Loveland wrestlers ready to hit the mats

By Catherine Trumbo
Loveland Connection

After last year’s successful showing at the state wrestling championships, the Loveland High School team this year is aiming for something a little better: a state team title.

“It was a huge accomplishment,” coach Jim Sanchez said of last season’s performance at state. “I thought we wrestled pretty close to perfect. It couldn’t have gone too much better. We had three state champs and two other guys that placed.

“That’s the push for this year. You have to believe it. If you don’t believe it’s possible, it isn’t going to happen. It’s putting in all the extra work and time to make it happen. The bottom line is it’s hard work. You’ve got to work harder and smarter than the other 80 teams in 5A.”

The Indians return 119-pound state champion Josh Kreimier; 215-pound third-place finisher Connor Medbery; and 285-pound third-place finisher Lane Stuht.

Loveland also returns state qualifiers Shawn Johnson, Lance Jeffries and Julian Cota.

The Indians as a team finished second behind Ponderosa High School.

That finish has been a big motivator for summer workouts.

“We’re focused on winning a team title,” Kreimier said. “I’m not out there for myself. I’m out there for the team.”

The dedication of each team member has paid off, Sanchez said.

“I think as a team we made a tremendous amount of progress over the summer,” Sanchez said. “Everybody across our lineup has improved — marked improvement. I think we’re better off than we were last year at this time. Everything looks really good.”

Sanchez also believes there are some newcomers who can make an immediate impact on the team, one being Garrett Vasquez, a transfer from Mountain View who qualified for state in Class 4A.

“We have a bundle of kids I think can do real well,” Sanchez said.

With an abundance of talent, Sanchez said he believes his team can return to state and win it all.

“I’m excited,” Sanchez said. “I think we’ll have a really good season. We put in a lot of hard work over the summer and I think it’s going to pay off.”

Eagles look to expand on last season’s success
Thompson Valley High School wrestling coach DJ Juergensen had his first state champion last season — Johnny Ortega at 160 pounds.

The Eagles also took second at regionals and placed 10th as a team at the state championships.

Juergensen wants to build on that success this season.

The Eagles have four returners that will try to help lead the team to higher levels.

Tanner Taylor was 26-12 last season and a state qualifier and was joined at state by Jimmy Zahtila, who went 24-12 last season.

Mike Dellatto finished sixth at state last season in the 189-pound division and 34-9 overall. Alex Remmo went 24-15 last season and placed fifth at regionals.

Juergensen also has 10 newcomers he said can break into the varsity line-up and be successful.

The Eagles’ biggest strength is their work ethic, he said.

“We have a team that has an extremely high work ethic,” Juergensen said. “They handle whatever I throw at them. I feel we’ll be very balanced from top to bottom.
“I’m looking forward to a fun, successful season with a bunch of good, hardworking guys.”

The Eagles open the season at home at 7 p.m. Thursdayagainst Longmont High School.

Mountain Lions look to regroup
The Mountain View High School wrestling team will try to improve on its 5-2, third place conference finish last season, but will have a tall task to overcome.

Scott Barker’s squad lost 12 seniors, so the Mountain Lions might have an issue with a lack of varsity experience.

But Barker is looking to his top returners — Kyle Obenshain, Riley Jones, Daniel Landry, John Propp and Kohlman Scribner — to lead by example.

“The returners put in a lot of time training in the offseason,” Barker said. “Great leadership from the returning wrestlers will have a positive outcome on the team’s success this season.”

Barker also hopes to see big things from newcomers Quint Smith, Donovan Boggs and Nick Prins this season.

The Mountain Lions will start the season on the road, facing Fossil Ridge High School at 7 p.m. Thursday in Fort Collins.