State High School wrestling tournament 5A/4A preliminaries

Pueblo County is back at the Pepsi Center and they’re a force to be reckoned with. It wasn’t as clean as he’d like but the Hornets Brendon Garcia wins by pin at 106 to continue his trek toward third straight state titles, “A little sloppy, I wanted to be a bit more smooth. But it’s the first match,” says Gracia.

Pueblo East, they’re a contender for the team title in 4A. Andrew Lucero gets a pin at 113 and Aaden Valdez wins by pin at 132 pounds. Valdez just months removed from losing an eye and several fingers in a fireworks accident says this just the beginning of his success, “I’m proud of myself but I think I can go way farther. Just with wrestling, success, career, and you know in general. In life,” says Valdez.

Also at 132 pounds, Jason Hanenberg started his senior run at a state title with a pin as well.
A new weight class was no problem for Discovery Canyon’s Patrick Allis. He wins by pin in his third year at the state tournament, “A lot of kids I know the first time at state get really nervous because of the big lights out there and everything. It doesn’t affect me, I love wrestling under the lights with everyone watching me,” says Hanenberg.

In 5A, Maverick Keigher wins his first round match at 138 pounds and he has one pretty clear cut goal, “Just going out and dominating every match and letting everybody know I’m the clear champion,” says Keigher.