coach Jim Sanchez all four years and it good to win for him and our team.”

“This is just phenomenal with all the sacrifices Tyler has made,” Sanchez said. “His work ethic is second to none as he put in so much time into it and helping to provide opportunities for so many kids to excel in wrestling. It is a bit bitter sweet. We are going to miss him.”

What made Graff’s match all the more interesting to note was the fact his match was officiated by Brent Van Hee, who was the state’s fourth wrestler to win four titles. Van Hee, then wrestling for Fowler, won from 1983-1986 with consecutive titles at 105, 112, 119 and 126-pounds.

It is the first time in the tournament’s history that a former, four-time champion and now an official, was able to officiate another wrestler for his fourth state title.

Ponderosa sent five wrestlers into the finals, including Ottmann’s son, and managed to come away with two. In the process, the Mustangs scored 160 points to outdistance runner-up Loveland (128 points and three champions) and third-place Grandview 89 points.

Ponderosa’s accomplishment also enabled the Mustangs to tie Denver North in consecutive titles won. The Vikings won six straight from 1944-1949 when the state was one classification. Holly, Wray and Montrose lead in team titles with 11 each.

Leading the way was sophomore Jake Snider, who won his second title with an 8-2 victory against Durango’s Rhett Breed at 140. They claimed their second title at 145 where Daniel Kelly defeated Northglenn’s Ryan Bratton, 4-1.

“We really wanted that one,” said Ottmann, who will retain his position as Ponderosa athletic director. “We tired to ride it out and it didn’t work for us. The team championship means so much to our school and our team. You are going to get out there and win some and lose some. Jake’s lose hurts me, but I, and all of us, are very proud of our team championship.”

Ponderosa assistant Cory McNellis will become the new coach.

“Cory’s a 29-year old kid, who knows what to do and he’s going to be just fantastic,” Ottmann said.

Snider, only a sophomore, has a chance to become a four-time champion, and it’s a goal he said he will strive for.

“Seeing Graff up on the podium was great,” said Snider, who finished the season 39-4. “It is definitely a goal to win four. He took me down early, but after I was able to get away I didn’t have any doubts that I could win. And, it was a great night for our team, winning for the sixth time. Now, we’ll try to win another next year.”

However, the Mustangs had their disappointments as well. The first was at 112-pounds where former state champion Zeke Hofer was defeated by Grandview’s Eric Wilson, 2-0 in overtime. It was also the second straight night that Wilson (38-5), beat a state champion. He turned the trick Friday pinning Rocky Mountain’s Jeremy Schmitt in 6:43 of overtime.

Beside Graff, Loveland won titles at 119, where Josh Kreimier defeated Legacy’s Chris Wessel, 7-4, and at 189 where Luke Vandenburg upset former unbeaten James Breidel of ThunderRidge, 5-2.

Pomona’s Nick Jones came through to win his second title beating Grandview’s Patrick Brown, 15-3, for the 135-pound championship. However, Northglenn’s Philip Grout, who won last year at 112, was unable to defend his title losing to Grandview’s Eric Wilson, 2-0, in overtime.

“I went in with a lot of confidence since I have beaten him before,” said Jones (39-4). “I figure now I have one more win that my brother (Noomis). All I was thinking about this week was that I got to do it.”

No doubt it was a remarkable run for Wilson, a third-place finisher last year at 112, who had to defeat two state champions this weekend to win his own title. He pinned Rocky Mountain’s Jeremy Schmitt in 6:43 in the Friday semifinals.

“Coach (Greg) Maestes has us in good condition and I had some confidence going into the overtime,” said Wilson, who garnered the win with a takedown with :15 left in the first overtime period. “I just wanted to keep it close and be ready. I felt he would be stronger than me, so I had be to be smarter the whole time.”

Freshman Denzel Washington of Regis also capped a sensational tournament. He defeated Ponderosa’s Stephone Kling, 5-2, for the 152-pound title and to finish the season with a 36-7 record.

Class 5A

Team results: Ponderosa 160, Loveland 128, Grandview 89, Rocky Mountain 82.5, Centaurus 80, Legacy 78.5, Northglenn 70, Pomona 58.5, Coronado 54, Lakewood 48, Grand Junction 40.5, Durango 39, Denver East 38, Brighton 37.5, Grand Junction Central 37, Rampart 36, ThunderRidge 34, Chaparral 33, Douglas County 32.5, Standley Lake 29, Air Academy 27, Poudre 27, Regis 27, Heritage 24, Boulder 22, Doherty 22, Sand Creek 21, Fruita Monument 20, Lewis-Palmer 20, Mitchell 18, Pine Creek 18, Smoky Hill 18, Palmer 16.5, Highlands Ranch 15.5, Aurora Central 14, Dakota Ridge 12, Arvada West 11, Overland 10, Adams City 9, Fairview 5, Wasson 5, Arapahoe 4, Fort Collins 4, Bear Creek 2, Gateway 2, Horizon 2, Rangeview 1.

