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The 2026 CHSAA State Wrestling Tournament is all set for the finals.
Pueblo is sending seven wrestlers to the finals — two from the girls side and five from the boys side.
In Class 4A for the boys, Pueblo South’s Elijah Algien joins Pueblo East’s Justus Freeman, Urijah Duran, Michael McCullough, and Elijah Contreras. For the Girls Class 4A side, Acelyn Duran and Gionna Duran advance.
Algien reaches the finals after winning 12-8 over Manuel Mota of Widefield. This is the Colts’ first appearance in the finals since 2017 and potentially their first championship since 2015.
“I'm doing this all for my brother,” Algien said, noting his brother, Isaiah, helped him through practices and taught him how to become a better wrestler. “My brother didn't make it to state at all during his high school career. So, I've just been trying to do this to make him proud.”
Acelyn Duran is seeking her second straight Class 4A girls individual title while also helping her team fight for a team state title.
Duran defeated Addi Whaley of Soroco in the semifinals via pin in the first period to advance to the finals. With her win in the semifinals, the Central girls' team now has a 14-point lead over the Severance girls.
More: Parade of Champions Colorado State Wrestling Tournament Schedule
She is excited about the opportunity to compete for her second straight title, but knows the mission isn’t complete. She was all business when it came to talking about her finals match.
“The job is not over,” Duran said. “Got to keep going and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
Gionna Duran also advanced to the finals after getting a pin in the first period over CeJae Synder of Montezuma-Cortez Girls. This will be her first attempt at a state title.
“I feel pretty positive about it. I'm really excited about tomorrow,” Gionna Duran said. “I feel like we practice almost every day, so I've been working on this for a long time.”
On the boys' side of things, Pueblo East is chasing down its second straight team title. They are battling it out with Roosevelt. The Eagles currently have a 21-point lead over the Rough Riders, thanks in large part to the advancement of Justus Freeman, Urijah Duran, Michael McCullough, and a big upset in favor of the Eagles' Elijah Contreras to the finals.
Contreras won his match against Carter Woods of Mead by way of pinfall in the final seconds.
“I was down by one with 10 seconds left, and I got a little scared,” Contreras said. “He got me down on my butt, and I trapped his right arm, and as he's trying to push me to put me to my back, I trapped him, I just ran with everything I had, and the Lord blessed me.”
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo sends 7 wrestlers to CHSAA State Wrestling Tournament Finals
Continue reading...
Pueblo is sending seven wrestlers to the finals — two from the girls side and five from the boys side.
In Class 4A for the boys, Pueblo South’s Elijah Algien joins Pueblo East’s Justus Freeman, Urijah Duran, Michael McCullough, and Elijah Contreras. For the Girls Class 4A side, Acelyn Duran and Gionna Duran advance.
Algien reaches the finals after winning 12-8 over Manuel Mota of Widefield. This is the Colts’ first appearance in the finals since 2017 and potentially their first championship since 2015.
“I'm doing this all for my brother,” Algien said, noting his brother, Isaiah, helped him through practices and taught him how to become a better wrestler. “My brother didn't make it to state at all during his high school career. So, I've just been trying to do this to make him proud.”
Acelyn Duran is seeking her second straight Class 4A girls individual title while also helping her team fight for a team state title.
Duran defeated Addi Whaley of Soroco in the semifinals via pin in the first period to advance to the finals. With her win in the semifinals, the Central girls' team now has a 14-point lead over the Severance girls.
More: Parade of Champions Colorado State Wrestling Tournament Schedule
She is excited about the opportunity to compete for her second straight title, but knows the mission isn’t complete. She was all business when it came to talking about her finals match.
“The job is not over,” Duran said. “Got to keep going and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
Gionna Duran also advanced to the finals after getting a pin in the first period over CeJae Synder of Montezuma-Cortez Girls. This will be her first attempt at a state title.
“I feel pretty positive about it. I'm really excited about tomorrow,” Gionna Duran said. “I feel like we practice almost every day, so I've been working on this for a long time.”
On the boys' side of things, Pueblo East is chasing down its second straight team title. They are battling it out with Roosevelt. The Eagles currently have a 21-point lead over the Rough Riders, thanks in large part to the advancement of Justus Freeman, Urijah Duran, Michael McCullough, and a big upset in favor of the Eagles' Elijah Contreras to the finals.
Contreras won his match against Carter Woods of Mead by way of pinfall in the final seconds.
“I was down by one with 10 seconds left, and I got a little scared,” Contreras said. “He got me down on my butt, and I trapped his right arm, and as he's trying to push me to put me to my back, I trapped him, I just ran with everything I had, and the Lord blessed me.”
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo sends 7 wrestlers to CHSAA State Wrestling Tournament Finals
Continue reading...
