Two nationally ranked Canon City wrestlers are determined to make program history after both came up short in the finals last year.
Piper Montoya is the top seed in the Class 4A 105-pound bracket, and fellow junior Kate Doughty is the top seed in the 4A 135 bracket. Both needed less than two total minutes to post a pair of pins on Thursday and cruise into Friday’s semifinals, where they are each two wins away from becoming the first girls state champions in Tigers history.
“After both taking second last year and each losing to Pomona (in the finals), it would be so amazing for us to do it,” Doughty said. “We’ve been wrestling together since we were six, and we’ve been here for each other for a long time working toward this goal.”
The longtime friends are a combined 62-1 this year, with Montoya at 30-1 and Doughty at 32-0. Montoya’s lone loss this season came to Katey Valdez, who is 17th in FloWrestling’s pound-for-pound rankings and No. 1 at 100. Valdez, who beat Montoya 15-5 in the title match of the Colorado Springs Metro Championships, is the heavy favorite to win the 105-pound title in Class 5A.
Montoya is ranked 23rd in the nation at 105 by FloWrestling, while Doughty is ranked 20th at 135. Both have a significant male influence behind their success in the sport. Montoya’s dad, Chris, was a state champion at Canon City. And Doughty’s older brother, senior Jack Doughty, is the top-seeded wrestler in the 4A 190-pound bracket in search of his first title.
Montoya, who has been battling through a torn labrum in her hip, is on a collision course with Bennett star freshman Emma Faczak in Saturday’s finals. Doughty will likely face Pueblo County senior Kenna Pino, who is the favorite on the other side of her bracket.
The standout tandem is two of Canon City’s six qualifiers for a program on the upswing.
“Our team has been small the last few years, and it’s slowly gotten bigger,” Montoya said. “We had three first-year wrestlers that made it here, so we’re working on their development and we feel good about where we’re at as a program.”
Upset power. Faczak believes she can win gold at 105 pounds in 4A. Her faith is powered by her massive upset of Valdez at last month’s Chatfield Lady War Horse Invitational. Faczak pinned Valdez late in the second period to hand the nationally-ranked Valdez her first loss of the season.
“My offense, my style, is staying on my feet and taking my takedown shots,” Faczak said after pinning Eagle Valley’s Luvlyn Ward at 1:27 of the first period in the preliminary round.
Faczak followed up her first-round victory by pinning Woodland Park’s Jasmine Brewer at 1:45 of the first period.
Valdez (38-1) is a heavy favorite to win the 5A girls title, while Faczak (42-3) appears on track to meet Montoya (32-1) in the 4A finals.
What’s my name?: Mullen sophomore Champion Dyes — yes, his dad, T.J. Dyes, named him Champion — opened up the defense of his 3A title at 285 pounds with a first-period pin of Fort Morgan freshman Mael Zannon.
“My dad named me from a dream he had before I was born,” Dyes said. “He had a dream where my mom was in a car, driving to see my dad and he saw me in the back seat. That’s when he named me Champion.”
Dyes (19-2) won his second-round match with a 13-1 major decision over Middle Park’s DJ Kohlwey.
“I’m a lot stronger this year, so I think I have a chance to repeat,” said Dyes, a right guard who tore his MCL playing in Week 4 and missed the rest of the Mustangs’ football season.
Mullen is shooting for a second team title in a row, but with only six wrestlers in the tournament, it won’t be easy for the Mustangs.
“We’re all going to have to win and at least get to the semifinals to have a shot,” Dyes said.
Halfway to four-peat. Fowler senior Traven Sharon, the lone wrestler at this year’s meet who can join the exclusive club of four-time state champions, is two wins away from doing so. He won by pin in the first round and then a 10-0 major decision in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal bout against Olathe senior Trevor Piatt on Saturday night.
Harrison’s dominance. Mountain View senior Isaiah Harrison, who was fifth at state as a freshman, continued his three-year unbeaten streak at Ball Arena. The two-time defending state champion improved to 51-0 on the season with a pair of tech falls to advance to Saturday night’s semifinals.
Banner day. Monte Vista senior Jeremiah Baumgardner joined the 100-win club with his major decision in the 2A quarterfinals. Baumgardner, who improved to improved to 29-4, was presented with a 100-win banner.
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