Rifle coach John Wisniewski couldn’t find the words to sum up the pride he felt in the wake of Friday and Saturday’s 3A Region 1 wrestling tournament.

Not only did his Bears finish second in the team standings in Montrose, but they qualified nine individuals for next weekend’s state tournament in Denver.

Earning their way to the Pepsi Center in Denver, site of the Thursday-Saturday state event, are Rogelio Navarro (113 pounds), Isaac Rider (120), Dallas Rohrig (126), Coy Zang (132), Brandon Kittle (138), Tony Galaviz (160), A.J. Cordova (170), Clayton Coombs (182) and Jose Prado (heavyweight).

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Navarro and Prado both finished second in their brackets.

Rider, Rohrig, Zang, Kittle and Cordova finished third and Coombs and Galaviz both placed fourth.

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The top four wrestlers in each bracket qualified for state.

“There are no words to describe how I feel,” Wisniewski said. “I think this is my first regional plaque for my coaching tenure here. I’m joyous. I’m overwhelmed.”

Narrowly missing out on state were Hugo Ruelas (145), Austin Shepherd (152) and Saul Cerros (195). Shepherd finished in fifth place. Cerros took sixth.

Grand Valley’s wrestling team got plenty of bang for its buck at this weekend’s 3A Region 1 tournament.

The Cardinals entered nine wrestlers into the Montrose-hosted tourney, and six of them are bound for next weekend’s state tournament in Denver. The squad finished fourth in the team standings.

Cody Pfau (106), Tucker Schultz (126), George Stagg (132), Michael Salazar (152), Bryan Hegwood (160) and David Witt (170) all punched their tickets to the Pepsi Center.

Witt led the way for Grand Valley, winning a regional title to remain undefeated on the season. Salazar also reached his weight bracket’s title match, though he finished second.

Pfau notched her second trip to state with a third-place finish. She last qualified back in 2010 while wrestling for Meeker.

Also finishing third was Bryan Hegwood. Taking fourth were Schultz and Stagg.

“Overall, I’m real proud of the team,” Grand Valley coach Rick Gallegos said. “All the ones that didn’t go to state still were on the podium.”

Though they missed out on state berths, Tynan Dutton (113), Miguel Valles (120) and Will Hinkle (145) all placed in the top six. Hinkle was fifth, while Dutton and Valles both placed sixth.

Coal Ridge’s Collin Carbone and Devon Godeski are bound for state.

Both finished second in their respective weight classes at this weekend’s 3A Region 1 tournament in Montrose.

Carbone took silver at 120 pounds, while Godeski earned second at 138 pounds.

“I’m excited to take them over to Denver next weekend and do a little bit of wrestling again,” Titans coach Mike Mikalakis said.

Carbone, a senior, is headed over the mountains for state for the first time. He’ll bring a 27-8 record.

“He’s one of the only kids who’s been in the program for a full four years,” Mikalakis said. “He finally made it his senior year. It’s a big thing for him.”

Godeski, 24-9 on the season, will be making his second straight state appearance. He took sixth at 130 pounds last year.

Godeski, whose grandmother died on Friday, had her on his mind as he wrestled in Montrose.

“I think he had a lot of pride for a lot of different reasons,” Mikalakis said. “He did a nice job. He wrestled well.”

jcaspersen@postindependent.com