Championship matches

103: Matthew Gurule, Grand Junction Central, def. Jared Reick, Coronado, 5-2. 112: Eric Wilson, Grandview, def. Philip Grout, Northglenn, 2-0 (OT). 119: Josh Kreimier, Loveland, def. Chris Wessel, Legacy, 7-4. 125: Dominic Valenzuela, Centaurus, def. Zeke Hofer, Ponderosa, 6-5. 130: Tyler Graff, Loveland, pinned Tino Laureles, Rocky Mountain, 1:33. 135: Nick Jones, Pomona, def. Patrick Brown, Grandview, 15-3. 140: Jake Snider, Ponderosa, def. Rhett Breed, Durango, 8-2. 145: Daniel Kelly, Ponderosa, def. Ryan Bratton, Northglenn, 3-1. 152: Denzel Washington, Regis, def. Stephone Kling, Ponderosa, 5-2. 160: Garrett Lanham, Centaurus, def. Mike Morgan, Lakewood, 4-0. 171: Casey Norgard, Rocky Mountain, def. Jacob Terada, Northglenn, 7-5 (OT). 189: Luke Vandenburg, Loveland, def. James Breidel, ThunderRidge, 5-2. 215: Robert Tucker, Grand Junction, def. Jake Ottmann, Ponderosa, 3-2. 285: Cody Gilmore, Grandview, def. Ray Hatchett, Sand Creek, 4-1.

Third-place matches

103: Jeremy Robledo, Brighton, def. Elias Rosales, Lakewood, 12-0. 112: Gabe Manigonian, Heritage, def. Jeremy Schmitt, Rocky Mountain, injury default. 119: Carter McElhany, Coronado, def. Caleb McDowell, Chaparral, 8-1. 125: Gavin Peters, Standley Lake, def. Nolan Myers, Smoky Hill, 10-8. 130: Daryl Jackson, Mitchell, def. David George, Rampart, 5-3. 135: Austin Gabel, Ponderosa, def. Daniel Armijo, Aurora Central, 2-1. 140: Oliver Yaney, Air Academy, pinned Robby DePontibriand, Douglas County, 1:58. 145: Ashton Renshaw, Legacy, def. Darian Roberts, Arvada West, 3-1. 152: Dietrick Turney, Brighton, def. Chad Stich, Lewis-Palmer, 7-1. 160: Danny Mitchell, Legacy, def. Mike Trostel, Poudre, 5-1. 171: Adam Katz, Boulder, pinned Jeff Quinlin, Highlands Ranch, 1:35. 189: Ryan Gray, Denver East, def. Cody Goetsch, Centaurus, 5-2. 215: Connor Medbery, Loveland, def. Donny Haupt, Pomona, 10-2. 285: Lane Stuht, Loveland, pinned Taylor Stam, Ponderosa, 4:08.

Fifth-place matches

103: Junior Romero, Denver East, def. Jeremy Luna, Rocky Mountain, 4-3. 112: Andrew Lujan, Standley Lake, def. Aaron Ortiz, Adams City, 7-2. 119: Logan Burch, Rampart, def. Stas Kardas, Dakota Ridge, 10-6. 125: Tyler Nelson, ThunderRidge, def. Jesus Rodriquez, Grand Junction Central, 8-4. 130: Steven Kelly, Ponderosa, pinned Joshua Christopher, Overland, 4:14. 135: Jackson Juliean, Chaparral, def. Travis Rios, Lakewood, 4-0. 140: Jacob Milewski, Denver East, def. Matt Bethka, Grand Junction, 9-6. 145: Greg Padilla, Rocky Mountain, pinned, Phillip Colby, Fruita Monument, 1:37. 152: Ryan Swanson, Douglas County, pinned Bryce Lucherini, Grandview, 4:32. 160: Frank Sandoval, Durango, def. Wade Lehman, Coronado, 5-3 (OT). 171: Chad Quick, Legacy, pinned Judah Eder, Rampart, 1:34. 189: Joe Giron, Pomona, pinned Roman Padilla, Chaparral, 1:30. 215: Alex Rodriquez, Fruita Monument, def. Ryan Lockwood, Pine Creek, 3-2. 285: Brandon Whatley, Doherty, pinned Tony Bruhl, Palmer, 2:55.

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