The Pomona Panthers had 12 wrestlers place in the 5A state wrestling tournament March 13, including four individual champions, as they won a third-straight state team title.
Pomona was being Ponderosa in the team standings, leading into the championship matches, but winning four individual titles tipped things in the Panther’s favor.
Jakob Romero (120 pounds), Elijah Olguin (126 pounds), Daniel Cardenas (145 pounds) and Franklin Cruz (220 pounds) all earned the title of state champion.
Other Panthers who made a state tourney showing: Mark Cardenas (106 pounds) finished fifth; Jeramiah Steele (113 pounds) finished third; Josiah Parsons (132 pounds) finished third; Gage Bernall (160 pounds) finished third; Jacob Judd (170 pounds) finished third; Roman Cruz (182 pounds) finished sixth; Justin Cullen (195 pounds) finished fifth; Jose Rosales, (heavyweight) finished fifth.
Cardenas, a junior, and Cruz, a senior, are both multi-year state champs.
Jeffco wrestlers Jack Forbes (195 pounds) and Zach Schraeder (heavyweight) from Columbine also became two-time state champs.
Additionally, Columbine teammates Jack Forbes and Zach Schraeder are now two-time champions. Forbes won his second title at 195, while Schraeder won at heavyweight.
Chatfield senior Jacob Badger (182 pounds) finished the season undefeated, 23-0, as a new state champion.
In the 3A state tournament, Jefferson had three state placers: Juniors Daniel Soto (113 pounds) finished fourth; Angelo Lozado (126 pound) took fourth; and senior Alberto Zelaya (170 pounds) finished third.
Girls tournament
CHSAA’s first sanctioned girls wrestling state tournament was held March 11, in Pueblo. Chatfield made state history by winning the inaugural state title. SaVannah Cosme (127 pounds) was undefeated this season, 20-0.
The Pomona Panthers’ girls, led by Perseus Gomez (105 pound) and Alicen Dillard (136 pound) both won individual titles to lead the team to a second place finish.