MONTROSE – Matt Aten started the class 4A Region 3 Wrestling tournament as a mystery to everyone except his teammates. By the end of Saturday’s tournament, the Glenwood Springs High School wrestler had become one of its biggest stars.

“I’d rather not be known,” Aten said of his unfamiliarity among 4A Western Slope Wrestlers.Aten’s unknown status in the 152-pound division worked to his advantage as the Demons wrestler finished undefeated by pinning Rifle’s Tyler Cose in the weight’s championship match.”It feels great, because Glenwood hasn’t had a regional champion in over a decade,” Aten said.Aten said he didn’t anticipate drawing Cose in a championship match.

“He came out of nowhere. I was expecting to wrestling Kyle Kottenstead (of Eagle Valley), and I had no idea about the Rifle guy.”But the Rifle guy fell as quickly as Aten’s earlier opponents.Trailing 4-0 to Cose, Aten tied the match on two reversals with seconds left in the first period, then finished the job by pinning Cose 14 seconds into the second period.

“It took a little bit for me to get going,” Aten said. “I had no real control. It was one of those matches where anything can go.” Rifle’s Luke Wooten also won a regional title. The Bears senior took the 125-pound championship on an 8-4 decision over David Lopez of Montrose. “I had to wrestle from the beginning, then pull it out from inside of me,” Wooten said.Wooten gained command on Lopez after scoring a second-period takedown to take the lead for good.

The two regional champions join eight additional Rifle wrestlers in Denver.In other championship matches involving area wrestlers, Rifle’s Timmy Long and Casie Dunlap lost at 135 and 171 pounds, respectively. Tyler Thompson and Jeff Zimmerman finished third in the 130- and 171-pound tournaments. Thompson’s brother, Tyson, withstood a wrestleback challenge from Jordan Reese of Montrose to earn fourth place at 145 pounds, and Bears sophomore Alex Avila also took fourth, at 103. Eddie Kreimeier won his wrestleback over Palisade’s Tony DiCamillo, 10-1, for fourth place and the final 119-pound 4A state berth. Rifle’s Branton Brown (112) and Mike Zerfoss, of Glenwood, (275) lost their wrestleback matches. Rifle’s Branton Brown (112) and Mike Zerfoss, of Glenwood, (275) lost their wrestleback matches.