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DENVER - They could have thrown in the towel Friday night.
But after losses in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the 4A state tourney, Eagle Valley wrestlers stormed back to place third and fourth Saturday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
James Harvey, a freshman at the 130 weight, used a pin to advance to the third-place match, where he dominated Cortez's Justin Samora for the win. Brendan Best, a senior at 189, lost a contentious and hard-fought match to this year's champion Sonny Yohn, 4-3, in the quarters, then won two big matches before taking fourth in one of the toughest weight classes at the tournament. The Devils' Chad Strakbein picked up a win on Thursday, then fell twice on Saturday.
"They need to hold their heads high," said Eagle Valley coach Ron Beard. "I'm proud of them all."
Harvey won his first two matches of the tournament with ease, moving to the semis Friday night to face Fort Morgan's Samuel Soto. For most of the match, Harvey was in control, and took a 2-1 lead into the final 30 seconds. Soto then used a granby to move ahead and win the match.
"You chalk that up to a learning and it'll never happen again," Beard said.
It was clear Harvey put the loss out of his mind when he opened up Saturday with a pin of Moffat's Matt Kincheloe. Harvey dominated the first period, then took down and pinned Kincheloe early in the second.
In the third-place match, Harvey and Samora squared off for their rubber match. Samora beat Harvey earlier in the season, while Harvey won at regionals last weekend. This time, it was all Harvey, who took a 6-0 lead late into the match before a wild Samora salvaged a few points.
"He wrestled so well today," Beard said. "He owns Samora. For the next few years people are going to fear him."
All heart
Since his freshman year, Best has not missed a state meet. He placed sophomore year and took second last year at 171, losing on a questionable call. After moving up to 189 this year, Best compiled a stellar regular season record. At regionals, Best lost in the third overtime to Moffat's Nick Navaratil, the eventual second-place finisher.
In his opening state match, Best handled Josh Rangel, 12-2, then moved on to face Yohn, who is ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Following a scoreless first period, the wrestlers traded a few points, and then the officials began to call stall points. Yohn moved ahead 4-3 on a stall call and ended up winning by that margin.
"Sonny is a great wrestler, and so is Brendan," Beard said. "We would have liked to that match in overtime. It wasn't a good call, but wrestling goes that way - you lose some of them and you win some of them."
Best had to quickly regroup and face Brian Key of Rifle.
"It's so hard to go from a premier match like that, with everyone telling you, 'Good job, you should have beaten him,' then you gotta go wrestle another really good kid," Beard said.
Best easily took care of Key, but the road to placing didn't get any easier Saturday. After an win over Rideview's J.J. Valverde, Best moved on to face Windsor's Josh Larson who was second last year at 189. Best won, 5-2.
"It was pretty close, but I never really worried about Brendan in that one," Beard said.
For his third match of the day, Best faced Tony Chavarria of Pueblo West. The match was tied at one after six minutes, and again after the first overtime. Chavarria would reverse Best in the second overtime to win.
"It was mentally and physically draining," Beard said. "Brendan had to get so up for his match to beat Josh Larson."
Best left the Pepsi Center with his third medal.
"He's had a stellar career," Beard said. "He knows he can wrestle with anyone in the country."
Surge
At 19-18, Strakbein entered the state tournament with some late-season spark.
"He just kept improving and improving and working hard," Beard said. "Good things happen to kids who keep working."
Strakbein opened the tourney with a win against Robbie Orban, then lost twice on Friday.
"The kids that beat him took fifth and sixth, and Chad knows he can wrestle with him," Beard said. "He's going to have a great jump-start on next season."
Eagle Valley finished the tournament with 35 points.
Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.
But after losses in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the 4A state tourney, Eagle Valley wrestlers stormed back to place third and fourth Saturday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
James Harvey, a freshman at the 130 weight, used a pin to advance to the third-place match, where he dominated Cortez's Justin Samora for the win. Brendan Best, a senior at 189, lost a contentious and hard-fought match to this year's champion Sonny Yohn, 4-3, in the quarters, then won two big matches before taking fourth in one of the toughest weight classes at the tournament. The Devils' Chad Strakbein picked up a win on Thursday, then fell twice on Saturday.
"They need to hold their heads high," said Eagle Valley coach Ron Beard. "I'm proud of them all."
Harvey won his first two matches of the tournament with ease, moving to the semis Friday night to face Fort Morgan's Samuel Soto. For most of the match, Harvey was in control, and took a 2-1 lead into the final 30 seconds. Soto then used a granby to move ahead and win the match.
"You chalk that up to a learning and it'll never happen again," Beard said.
It was clear Harvey put the loss out of his mind when he opened up Saturday with a pin of Moffat's Matt Kincheloe. Harvey dominated the first period, then took down and pinned Kincheloe early in the second.
In the third-place match, Harvey and Samora squared off for their rubber match. Samora beat Harvey earlier in the season, while Harvey won at regionals last weekend. This time, it was all Harvey, who took a 6-0 lead late into the match before a wild Samora salvaged a few points.
"He wrestled so well today," Beard said. "He owns Samora. For the next few years people are going to fear him."
All heart
Since his freshman year, Best has not missed a state meet. He placed sophomore year and took second last year at 171, losing on a questionable call. After moving up to 189 this year, Best compiled a stellar regular season record. At regionals, Best lost in the third overtime to Moffat's Nick Navaratil, the eventual second-place finisher.
In his opening state match, Best handled Josh Rangel, 12-2, then moved on to face Yohn, who is ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Following a scoreless first period, the wrestlers traded a few points, and then the officials began to call stall points. Yohn moved ahead 4-3 on a stall call and ended up winning by that margin.
"Sonny is a great wrestler, and so is Brendan," Beard said. "We would have liked to that match in overtime. It wasn't a good call, but wrestling goes that way - you lose some of them and you win some of them."
Best had to quickly regroup and face Brian Key of Rifle.
"It's so hard to go from a premier match like that, with everyone telling you, 'Good job, you should have beaten him,' then you gotta go wrestle another really good kid," Beard said.
Best easily took care of Key, but the road to placing didn't get any easier Saturday. After an win over Rideview's J.J. Valverde, Best moved on to face Windsor's Josh Larson who was second last year at 189. Best won, 5-2.
"It was pretty close, but I never really worried about Brendan in that one," Beard said.
For his third match of the day, Best faced Tony Chavarria of Pueblo West. The match was tied at one after six minutes, and again after the first overtime. Chavarria would reverse Best in the second overtime to win.
"It was mentally and physically draining," Beard said. "Brendan had to get so up for his match to beat Josh Larson."
Best left the Pepsi Center with his third medal.
"He's had a stellar career," Beard said. "He knows he can wrestle with anyone in the country."
Surge
At 19-18, Strakbein entered the state tournament with some late-season spark.
"He just kept improving and improving and working hard," Beard said. "Good things happen to kids who keep working."
Strakbein opened the tourney with a win against Robbie Orban, then lost twice on Friday.
"The kids that beat him took fifth and sixth, and Chad knows he can wrestle with him," Beard said. "He's going to have a great jump-start on next season."
Eagle Valley finished the tournament with 35 points.
Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.
