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Basalt wrestler returns to state

Dale Strode
The Aspen Times

Olmer Marquez of Basalt will return to the State High School Wrestling Championships this week at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Marquez, who finished fourth in the state tournament last year, qualified to return to the prestigious state championships in the 220-pound division. The Basalt senior (29-7) finished fourth at the rigorous Class 3A Regionals last weekend at Montrose High School.

Marquez drew a bye in the opening round.



In the quarterfinals, Marquez defeated Cody Frantz of Olathe 8-1 to reach the semifinals.

There, he lost a tight 5-4 decision to Ricky Ayala of Sheridan.




In the consolation semifinals, Marquez pinned Nolan Stretton of Pagosa Springs in the second period.

The Basalt wrestler dropped a 3-1 decision to Evan Hoff of Grand Valley.

And he won a rematch with Frantz, by rule, to take fourth place and earn the region’s final berth in the 16-wrestler state bracket at 220 pounds in Class 3A.

He’ll be the lone Basalt wrestler at the state meet this year. He’ll face Jack Gallegos of Mead (43-5) in the first round of the state championships Thursday at the Pepsi Center.

Zach Pagan of Basalt placed sixth at 106 pounds. He finished the year 20-19.

William Rivera of the Longhorns, at 182, placed sixth last weekend.

Jack Huggard, an Aspen High School student who wrestles for the Longhorns, finished fifth at 195 pounds at the state-qualifying meet.

Oswaldo Morales, at 285, finished sixth for the Longhorns.

dstrode@aspentimes.com

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