THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Grand Junction High School Athletics

The Grand Junction High School wrestling programs is all about big shoes. It's become a program based on reloading and never rebuilding. Kieran Thompson is quickly becoming one of those big shoes for the Tigers. The sophomore controlled his 113-pound Warrior Classic title match on Saturday night from the start to pick up the 6-2 victory Jacob Gonzales of Pueblo Centennial. It was Thompson's first Warrior title after finishing third last year. "Winning is always the goal, pushing toward being the best that we can, and like the previous guys like Jo Rider, Dylan Martinez and Seth Latham, I just want to keep pushing to be the best that I can be and try to come close to what they achieved," Thompson said. This year's Grand Junction team pushed six into the Warrior Classic finals, and the Tigers cruised to their third straight team title with 211 points. Rocky Mountain (181) was second and Central (180) third. Thompson was one of three wrestlers to claim titles for Grand Junction, along with Dawson Collins at 120 and Hunter Tobiasson at 220. "We're all working toward the same goal. To be champions and be the best that we can possible be," Thompson said. He was excited about getting his first Warrior title, but he's still focused on the ultimate goal that comes in late February. "It's nice winning my first Warrior Classic title but I'm really looking toward the end of the season and state," he said. "This is a little milestone with the main goal being state." For Collins, he stayed on track to grab a slice of history next season. The junior started a little slowly in his 120-pound title match against Dylan Tressler of Pagosa Springs, who came in unbeaten. Collins finally took control of the match and won 7-1. After his arm was raised, Collins flashed a quick three-finger sign to his supporters. It was his third Warrior title and puts him in position to become only the third four-time champ in the tournament, now in its 42nd year. "I love the Warrior, it's different from state," said Collins, who won a 5A state title last year. "It's everyone, 5A through 2A, you have all different kinds of kids, you have kids from out of state. It's just really good competition." He said he took a patient approach in the finals. "I started off slow. He's tall and honestly, I didn't want to get caught underneath him," Collins said. "I was doubting my offense a little but once I got that first takedown, I got going. "I know I've got to wrestle smart sometimes, I can't just go, go, go all the time. I have to get a feel for things first." Tobiasson wrestled a patiently at 220 and was in control for most of the match but it was close against Cedaredge senior Taj Van der Linde. The Grand Junction senior did what he needed to do and won his second straight Warrior Classic title 2-1. In one of the best matches of the tournament, JT Skalecki and Brush's Wyatt Pfau hooked up in a classic at 170. Pfau, a returning state champ in 3A who has committed to Duke next season, had his hands full with Skalecki. The two were evenly matched, and Skalecki, in only his fourth match of the season (all at the Warrior), tied the score at 2-2 in the third period. Skalecki was aggressive in overtime but Pfau took advantage of a small opening and got the 4-2 win with a takedown. At 106, Grand Junction freshman Andrew Leyba was wrestling well and took a 2-0 lead early, but it turned quickly when Mac Martinez of Pueblo South rolled Leyba for the pin just before the end of the first period. Caid Lopez, a junior, had a good tournament to make the 182 finals, but Nucla senior Will Gabriel controlled the championship match to get the 6-0 win. All three of Grand Junction's Warrior Classic champions are unbeaten on the season. Thomson is 18-0, and Collins and Tobiasson are now 17-0.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Grand Junction High School Athletics

TIGERS SHOW THEY'RE WARRIORS

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The Daily Sentinel | 12/19/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Christopher Tomlinson