A-West defeats rival Ralston Valley in wrestling dual
ARVADA — The Arvada West boys’ wrestling team honored their seniors by celebrating a double win over rivals Ralston Valley on Jan. 26.
The Wildcats defeated the Mustangs 51-27 at Arvada West High School.
“Like I say to the boys, ‘February is all practice,’” said Adrian Green, A-West’s freshman head wrestling coach, after the Wildcats’ final home match of the season. “Every match and every duel is important. This is experience. When things go well, great. If things don’t go so well, so well. Don’t go too high or too low. It is all learning to the end.”
A-West student Auston Eudaly got the Wildcats off to a good start with a pin in the second period in his 144-pound match against Ralston Valley student Cooper Hineline. Eudaly is the Wildcats’ highest-ranked wrestler and holds third place in One the Mat’s Class 5A 144-pound ranking.
“He (Eudaly) is a very complete wrestler, especially on his feet,” Green said. “He has technique after technique. The sky is the limit for him.”
Eudaly just finished 6th in last weekend’s Top of the Rockies Tournament at Centaurus High School.
“I’ve heard so many people say it’s a lot tougher than the state,” Eudaly said of the Top of the Rockies tournament. “I went in knowing I could place. I just had to fight my way through and finished sixth. I was totally satisfied with that.”
Eudaly was joined by senior Nathan Barnes (165 pounds), freshman Julian Vigil (175), student Keegan Sturgeon (106), freshman Aiden Mena (113) and senior Cooper Best (138) with wins in matches that were wrestled. All by Best’s victory came by pin.
Ralston Valley managed wins from sophomore Carter Coorough (150), junior Kyle Phipps (157) and freshman Auston Blattner (285) and junior Laine Kougl (132).
In less than 24 hours after the dual, A-West and Ralston Valley saw each other again.
The Jeffco League Class 5A teams — Arvada West, Chatfield, Columbine, Lakewood, Pomona, Ralston Valley and Valor Christian — came to Chatfield High School on Friday, January 27 for the 5A Jeffco League tournament where the singles – and team titles are decided.
“Just go in and hopefully win it,” Eudaly said of winning the £144 singles title with the league champions. “It’s just my best.”
Pomona clinched the conference team title for the eighth straight year with 269.6 points, more than 100 points better than second-place finisher Chatfield. The Panthers won eight singles titles.
The Panthers have been No. 1 in the On The Mat 5A rankings all season and will be seeking their fifth 5A state team title at Ball Arena next month.
“Right now, they’re the cream of the crop,” Green said of Pomona. “He (Pomona coach Sam Federico) did a great job there.”
Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more coverage of Jeffco, visit CHSAANow.com.
