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The 47-year-old Ottmann’s Mustangs sent their coach into retirement after 18 years on the job in Parker by giving him his sixth consecutive Class 5A championship, the best on state record and tying North’s single-class run from 1944-49. It was the Mustangs’ eighth title — they also won in 1995 and 1996 — and, among considerable listings, tied Ottmann for fifth place all time.

Graff’s Final Match
In front of family and friends among a record 18,569 spectators who walked through the arena doors for final sessions, Ottman could find fulfillment in the fact that the Ponderosa program he built from the ground up took its place with in-state royalty and, in his final duty as coach, watched his son compete for a weight-class title in front of his grandfather, who was on hand for the first time.

Jake Ottmann, a Mustangs senior, lost for the second consecutive time in the 215-pound finale to two-time winner Robert Tucker, but the coach quickly became a father.

“I’m sorry,” the emotional son said. The father hugged rather than blinked.

“He needs to know that I’m proud of him no matter what happened,” the elder Ottmann said. “He has come a long way and we’ve had a lot of good (wrestling) times together. You have to be there for him as a father, no matter the outcome. That one hurts and it will hurt both of us for a while. But I’m so proud of him and for what he’s done.”

More than a consolation, Ottmann said, was another team title that had meaning for everyone associated with his program.

“I’ve known him since I was 7 years old and it’s just so cool to win it for him and win a title,” said 145-pounder Daniel Kelly, one of two Ponderosa title winners. “It’s just great to see. We went and wrestled with heart. Every time we wrestled, it was for Ottmann.”

Time didn’t wait for Ottmann, and his quarter-century career coaching wrestling, including seven in Texas, was never warned for stalling. The former schoolboy lightweight wrestler devoid of accomplishment as a competitor walked out of the arena for the final time with enough coaching hardware, accomplishments and memories to put a chokehold on Colorado’s storied annals.

Before a title bout in any of the four classifications, Ponderosa clinched the team race, ultimately outdistancing Loveland by 32 points as an indication of his program’s continued dominance.

Ottmann may not have the legendary tenure of Coloradans such as Heritage’s Ray Barron, Pomona’s Tom Beeson, Alamosa’s Gary Ramstetter, Wray’s Bob Smith, West/Westminster’s Glenn Sheele and Eaton’s Richard Ureno, but Ottmann’s record has the length and quality of an elite 145-pounder.

From a folding chair on the side of a wrestling mat, Ottmann, more animated than usual in the 2008 tournament, has touched more lives than Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

Now it’s time to touch those closest to him. His son, Jake, will be off to college next fall and he has a 6-year-old daughter in his second marriage. He will remain as assistant principal and athletic director.

None of the above as a happy
Ponderosa coach Tim Ottmann hugs his son Jake after Jake lost in the 5A finals. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)
ending may have occurred, including Ottmann’s father, Jim, arriving from New Mexico to send off his son and grandson, if not for irony and happenstance. In 1990, Ottmann telephoned across the region until he landed an interview at Ponderosa. Luckily, his father, waiting in the car, noticed him wearing sunglasses with “Budweiser” on the temples.

“He probably would not be here if I hadn’t caught him halfway up those steps,” Jim Ottmann said.

Jake Ottmann suffered his worst nightmare, a knee injury, as a defensive tackle in last season’s football opener.

“I was terrified (to be sidelined for wrestling),” he said.

He passed on surgery, rehabbed for wrestling and said his injury wasn’t a factor (it is to be fixed soon; he won’t wrestle in college) in the final.

As for Jim Ottmann, a former career teacher-coach in New Mexico who officiates, has a spot on the national rules committee and handled the Land of Enchantment’s wrestling tournament in recent years, he didn’t have a chance to see his grandson compete at state until this weekend because the tournaments run simultaneously.

Someone else was put in charge, he said, “because what a way for us to go out.”

In as Ponderosa head coach is former Mustangs two-time champion Corey McNellis, one of Ottmann’s 25 state winners who has the work of a wrestler in front of him.

He’s convinced where to begin.

“Tim was big on team bonding,” said McNellis, who will make the jump from assistant.
First-class coach

Tim Ottmann, retiring Ponderosa wrestling coach, by his place in Colorado annals:

First: Most consecutive state titles, six, ties North (1944-49)

First: Best dual-meet record, 170-22 (.885)

First: Most consecutive dual-meet shutouts, three (1999-2000)

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