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6 local wrestlers advance at state

Soroco, Hayden 4-0, Steamboat 2-3 in opening round

Joel Reichenberger
Steamboat Springs High School junior Hayden Johnson kept his head in the game Thursday in the first round of the state wrestling tournament in Denver. Johnson won his match, 4-3, and was one of six local high school wrestlers to make it through the first round and to the quarterfinals.
Joel Reichenberger

State wrestling results

Class 3A

113: Isaiah Gamez, La Junta, def. Colton Pasternak, Steamboat, Fall 0:54

126: Cameron Wolters, Buena Vista, def. Dakota Thvedt, Steamboat, MD, 11-2

145: Lance Bryant, Steamboat, def. Brody Mendoza, University, Fall 0:43

152: Brandon Onofre, Fowler, def. Matthew Hansen, Steamboat, Fall 2:39

160: Hayden Johnson, Steamboat, def. Keaton Green, Florence, Dec 4-3

Class 2A

145: Lane Martindale, Soroco, def. Dane Hines, Stratton, Dec. 6-4

152: Jace Logan, Soroco, def. Derrick Poss, Akron, Fall 1:27

195: Sky Carlson, Soroco, def. Dominic Romero, Dolores Huerta, Fall 3:10

195: Christian Carson, Hayden, def. Dillan Salter, Del Norte, Fall 2:33

— Lane Martindale’s first trip to the state wrestling tournament wasn’t exactly what dreams are made of.

Martindale, a Soroco senior, said the scale of the tournament’s venue, Denver’s Pepsi Center and the crowd caught him off guard. He was nervous, he said, but he didn’t wrestle poorly. He just didn’t wrestle much.

He had his opponent on his back as the final seconds of the third period ticked away in his first match, but he still lost 10-8. He lost his second, in the consolation bracket, in overtime, 3-1.



Back at state Thursday, Martindale didn’t let it come down to overtime or a last-second pin call. He took a comfortable lead midway through his match, then closed out the win against Stratton junior Dane Hines 6-4.

Martindale was one of six local wrestlers to advance through Thursday’s first round at the state tournament in Denver. They’ll next wrestle starting at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.



“I felt pretty good when it was 6-2, and I didn’t feel too bad when I gave up two more,” Martindale said. “I have high expectations this weekend. I want to win every match.”

Soroco got all three of its state-qualified wrestlers through the first round.

Sophomore Jace Logan pinned Akron’s Derrick Poss 1 minutes, 27 seconds into the first round at 152 pounds.

Logan will now face Fowler junior Chantz Lange.

Junior Sky Carlson, meanwhile, got a second-round pin at 195 pounds against Dolores-Huerta junior Dominic Romero, winning in 3:10.

“A lot of pressure and nervousness came off me, for sure,” Carlson said.

He’ll face Tristan Laver, from Crowley County, next. The two met earlier in the season. Carlson led late in that match, but Laver turned the tables and won with a third-period pin.

“I pulled him on top of me, and he pinned me,” Carlson said. “It’s not going to be an easy match, but I think I can win.”

Hayden also got a win in the 195-pound bracket. Christian Carson took care of Del Norte junior Dillan Salter with a second-period pin at 2:33.

“He did a great job of coming out and getting to work,” coach Chad Jones said. “He went right at the attack. I told him to push the kid out of bounds. He decided to cradle him and pin him. Whatever works.

“He’s on mission.”

Sailors go 2-3

Steamboat got two wins on the day, though it lost three wrestlers to the consolation bracket.

Hayden Johnson, a state finalist a year ago, took care of business at 160 pounds, but wasn’t sharp. He led 4-1 through much of the match but gave up two late points. He went on to win 4-3 against Florence junior Keaton Green.

He wasn’t exactly in danger of losing as time expired, but it wasn’t comfortable, either.

“He was a little slow to react. He was in position all the time, but didn’t quite finish,” coach Travis Bryant said. “You’ll see another Hayden in the next match.

The Sailors did get one quick and powerful victory, from state first-timer Lance Bryant, who rolled at 145 pounds. He ran up against Brody Mendoz, of University, and logged the pin 43 seconds into the first period, the fastest win of any of Routt wrestler.

“He’s got his work cut out for him. He’s got one of the toughest brackets down here,” Travis Bryant said. “This next one will be real tough, but he’s confident, and I’m confident in him. He’s wrestling awesome right now.”

Steamboat did take losses from Colton Pasternak, at 113 pounds; Dakota Thvedt, at 126; and Matthew Hansen, at 152.

Pasternak and Hansen came in long shots to advance after finishing fourth in their regional. That means they matched up with champions from other regionals.

Pasternak was pinned 54 seconds into his match against La Junta freshman Isaiah Gamez.

Hansen lost to Jefferson senior Brandon Onofre via a second-round pin.

Thvedt’s loss ended up lopsided, but only after a tight first two rounds. He trailed 4-2 after the first and 6-2 after the second. His opponent, Buena Vista senior Cameron Wolters, ran away with things in the third, however, to win 11-2.

“It was one move that could have changed that match. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it,” Bryant said. “Dakota’s a good kid. He’ll bounce back.”

Pasternak knows what’s next. He also lost his first-round match last year, but worked his way through the consolation bracket, winning four of five matches to eventually place fifth.

It’ll take a similar journey if he, Hansen and Thvedt, all seniors, hope to medal this time.

“For some reason, my seniors, they all had a bad draw coming out of regionals,” Bryant said. “There’s a long road ahead. Colton’s proven he can do it. We just have to step up and get it done.”

To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253, email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @JReich9


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