Poudre, Windsor headline local high school wrestling teams

All eyes on Pepsi Center.

More than any other high school sport, everything wrestlers do during the season is one way or another geared to getting to and succeeding at the Pepsi Center, site of the state tournament.

The journey starts this week with the official open of competition for winter sports. Fort Collins-area teams are filled with talent.

Here's a look at the key story lines and wrestlers to watch.

Can Poudre win the 5A title?

The Impalas were the story of the Class 5A state tournament last year, taking second as a team with Barrett Golyer earning Coach of the Year honors.

Winning a state title will be a tall task, with powerhouse Pomona primed for another huge season. But don’t count Poudre out.

The Impalas have a bevy of talented wrestlers, headlined by two-time champion Jacob Greenwood. The junior is ranked first in On the Mat rankings at 138 pounds. Seven other Poudre wrestlers are in the top-10 in their class in On the Mat’s preseason rankings.

David Bekkedahl (5th) and Brody Lamb (6th) are ranked at 145, with movement in their weight classes coming as the season starts. Job Greenwood is fourth at 132, Alex Alvarez is fifth at 126, Dean Noble is ninth at 106, Peter Knott is ninth at 160 and Weston Mayer is sixth at 220.

Poudre is ranked third in 5A to start the season.

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Can Windsor make a run in 4A?

The Wizards always qualify a strong group of wrestlers at state to give them a chance at a state title. This year looks no different and Windsor is fourth in 4A in On the Mat’s preseason rankings.

The Wizards have several potential individual champions. Will Vombaur won a title at 106 last year and is ranked third at 113 to start the season. Chris Sandoval is a transfer from Pueblo County and is ranked first at 138. Sandoval is a one-time champion and two-time runner up in 4A and he’s ranked No. 13 in the nation at 138 by InterMat rankings.

There are a total of 10 Windsor wrestlers in the top 10 in their classes. The rest of the ranked Wizards are Ronny Minjarez (sixth at 106), Dominic Serrano (fourth at 120), Dylan Wood (13th at 120), Braden Peninger (ninth at 126), Cody Eaton (fourth at 132), Josh Willis (18th at 145), Gage Trusty (seventh at 170), Josh Grasmick (ninth at 182), Nathan Bryant (10th at 195) and Victor Bravo (third at 220).

Other strong wrestlers throughout the city

Rocky Mountain's ranked wrestlers are led by two returning state qualifiers. Gunnar Anderson is fifth at 138 after qualifying in 5A at that weight last season. Josh Betts is eighth at 145.

Other ranked Lobos are Jake Bennett (11th) and Alec Hargreaves (12th) both at 182. Matt Maguire is 10th at 160, Tate Martinez is 12th at 152, Christian DeHerrera is 10th at 120 and Evan Shell is 11th at 113.

Fossil Ridge has three wrestlers ranked, two of them are returning state qualifiers. Will Hendrickson is ranked ninth at 126 after qualifying at 120 last year. Kyle Smart is 12th at 145 after qualifying at 138 last year. Nathan Meyer comes in at No. 8 at 182 in the preseason rankings.

Likewise, Fort Collins has three ranked wrestlers, two of whom were at state last year. Josh Boulton qualified at 132 last year and is ranked No. 10 at 138. Jon Engle qualified at 285 and is ranked ninth to begin this season. Tanner Orth is eighth at 220.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.