Sand Creek wrestling is having a moment, and that moment shined Friday at Ball Arena.
After electric semifinal bouts in front of roaring crowd, the Scorpions will be sending three wrestlers to the state championship finals on Saturday: Tristan Pino (106), Brandon Dean (157), and Achilles Evans (190).
The performances put Sand Creek in fifth place going into the finals.
Pino (35-3) opened the 4A semifinals with a bang, winning 19-3 by tech fall over Riverdale Ridge’s Zandon Ness. Pino will face Greeley Central’s Daniel Romero, who earned a win by decision over Pino at regionals.
Pino and Romero are 1-1 this season as Pino took the win at NCCT’s. Saturday’s final will be a shot at redemption for the freshman.
“I’m looking forward to going out there and having fun,” Pino said. “But also prove how hard I worked for this.”
Pino might be a freshman, but he carries himself like a veteran wrestler. That’s because he is. Before high school, Pino competed in several national competitions, making the big stage on Friday less intimidating for him.
“I was confident today,” Pino said. “I just tell myself I work harder than these people because I know I do. I tell myself no one is better than me and go out there to prove it.”
A short wait after Pino’s victory, Dean (38-2) won 16-0 by tech fall over Thomas Martell of Air Academy and will face Pueblo East’s Justus Freeman in the finals.
It’s his first season wrestling in Colorado after moving from New Jersey, but Dean has made a huge impact on Sand Creek, which placed eighth in last year’s state championship.
“He’s got that natural talent you can’t teach,” Scorpion coach Kenny Napp said. “He’s been wrestling a long time. He works hard, is driven, and has a great work ethic. All those things you need to be that good.”
Dean went into his match with the same winning mentality as Pino and has the same confidence from national experience.
“I knew I was going to win so I just went out there and put points on the board,” Dean said. “Everyone in the bracket I have beaten or they placed lower at other events so I know I can win this whole thing, I just have to be in the right mindset.”
It’s his 13th year wrestling, making Saturday’s final appearance special for the senior.
“It means a lot to be competing for a title, not just for me but also my team,” Dean said.” I’m just going to bring the same dominance mindset tomorrow and bring home the gold.”
Evans (35-5) rounded out Sand Creek’s winners on Saturday, taking a 12-5 win by decision over Michael Garcia of Roosevelt High School. The junior will face Cañon City’s Jack Doughty in the finals.
After finishing third in the 4A. 165-pound class at state last season, Evans is ecstatic to make it to the finals in his junior year.
“Today was defensive, but I got every shot and I felt good about it,” Evans said. “I told myself I am better than that kid and will win no matter what. I did well sticking to the game plan and it feels good to be in the finals.”
A key to Evans’ win was staying composed and confident, both traits that could lead the three Scorpions to the top of the Colorado state wrestling mountain.
“He was ready to go, he was offensive when he needed to be and defensive when he needed to be,” Scorpions head coach Brandon Snyder said of Evans. “I expect him to win tomorrow. He has that fire in him. His whole team does.”
