DENVER – Nearly able to lift and flip Rocky Ford’s Kevin Tillman tie-down roping-style takedown and potential pin, Jeremy Roderick made a state championships’ freshman mistake in the process and ultimately lost his Day 1 bout – via pin in 3:04 – Thursday afternoon in Ball Arena to the Meloneer junior.
Relegated to the Class 2A heavyweights’ consolation bracket, the Ignacio senior wasted no time rallying.
Drawing Cedaredge junior Jacob Anderson next, Roderick made quick work of the Bruin, pinning him in 27 seconds and surviving to see Rangely senior Byron Mackay. Mackay got upset in the quarterfinals after arriving in the Mile High City 39-2.
Roderick again summoned all the energy he had against the much larger Panther, but Mackay was a man on a mission. Pinned 29 ticks into the second period, Roderick’s chance to place at the 2021-22 season’s grandest gathering disappeared on Day 2.
“We went back and forth against that kid,” said Roderick, who was 19-9 overall. “I felt like I was ready for it, but it just seems way different than districts and all other tournaments I was in. So I was a little scared, but. ... Honestly, I’m just happy I made it here; this was a new experience for me.”
Unluckily for the Bobcats, the big ’Cat’s early exit was a daunting omen.
Senior Tyler Barnes’ title dreams also disappeared on Thursday as he tangled with Wray junior Payton Wade and lost by a15-0 technical fall 50 ticks into the third period.
Barnes went back to work against Rocky Ford senior Jadon Huerta in consolation-round action on Friday. Surviving another round by pinning Huerta in 3:53, Barnes next squared off against Crowley County sophomore Robert San Juan and prevailed 9-6.
Needing one more victory to be guaranteed sixth place at worst, Barnes’ run – and prep wrestling career – came to an end Saturday morning as Meeker senior Kelton Turner, the weight’s No. 7 seed, managed to flatten the Bobcat with just nine ticks left in the first period. Barnes finished 25-11.
“What a couple seniors we’re losing in Tyler and Jeremy – plus Lexy Young, one of our girls,” IHS head coach Jordan Larsen said. “Losing those kids … that’s going to suck, but I’m very, very much looking to what we have moving forward.”
“They’ve definitely earned it and I’m proud as a teammate,” said Lady ’Cat Faye Hackett, speaking on her fellow grapplers’ achievements and a return to the championships. “It means a lot; I’m excited to watch them.”
Qualifying for CHSAA’s first girls state championships, held simultaneously at Ball Arena, Hackett lost by pin on Day 1 to Yuma senior Fatima Duran, in 2:18 at 127 pounds. With only one classification for the girls, she then faced 5A Broomfield Legacy senior Melanie Perez in the consolations. Hackett fought her hardest but fell short 8-6 and finished her breakout junior season 19-10 overall.
“My heart just dropped down, like, to my stomach,” she said, having surrendered four points within the penultimate 12 seconds, including Perez’s winning two-point near-fall. “But I was excited … and I was nervous – but that’s how you should feel before a match, right? I mean, it’s kind of overwhelming.”
“I’ve never achieved something like this, and I’m just really grateful for all the support I have back home in Ignacio,” Hackett said. “It’s just been a really good experience. We definitely are a big family, we love each other, and … it’s important that our team just stays strong.”
Ignacio junior Keaton McCoy began the championships with a rout at 145 pounds over Pueblo Dolores Huerta Prep junior Omar Soto 22-11. In the quarterfinals, he met Ault Highland senior Zach Tittle, the division’s 1-seed. Showing form even more aggressive than what had earned him last season’s state championship at 138, Tittle handled his business in only 0:51 relegating McCoy to the consolation rounds via pin.
Pit next against Swink senior Jed Garcia, McCoy got back on track with a 9-5 victory and endured to wrestle Wray freshman Samuel Meisner. Initially seeded fourth, Meisner pinned McCoy in 3:50 to reach the consolation semis.
“My freshman year … it was a big eye-opener. This year, I just knew I had to come and get it,” McCoy said, comparing his two non-sequential state showings. “First match of a tournament is always a bit funky; you just have to have a little bit of fun out there, get loose, and get used to it again.”
“Won my first match, lost my second, then won my third but ended up losing in the ‘blood’ round. Yeah, we had some tough matches – I guess we could take away from this just to keep pushing each other to do the best we can.”
McCoy finished 24-10 overall.
All told, Ignacio’s boys totaled 13 team points and tied Olathe for 32nd place out of 44 scoring teams in Class 2A. Wray (167.5) won the team title, followed by Meeker (146) and third-place La Jara Centauri (144).
