DENVER \u2014 And now for longest wait ever.<\/p>\n
One wrestles\u00a0for a whole season and has three bouts at the state tournament in two days and then gets to wait for 24 hours for the biggest match in a lifetime.<\/p>\n
Eagle Valley\u2019s Lucas Comroe (126 pounds) and Cody Ponce (220) are waiting \u2026 and waiting \u2026 and waiting for Saturday\u2019s state finals at the 3A state tournament at the Pepsi Center in Denver.<\/p>\n
Comroe advanced to wrestling\u2019s biggest stage by pinning Valley\u2019s Zach Brown in 2 minutes, 28 seconds, and then throttled Alamosa\u2019s Colton Liddell, 19-6, for a major decision. About the only thing wrong in Comroe\u2019s world is that he won\u2019t face Jefferson\u2019s Andrew Sansbum, his arch-nemesis, in the final.<\/p>\n
Comroe will doubtless find motivation against Lamar\u2019s Zane Rankin.<\/p>\n
Ponce will also be in the March of Champions, the procession before the state-title matches on Saturday night. The Devils\u2019 220-pounder edged out a 3-2 decision against Fort Morgan\u2019s James Hochanadel and pinned Bayfield Daviel Westbrook in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
Ponce will line up against Salida\u2019s Eli Smith on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
As of press time Friday night, Eagle Valley was in third place as a team in Class 3A with 79 points behind Alamosa (103.5) and Eaton (89).<\/p>\n
At 120 pounds, the Devils\u2019 Luke Morrisey started the day by dominating Alamosa\u2019s Kason Smith in a technical fall, 20-4. For the uninitiated, a bout gets stopped when a wrestler is leading by 15 points or more.<\/p>\n
Morrissey advanced to the semifinals but fell to Lamar\u2019s Ethan Andrade, 7-3. The Eagle Valley senior is still alive in the double-elimination tournament and will try to work his way back to the podium on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Eagle Valley freshman Kodi Raper was eliminated from the 126-pound bracket with a pin at the hands of Fort Morgan\u2019s Brendan Jones. While it\u2019s disappointing now, Raper has gained invaluable experience just qualifying for the state tournament as a freshman.<\/p>\n
At 138 pounds, Ryder Bossow fell out of the championship side of the draw with a 4-0 loss to Fort Morgan\u2019s Cael Langford. However, Bossow bounced back, edging Lamar\u2019s Walker Kee. Not only do Bossow and other Devils want to make the podium in wrestle-backs, but their wins add to the team total in points.<\/p>\n
After losing his first-round match, Eagle Valley\u2019s 160-pounder, Noah Baldwin, recorded pins of Brush\u2019s Chase Bennett and Olathe\u2019s Wyatt Mansker and is still medal-hunting in Denver.<\/p>\n
The Devils\u2019 Davis Ward qualified for the semis Friday with a second-period pin of Bennett\u2019s Mason Wakeham. However, Glenwood Springs\u2019 Amos Wilson bested Ward with a pin in the Final Four. Ward will have to regroup for wrestle-backs.<\/p>\n