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DENVER - In 36 matches this season, only two people outwrestled Grand Valley freshman Ryan Gallegos.
One was Nolan Meyers of Smoky Hill, a Class 5A school, in December, and the second was Antonito's senior Daniel Espinoza, a two-time state champion.
Unfortunately for Gallegos, his second loss came in the 119-pound Class 2A title bout at the Pepsi Center on Saturday night.
"It was a really bad match. He didn't have a match like that all year," said Grand Valley head coach Rick Gallegos, who's also Ryan's father. "Too bad it was in the state finals, but he did a hell of a job to get there. I am proud of him."
Espinoza jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Gallegos at the end of the first period, before going up 10-0 at the beginning of the third. Gallegos put two points on the board with a reversal with 1:20 left in the match.
Espinoza, last year's 2A 112 champion, earned three more points in the final minute, on his way to a 15-2 victory.
Prior to the match, Gallegos was bouncing up and down, looking ready to wrestle.
"I was feeling good. I felt like I could roll with him, but I guess he's a lot better than me," Ryan said. "He was the better man today."
Reaching the final, Gallegos becomes the first Cardinal runner-up in state since Rick Gallegos started up Grand Valley's wrestling program five years ago.
"He's done more than I could have ever dreamed this year," Rick said of his son.
Gallegos recorded wins by a 21-6 technical fall, a 12-1 major decision and a 2-1 decision to get to the title match.
"I wish I could have won in the final match, but that's not what happened," Ryan said. "I'm pretty happy with the result, though."
With a 34-2 record and runner-up title in his first year of high school wrestling, the young grappler said he's learned a lot.
"I'll be better prepared next year, especially if I make it to the finals again," Ryan said. "I'll bring my best and be a lot better than I was tonight."
At the end of the state tournament, Grand Valley had three wrestlers take home medals (Gallegos and fourth-place finishers Cody Miles and Jared Tonder), and the six Cardinals who made the trip accumulated 55 points.
The score reflects a promising future for Grand Valley, who will have all six state wrestlers back next year. Miles and Matt Cain are juniors, and Gallegos, Tonder, Tyler Miles and James Drinkhouse are all freshmen.
"We have three guys on the podium, and we worked our butts off. All the guys were awesome," coach Gallegos said. "I have a great freshman class, and I am real excited about the next four years."
One was Nolan Meyers of Smoky Hill, a Class 5A school, in December, and the second was Antonito's senior Daniel Espinoza, a two-time state champion.
Unfortunately for Gallegos, his second loss came in the 119-pound Class 2A title bout at the Pepsi Center on Saturday night.
"It was a really bad match. He didn't have a match like that all year," said Grand Valley head coach Rick Gallegos, who's also Ryan's father. "Too bad it was in the state finals, but he did a hell of a job to get there. I am proud of him."
Espinoza jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Gallegos at the end of the first period, before going up 10-0 at the beginning of the third. Gallegos put two points on the board with a reversal with 1:20 left in the match.
Espinoza, last year's 2A 112 champion, earned three more points in the final minute, on his way to a 15-2 victory.
Prior to the match, Gallegos was bouncing up and down, looking ready to wrestle.
"I was feeling good. I felt like I could roll with him, but I guess he's a lot better than me," Ryan said. "He was the better man today."
Reaching the final, Gallegos becomes the first Cardinal runner-up in state since Rick Gallegos started up Grand Valley's wrestling program five years ago.
"He's done more than I could have ever dreamed this year," Rick said of his son.
Gallegos recorded wins by a 21-6 technical fall, a 12-1 major decision and a 2-1 decision to get to the title match.
"I wish I could have won in the final match, but that's not what happened," Ryan said. "I'm pretty happy with the result, though."
With a 34-2 record and runner-up title in his first year of high school wrestling, the young grappler said he's learned a lot.
"I'll be better prepared next year, especially if I make it to the finals again," Ryan said. "I'll bring my best and be a lot better than I was tonight."
At the end of the state tournament, Grand Valley had three wrestlers take home medals (Gallegos and fourth-place finishers Cody Miles and Jared Tonder), and the six Cardinals who made the trip accumulated 55 points.
The score reflects a promising future for Grand Valley, who will have all six state wrestlers back next year. Miles and Matt Cain are juniors, and Gallegos, Tonder, Tyler Miles and James Drinkhouse are all freshmen.
"We have three guys on the podium, and we worked our butts off. All the guys were awesome," coach Gallegos said. "I have a great freshman class, and I am real excited about the next four years."
Ryan Gallegos
Class 2A 119-pound runner-up
• First Round: Won by 21-6 technical fall • Quarterfinals: Won by 12-1 major decision • Semifinals: Won by 2-1 decision • Championship: Lost by a 15-2 major decision • Overall Season Record: 34-2 |
