ALAMOSA — The Centauri High School wrestling team is in third place after the first day of the Class 2A State Tournament Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver.

Centauri has scored 29 ½ points, which trails only Wray with 37 ½, and Meeker win 32.

Eight of the 11 Falcon wrestlers won their first-round matches. Matthew Salazar started things off by defeating Hayden’s Chase Preston by a 6-2 decision at 106 pounds. Riley Valdez (113) and Mario Vigil (120) defeated a pair of County Line opponents in their first matches. Valdez pinned Elijah Solis in 3:17, and Vigil pinned Aaron Musgrave in 39 seconds.

In the upper weights, Eyan Chavez (152) pinned Highland’s Mason Polk in 2:19, Josh Polkowske (160) pinned Calhan’s Josh Brecko in 37 seconds, Erik Mestas (170) pinned Wiggins’ Jorge Mendez in 1:08, Zach Buhr (182) won by a 20-5 technical fall over North Fork’s Jakob Carver, and Byron Shawcroft (195) pinned Limon’s Ahren Schubarth in 26 seconds.

Losing their first-round matches were Robert Coombs (132) by a 12-6 decision against Cedaredge’s Lucas Hoerr, Cyrus Sandoval (138) was pinned by Norwood’s Jarret Sinks in 2:49, and Ivan Lopez (145) was pinned by Buena Vista’s David Arellano in an even two minutes.

Center is in 14th place with 10 points. Two of the Vikings were victorious on Thursday as Jordan Duran (106) pinned Olathe’s Trevor Piatt in 57 seconds, and Martin Palma (170) pinned Rocky Ford’s Jadon Huerta in 5:18.

The rest of the Center wrestlers saw Francisco Villa (113) lose by an 11-0 major decision to Fowler’s Waitley Sharon, Aaron Valadez (126) lost by a 2-1 decision to Merino’s Tyler Frank in overtime, Lorenzo Trujillo (145) was pinned by Hayden’s Dylan Zimmerman in 36 seconds, Andree Meraz (152) was pinned by Fowler’s Boyd Rogers in 40 seconds, and Omar Hernandez (220) was pinned by County Line’s Taite Weeks-Johnson in 3:32.

Monte Vista is tied for 24th place with six points. Two of the Pirates won their first matches as Damian Lopez (126) defeated North Fork’s Charlie Miller by a 5-0 decision, and DeAngelo Archuleta (138) pinned Hayden’s Sabyn Hager in 5:05.

Also wrestling for Monte Vista but losing in the first round were Nathaniel Juarez (120) who was pinned by Rocky Ford’s Dezmon Reyes in 4:16, Kevin Cisneros (132) who was pinned by Wray’s Brady Collins in 46 seconds, and Jaxon Martinez (160) who was pinned by Highland’s Greg Coy in 4:51.

Del Norte is tied for 27th with four points. Its only wrestler Malachi Gallegos (120) pinned Simla’s Jackson Pfost in 2:55.

Sargent is also tied for 27th place. Matthew Voss (113) won his first-round match by pinning Swink’s Thomas Valdez in 3:03. Trenton Lovelace (220) was pinned by Highland’s Carter Jennings in 3:40.

Sierra Grande-Centennial is scoreless after its sole wrestler C.J. Nix (182) was pinned by Buena Vista’s Seth Moss in 5:59.

Class 3A Alamosa is in sixth place in the Class 3A State Tournament. The Mean Moose have scored 14 points.

Half of the Mean Moose wrestlers won their first-round matches. Dempsey Gibbs (113) defeated Holy Family’s Lorenzo Avila by a 9-1 decision. Dario Valdez (120) also won by a 17-4 major decision over Lamar’s Axton Morales. Sage Rockcastle (126) pinned Platte Valley’s Adrian Marquez in 1:24, and Kyler Liddell (145) pinned Mullen’s Adam Domenico in 55 seconds.

Other Mean Moose competitors saw Dyson Woodward (106) lose a 4-3 decision to Resurrection Christian’s Daniel Verderaime, Trevor Maestas (132) was pinned by Jefferson’s Jose Campos in 3:56, Dante Gonzales (152) was pinned by University’s Paxton Daggett in 1:50, and Logan Garcia (195) was pinned by Lutheran’s Bryce Johnson in 3:06.

Girls tournament

Two of the three Alamosa wrestlers won their first matches at the first-ever sanctioned Girls State Tournament which also took place Thursday at Ball Arena.

Winning for the Lady Mean Moose were Sarah DeLaCerda (111) who pinned Vista Ridge’s Cheyenne Dyess in 36 seconds, and Isabella Durgan (215) who pinned Vista Peak’s Samiah Andrews in 3:17.

Also wrestling for Alamosa was Danielle Reveles (105) who was pinned by Mountain Vista’s Rosiland Ramos Cruz in 52 seconds.

Tournament continues Friday

The state tournament will continue Friday. In the morning session, it will be the quarterfinals and the first round of consolation. In the evening session will be the next rounds of consolation plus the semifinals.