A Big Three to the 3A finals
O'Blia, Chavez and Valdez-Lemos primed for title bouts at Ball Arena.
Dale O’Blia will go after a third consecutive weight-class title as one of three Mullen Mustangs who advanced to the Class 3A Championships.
On Friday, O’Blia, Isaak Chavez and Kaleb Valdez-Lemos won semifinals bouts at Ball Arena to join the Parade of Champions leading to Saturday evening’s finals.
A two-time champion at 3A 106 pounds, O’Blia is 3-0 through three rounds of the tournament. He is 39-3 for the season and in the bracketing has won by fall and two technical falls.
Chavez, a freshman and 37-5 at 138, has advanced by major decision and consecutive decisions, including 2-1 in the semifinals.
And Valdez-Lemos, runnerup a year ago, has been dominant at 175. Also the Mustangs starting quarterback in football who had his season cut short with a knee injury, he’s 40-2 with two falls and a decision in the bracket.
In consolations, Tony Herrera.(106) was pinned in the semifinals, but has a chance at third place. Gilbert Antillon (126), who went down in the quarterfinals, also is bidding for a high placing.
Teamwise, Mullen was third (76.5 points) behind Eaton (99) and Severance (89.5).
For girls, Jzunie Jones won twice in consolations for a chance at 170 third place.
And Karin Simons lost in consolations to end at 7-15 at 155.
Saturday’s schedule – Consolations, 10 a.m.; fifth- and third-place immediately after; Parade of Champions, 5:30 p.m., finals bouts to follow.
COLORADO TOURNAMENT
At Ball Arena
FRIDAY
QUARTERFINALS
BOYS
Team score – 76.5 points, third.
--- 106 pounds: Tony Herrera, So., 40-3 dec. Damyon Funk, Gunnison, 41-12, 6-2.
--- 113: Dale O’Blia, Jr., 38-3 won by tech. fall over Cody Casebolt, Gunnison, 39-11, 17-2.
--- 126: Gilbert Antillon, Jr., 37-8 was pinned by Kaden Hixson, Moffat County, 47-7, 3:06.
--- 138: Isaak Chavez, Fr., 36-5 dec. Tommy Thomas, Severance, 28-12, 3-0.
--- 175: Kaleb Valdez-Lemos, Sr., 39-3 pinned Tanner Wrest, Florence, 32-13, 3:19.
CONSOLATIONS
--- 190: Oliver Scelza, Jr., 29-15 dec. DeShawn Salazar, University, 21-16, 6-2.
--- 215: Amani Fuqua, So., 11-10 was pinned by Ripp Lockhart, Delta, 11-10, 3:00.
--- Hwt.: Caleb Van Meter, Fr., 19-15 lost by dec. to Jordan Cundiff, Bayfield, 21-14, 2-1.
SEMIFINALS
--- 106 pounds: Tony Herrera, So., 41-4 was pinned by Thomas Lee, Elizabeth, So, 38-4, 4:37.
--- 113: Dale O’Blia, Jr., 39-3 won by tech. fall over. Jordan Romero, Abraham Lincoln, Fr., 32-4, 19-4.
--- 138: Isaak Chavez, Fr., 36-5 vs. Miles Harris, Gunnison, Jr., 45-2
--- 175: Kaleb Valdez-Lemos, Sr., 40-3 vs. Gunnar Clary, Eaton, So., 31-12
CONSOLATIONS
--- 126: Gilbert Antillon, Jr., 38-8 dec. Isaiah Gallegos, Jefferson, 32-18, 7-5.
--- 190: Oliver Scelza, Jr., 29-16 was dec. by Conner Kelly, Pagosa Springs, 27-9, 5-4.
GIRLS
Team score – 4 pts., tied for 53rd.
CONSOLATIONS
--- 155: Karin Simons, Jr., 7-15 was pinned by Sophia Lucero, Skyview, 34-11, 1:57.
--- 170: Jzunie Jones, So., 22-8 pinned Alondra Chavez, Standley Lake, 17-13, 0:24.
--- 170: Jzunie Jones, So., 23-8 dec. Makayla Taylor, Fountain-Fort Carson, 21-10, 8-3.
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