03/31/2026
2026 CHSAA Girls State Championship in Review
By Tom Blair, ICW
There were a ton of firsts at the state tournament this year, to start out there were 10 new high school teams represented at the event for the first time – in 4A classification - Kiowa, Holly, Steamboat Springs, Burlington, Centauri; in 5A classification - Sand Creek, Summit, Aurora Central, Palmer, and Cheyenne Mtn all had qualified wrestlers competing. Montbello was the only 5A team that did not have any state qualifiers. In 4A - Center, Rocky Ford, Estes Park, Valley, Wheat Ridge, Lake County, Nucla, and Salida also did not have any qualifiers.
It was a first time to have both the 4A & 5A girls team championship go to back – to – back, with wins by 5A Central Grand Junction (5 schools district team) and 4A Pueblo Central (7 high schools from between D60 & D70 districts). It will be the last time for Pueblo Central in 4A classification as they will move up to 5A next season. This will put a new twist in the already log jammed 5A tournament.
First time that the following high schools has had a state placer, in 5A: Sand Creek - 2nd 100 lbs Peggy Dean, Fr; 6th 105 lbs Stella Isenee, Fr and 4th 130 Karris Carter, Fr;
Riverdale Ridge - 4th 100 lbs Shayla Wolters, Fr;
Falcon - 1st 105 lbs Allison McDaniel, Fr;
Summit - 3rd 135 lbs Ayla Hamilton, Jr;
Thomas Jefferson - 6th 145 lbs Nur Mahdi, Sr;
and Durango with three 1st time placers – 6th 120 lbs Marie Baker, Jr; 5th 130 lbs Aleia Fenberg, Jr and 2nd 135 lbs Lillia Fenberg, Jr.
First time the following high schools has had a state placer in 4A:
Antonito - 6th 100 lbs Alyssa Abeyta;
Wray - 6th 110 lbs Jamie Sharp;
Liberty Joe - 4th 120 lbs Sky Richards;
Fort Morgan - 6th 125 lbs Brisa Serrano Gamino ;
Middle Park - 5th 135 lbs Bazil St Germain;
Florence - 5th 140 lbs Aylee Johnson;
Steamboat Springs - 3rd Amanaki George;
Liberty Common - 1st 170 lbs Julianna Darmafall;
Holly - 1st 235 lbs Toryn Neugebauer
and Roosevelt - 6th 125 lbs Kinsey Wells,
There were five wrestlers in 5A that earned their first state title – 105 lbs Timmery Condit, Fr, Pomona;
110 lbs Allison McDaniels, Fr, Falcon;
130 lbs Alora Martinez, Sr, Pomona;
140 lbs Lizzie Padilla, Sr, Arapahoe;
235 lbs Khloe Yizar, Jr, Vista Peak;
And seven wrestlers in 4A that earned their first state title :
110 lbs Piper Montoya, Sr, Canon City;
115 lbs Gionna Duran, Jr, Pueblo Central;
125 lbs Alyssa Ornelas, So, Fort Lupton;
145 lbs Roxie Uhrig, Jr, Gunnison;
170 lbs Julianna Darmafall, Sr, Liberty Common;
190 lbs Valancia Bentrott, Jr, Evergreen
and 235 lbs Toryn Neugebauer, Jr, Holly. The two freshman wrestlers in this group are also on a journey to attempt and earn that time honored four state titles.
