Seniors Mark Edmonds and Broc Pelle, junior Jesus Hermosillo and freshman Dylan Kotch earned their way to the Colorado State Wrestling championships at the Pepsi Center in Denver Feb. 16-18.

Pelle at 170 lbs. won a regional championship Saturday, Feb. 11 at NJC in Sterling.

Edmonds at 132 lbs. and Hermosillo at 195 lbs. finished as regional runners-up and Kotch placed fourth in the 220-lb. weight division.

Overall, coach Jack Garrison said of course you always want to take more to the state tournament. “But we’re taking four good ones, and they each have a chance to hit the podium,” he added.

Pelle won one match on the state mats at 140 lbs. as a freshman, took a year off, then placed fourth at 171 lbs. last year.

Taking a solid 35-3 record to the big show, Pelle is seeded second in the bracket. He will meet junior Jesse Evans of Kiowa (14-13) in the opening round Thursday.

Broc Pelle works his way to a 170-lb. regional championship in this semifinal match
with Corey Skeels of Byers. Pelle won his three regional matches in pins, at :45, :51 and 2:49.

—Enterprise photo

Edmonds returns to the state mats as a two-time state champion (112 lbs. in 2010 and 125 lbs. in 2011), and he placed third at 103 lbs. as a freshman.

The Dragon senior’s regional runner-up finish seeded him lower in the bracket, but he’s ready for the challenge. Edmonds (33-6) will meet senior John Burch (25-15) of John Mall in the opening round.

Mark Edmonds, pictured at left, puts Saul Galarza of Byers in pinning position in
quarterfinal action in the 132-lb. regional bracket Friday. Edmonds earned the pin in 1:02.

—Enterprise photo

Hermosillo (22-17) is making his first trip to the state mats, and will face freshman Adrian Cereceres (21-12) of North Park to kick off the tournament.

Kotch takes his 22-17 record to the big show, meeting junior Zack Morgan (18-10) of Sargent in the opening round.

State tourney schedule

Thursday, Feb. 16—prelims, 3-6:15 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 17—quarterfinals, 10 a.m., followed by first-round consolations; second-round consolations, 5:45-7 p.m.; and semifinals, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 18­—third-round consolations, 10:30 a.m., followed by semifinal consolations; fifth-place matches, 2 p.m., followed by third-place matches; parade of champions and final matches, 6:30 p.m.

Holyoke Enterprise February 16, 2012