A-West defeats rival Ralston Valley in wrestling dual

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — Arvada West’s boys wrestling team honored its seniors and then celebrated a dual victory over rival Ralston Valley on Jan. 26. e Wildcats took a 51-27 victory over the Mustangs at Arvada West High School.

“Like I tell the guys, ‘It’s all practice until we get to February,’” A-West rst-year head wrestling coach Adrian Green said after the Wildcats’ nal home dual of the season. “Every match and every dual is important. is is experience. If it goes well great. If it doesn’t go so well that ne. Either way just don’t get too high or too low. It’s all learning until you get to the end.”

A-West sophomore Auston Eudaly got the Wildcats o to a good start with a second-period pin in his 144-pound match against Ralston Valley sophomore Cooper Hineline. Eudaly is the Wildcats’ highest ranked wrestler, holding down the No. 3 spot in the Class 5A 144-pound rankings by One the Mat.

“He (Eudaly) is a very complete wrestler, especially on his feet,” Green said. “He has technique after technique. e sky is the limit for him.”

Eudaly just placed 6th at the Top of the Rockies Tournament last weekend at Centaurus High School.

“I heard so many people say it is way tougher than state,” Eudaly said of the Top of the Rockies Tournament. “I went into it knowing I could place. I just had to ght my way through and I ended up with sixth. I was totally happy with that.”

Eudaly was joined by senior Nathan Barnes (165 pounds), fresh- man Julian Vigil (175), sophomore Keegan Sturgeon (106), freshman Aiden Mena (113) and senior Cooper Best (138) with victories in matches that were wrestled. All by Best’s win came by pin.

Ralston Valley managed victories by sophomore Carter Coorough (150), junior Kyle Phipps (157) and freshman Auston Blattner (285) and junior Laine Kougl (132). e Class 5A Je co League teams — Arvada West, Chat eld, Columbine, Lakewood, Pomona, Ralston Valley and Valor Christian — descended on Chat eld High School on Friday, Jan. 27 for the 5A Je co League Tournament where the individual and team league titles will be decided.

In less than 24 hours after the dual, A-West and Ralston Valley saw each other again.

“Just go in and win it hopefully,” Eudaly said for taking the 144-pound individual title at the league champions. “ at just wrestle my best.” e Panthers have been No. 1 in the On e Mat 5A rankings all season and will be going after their fth 5A state team title next month down at Ball Arena.

Pomona captured the conference team title for the eighth straight year scoring 269.6 points, 100+ points better than second-place Chat eld. e Panthers won eight individual titles.

“Right now they are the cream of the crop,” Green said of Pomona. “He (Pomona coach Sam Federico) has done a great job over there.”

Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Je co Public Schools. For more Je co coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.