LITTLETON — Not as many people as usual applauded Saturday when Phillip Colby stood atop the Class 5A Region 4 podium for the 145-pound class.

Instead, the Fruita Monument faithful raised their arms and waved their fingers at the senior, who improved to 38-1 this season.

Colby has been deaf since birth, according to his mother, Vicki, who was fighting back tears.

Colby went the distance for his 7-4 decision over Fairview's Scott Lohndorf, scoring two near-fall points in the final nine seconds to earn a favorable seed Thursday at the start of the Class 5A state tournament at the Pepsi Center.

"I never gave up. I went for the pin and I kept thinking 'I got to win. I got to beat him,' " Colby said through Vicki, who communicates matside via signing. "I haven't finished my goal yet. I looked up and the clock was close to time out, so I thought, 'Well, I probably need to do a tilt to get some points.' And then it was over."

Colby and 215-pound teammate Alex Rodriguez gave the Wildcats two champions at Columbine High School, where the team race wasn't decided until the 189-pound bout.

Needing only a decision to give Centaurus the title over Grandview, Cody Goetsch pinned Durango's Justin Whirlow in 1 minute, 11 seconds for the fastest victory in the finals.

Goetsch was mobbed afterward by his Warrior teammates, who tried to keep the pressure off him by not telling him the impact of a victory.

"They didn't actually tell me, but I kind of knew," Goetsch said. "Best feeling I've ever had."

Centaurus, which scored 183 1/2 points, also crowned Dominic Valenzuela in the 125-pound final and will send seven wrestlers to state.

Grandview, which earned 178 points, crowned a tournament-best three champions and will send eight wrestlers to state. Eric Wilson won the 112-pound class, Patrick Brown handled Lakewood's Travis Rios in the 135-pound final, and heavyweight Cody Gilmore pinned LeRoy Vigil of Adams City at the 3:02 mark.

Brown was in control until an escape and takedown cut his lead to 6-5 in the second period. Brown then had a reversal en route to a 15-5 major decision.

"I definitely tried to get the pin for my team, but it was hard to do," Brown said. "He's strong."

Heritage placed third and will send seven wrestlers to state. Durango will send six, and Mitchell and Lakewood will send five apiece.

Lakewood topped the 160-pound weight class behind Mike Morgan and won the 103 behind a dominating performance from freshman Elias Rosales, who scored a 16-2 major decision over Douglas County's Josh Hamacher.

"It feels really good," Rosales said. "I thought I could do this if I wrestled my best."