It was also a first for seven wrestlers each from 5A and 4A to earn their second state championship:
In 5A – 115 lbs Jaydin Cuevas, Jr, Prairie View;
120 lbs Re*****on Zimmerer, Jr, Regis Jesuit;
125 lbs Amelia Bacon, Sr, Vista Peak;
135 lbs Makena Heston, Sr, Columbine;
145 lbs Ryen Hickey, Sr, Chatfield;
170 lbs Shylee Tuzon, Sr, Central Grand Junction;
190 lbs Shayla Martinez, Jr, Broomfield;
Wrestlers in 4A – 100 lbs Acelyn Duran, Jr, Pueblo Central;
105 lbs Emma Faczak, So, Bennett;
120 lbs Samantha Maestas, Jr, Alamosa;
130 lbs Eila Schultz, So, Severance;
135 lbs Kate Doughty, Sr, Canon City;
140 lbs Vivienne Gitke, Sr, Strasburg;
155 lbs Madilyn Gitke, So, Strasburg;
For some, it was the end of their high school career with 2 state titles, while three wrestlers are in line for a third or even a fourth state title. There are also two wrestlers that earned their third state title – 100 lbs Justice Gutierrez, Jr, Pomona and 155 lbs Matilda Hruby, Jr, Brighton. Both are setting themselves up to become a 4X Colorado State Champion and will have a big bullseye on them as opponents will be looking to derail them at the state tournament next season, as Hruby did to Timberly Martinez, Pomona a 3X champ in the finals this year.
There were 10 wrestlers with undefeated records going into the state tournament, only eight of them keeping the undefeated season record intact – in 4A 140 lbs Vivienne Gitke, Strasburg, Sr finished with her 2nd state title with 40 – 0.
In 5A all seven wrestlers finished undefeated with their 2026 state title, 100 lbs Justice Gutierrez, Pomona, Jr, 42 – 0;
115 lbs Jaydin Cuevas, Prairie View, Jr, 46 – 0;
125 lbs Amelia Bacon, Vista Peak, Sr, 46 – 0;
145 lbs Ryen Hickey, Chatfield, Sr, 28 – 0;
155 lbs Matilda Hruby, Brighton, Jr, 28 -0;
170 lbs Shylee Tuzon, Central Grand Junction, Sr, 39 -0; and 190 lbs Shayla Martinez, Broomfield, Jr, 39 – 0.
The breakdown of wrestlers per school class in the state tournament; 4A – Freshman 42,
Sophomore 66,
Junior 58 and Senior 58;
5A - Freshman 36,
Sophomore 57,
Junior 65 and Senior 66.
The breakdown for state title winners: 5A – Freshman 2,
Junior 6 and Senior 6;
4A – Sophomore 3,
Junior 7 and Senior 4.
Returning state champions – 3X wrestler, Juniors – 100 lbs Justice Gutierrez, Pomona and 155 lbs Matilda Hruby, Brighton;
2X wrestler returning, 115 lbs Jaydin Cuevas, Jr, Prairie View; 120 lbs Re*****on Zimmerer, Jr, Regis Jesuit; 190 lbs Shayla Martinez, Jr, Broomfield; 100 lbs Acelyn Duran, Jr, Pueblo Central; 105 lbs Emma Faczak, So, Bennett; 120 lbs Samantha Maestas, Jr, Alamosa; 130 lbs Eila Schultz, So, Severance; 155 lbs Madilyn Gitke, So, Strasburg;
1X wrestler returning, 105 lbs Timmery Condit, Fr, Pomona; 110 lbs Allison McDaniels, Fr, Falcon; 235 lbs Khloe Yizar, Jr, Vista Peak; 115 lbs Gionna Duran, Jr, Pueblo Central; 125 lbs Alyssa Ornelas, So, Fort Lupton; 145 lbs Roxie Uhrig, Jr, Gunnison; 190 lbs Valancia Bentrott, Jr, Evergreen and 235 lbs Toryn Neugebauer, Jr, Holly.
Schools that had multiple individual state champions – 5A schools, Pomona with three, Vista Peaks with 2; 4A schools Pueblo Central with two, Canon City with two and Strasburg with two.
Returning state qualifiers per classification for next year season and grade: 5A – Freshman 36, Sophomore 57, Junior 65 for a grand total of 158 wrestlers; 4A – Freshman 42, Sophomore 66, Junior 58 for aa grand total of 166 wrestlers.
Wishing all a great off season and summer or a freestyle / Greco season, plus camps and tournaments to fuel you for next season.
