Twenty-one students reported for this year’s HHS wrestling team, which more than doubles the size of last year’s nine-member squad.

Coach Jack Garrison said they should fill all but two weights, and he’s excited about that. “We should be pretty solid,” he added.

Seven returning letterwinners lead the team, with three of those having state mat experience.

Returning letterwinners on the 2011-12 HHS wrestling team are pictured from left, front row, Jesus Hermosillo, Broc Pelle and Mark Edmonds; and back row, Spencer Kotch, Astolfo Rojo, Ben Martinez and Parker Redfern.       —Enterprise photo

Senior Mark Edmonds is looking for his third straight title. He placed third at 103 pounds as a freshman, won the 112-lb. title as a sophomore and claimed the 125-lb. championship last year. He will wrestle at 132 pounds this season.

Senior Broc Pelle finished fourth at 171 pounds last year and also competed at state when he was a freshman. He’ll wrestle at 170 this year.

Senior Parker Redfern also qualified for state last year and returns this season to wrestle at 160 pounds.

Joining Edmonds, Pelle and Redfern as returning letterwinners are juniors Jesus Hermosillo, Spencer Kotch, Ben Martinez and Astolfo Rojo.

“We have the nucleus of a good team this year,” said Garrison. Several newcomers to the sport and six freshmen bump the numbers to a good-sized team compared to recent years.

The most significant change in weight classes in high school wrestling in 23 years will take place this season.

The smallest weight class will now be 106 instead of 103. The 14 weight classes will be 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285 (heavyweight).

Garrison will be assisted with coaching duties by Dusty McConnell, Cutter Garrison and Jeremy Dirks. This is Cutter’s first year with the team. A state third-place wrestler from Montrose, Cutter wrestled for two years at Western State in Gunnison and is now student teaching in Holyoke.

A tough schedule faces the Dragon wrestlers. They open with the Windsor duals tournament Saturday, Dec. 3.

Local fans will then have a chance to see the Dragons in action Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Larry Stroh duals tournament in Holyoke.

The rest of the season schedule is comparable to last year’s. Coach Garrison said they’re looking to line up a couple of home duals if possible.

Dual meet tournaments allow participants to get up to five matches in a day, whereas invitationals follow a double elimination pattern and wrestlers don’t get as many matches.

Regionals are scheduled Feb. 10-11 at NJC in Sterling, with the state tournament at the Pepsi Center in Denver Feb. 16-18.


Wrestling Roster

Mark Edmonds 12

Broc Pelle 12

Parker Redfern 12

Matt Wittman 12

Brett Cumming 11

Jesus Hermosillo 11

Cesar Hinostroza 11

José Jaquez 11

Spencer Kotch 11

Ben Martinez 11

Leo Ortiz 11

Astolfo Rojo 11

Andres Samaniego 11

Junior Ramos 10

Henri Tuokko 10

T.J. Gertner 9

Morgan Golden 9

Dylan Kotch 9

Nathan Miles 9

Nick Ortner 9

Luke Stewart 9

Holyoke Enterprise December 1, 2011