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Heather A. Longway-Burke/The Aurora Sentinel
Members of the 2007-08 Aurora Sentinel
All-City Wrestling team pose on April 9 in
the Grandview wrestling room. Top row (left
to right): John Godin (Grandview), Eric
Wilson (Grandview), Nolan Myers (Smoky
Hill); Middle row (left to right): Danny
Bieshaar (Regis), Denzel Washington (Regis),
Powell Slinkard (Regis), Justin Freeman
(Gateway). Bottom row (left to right):
Patrick Brown (Grandview), Ethan Myers
(Smoky Hill), Cody Gilmore (Grandview), Penn
Wade (Grandview), Cody McCutcheon
(Grandview). Not pictured, Jake Bomareto
(Grandview).
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2007-08 AURORA SENTINEL
ALL-CITY WRESTLING TEAM |
103 pounds
John Godin, Grandview, soph. (23-12)
112 pounds
Eric Wilson, Grandview, jr.* (39-5)
119 pounds
No state qualifiers
125 pounds
Nolan Myers, Smoky Hill, sr. (43-7)
130 pounds
Danny Bieshaar, Regis, sr. (45-6)
135 pounds
Patrick Brown, Grandview, sr. (24-7)
140 pounds
Powell Slinkard, Regis, jr. (33-13)
145 pounds
Justin Freeman, Gateway, jr. (33-9)
152 pounds
Denzel Washington, Regis, fr.* (36-7)
160 pounds
Cody McCutcheon, Grandview, sr. (16-14)
171 pounds
Ethan Myers, Smoky Hill, sr. (33-11)
189 pounds
Jake Bomareto, Grandview, jr. (26-17)
215 pounds
Penn Wade, Grandview, jr. (33-14)
285 pounds
Cody Gilmore, Grandview, sr.* (38-4)
* - State champion
Honorable mention
Daniel Armijo, Aur. Central, sr.; Zach Atencio,
Regis, jr.; Josh Christopher, Overland, jr.; Joe
Jones, Smoky Hill, sr.; Daniel Jordan, Cherokee
Trail, sr.; Bryce Lucherini, Grandview, sr.; Ty
Mackey, Rangeview, sr.; LaDaris Mungin, Gateway,
soph.; William Montrey, Aur. Central, fr.
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Winter All-City: Championship trio sets solid All-City
wrestling base
Grandview winners Wilson and Gilmore, Regis' Washington
solidify Aurora's mat best
By
Courtney Oakes
The
Aurora Sentinel
Aurora's contingent at the state wrestling tournament was
smaller than usual with just 22 qualifiers, but there was plenty
of cream to rise to the top.
With Class 5A state champions in Grandview's Eric Wilson and
Cody Gilmore and Regis freshman Denzel Washington among four
finalists, the 2007-08 Aurora Sentinel All-City Wrestling Team
has more firepower than ever.
For the second time in three seasons, Grandview had a pair of
state champions, as junior 112-pounder Wilson and senior
heavyweight Gilmore secured wins at the 5A state tournament at
the Pepsi Center to join 2006 winners Jon Brascetta and Curtis
McNary as Wolves' state winners. They led coach Greg Maestas'
team to third overall.
Wilson came into the tournament ranked third, but defeated two
state champions - Rocky Mountain's Jeremy Schmitt and
Northglenn's Philip Grout - to finally earn his title. He pinned
Schmitt in overtime in the semifinals and won a 2-0 overtime
decision over Grout in the 112-pound final.
"I was No. 3 all year and I was happy because I was the underdog
and could give it all against those two guys and not worry about
it," said Wilson, who won his last 20 matches to finish 38-5
overall. "The pressure was on them to beat me, so I just went
out there to take it."
Wilson credited improved endurance, technique and some new
takedown moves for his vast improvement.
Gilmore's treasure haul for his senior year included a gold
medal for his state wrestling title and a ring from playing nose
tackle on Grandview's 5A state champion football team, which
beat Douglas County at Invesco Field.
Gilmore went 0-2 last season in his state debut, but the
athletic big man fully dedicated himself to his quest for the
two titles. He placed third at the Top of the Rockies, pinning
Ponderosa's Taylor Stamm, 5A's No. 1 who beat him twice earlier
in the year.
Three quick pins got Gilmore to the state championship match,
where he didn't see Stamm, who lost to Sand Creek's Ray Hatchett
in the semifinals. Gilmore handled Hatchett 4-1 to win the state
crown and finish 38-4 overall.
"It was a crazy year, so I knew anything could happen," said
Gilmore, who will play football at Northern Colorado next year.
"It's always stressful in the finals with all these people and
the surrealness, but it feels great to have all the hard work
pay off."
Grandview senior Patrick Brown almost made his hard work pay off
by making the 135-pound final, but Pomona's Nick Jones, a
returning state champion, was too much for him in a 15-3 major
decision.
The state highlight for Brown, who placed for the first time in
three state trips, was a 1-0 triple-overtime semifinal win over
Ponderosa's Austin Gabel. He was 24-7 overall.
Senior Cody McCutcheon (160 pounds), junior Jake Bomareto (189
pounds) and junior Penn Wade (215 pounds) all made the state
tournament for the first time.
Wade had two pins in the consolations to finish 33-14.
McCutcheon went 0-2 at state to finish 16-14 overall, while
Bomareto was 26-17.
Sophomore 103-pounder John Godin (23-12) came one match from
placing.
Regis
got its second state championship in as many seasons, as the
precocious Washington followed 140-pound winner John Hooper by
taking the 152-pound title.
The lanky Washington lived up to the immense hype he brought
into the season due to his successful youth career, recovering
from a fourth-place regional finish to win his four state
matches and go 36-7.
He beat Ponderosa's Stephone Kling by a 5-2 decision in the
final and immediately ignited talk of a possible run at four
titles.
"I've just got to go back to the room and work even harder to
come back and try to do it three more times," Washington said.
Washington's teammates Danny Bieshaar at 130 pounds and Powell
Slinkard at 140 pounds were also the city's best at their
weights.
Bieshaar was upset in the first round at state and didn't get to
oppose Loveland's Tyler Graff in the final as expected, but he
went 45-6 on the season. Slinkard won a regional championship
and was 33-13.
Smoky Hill senior brothers Nolan and Ethan Myers earned spots on
the All-City team at 125 pounds and 171 pounds, respectively.
Nolan Myers (43-7) finally placed at state, taking fourth and
coming just one move away in his semifinal from the title match.
He is headed to West Point to wrestle for Army next year, while
Ethan Myers will play football at Nebraska Wesleyan after going
33-11 and finishing one match away from placing.
Gateway junior Justin Freeman lost his trip to state the year
before in a wrestleback, but made sure he got to the Pepsi
Center this season by making a regional final. He won his first
round match and was 33-9 overall. |