'Triple Js' plan return trip to state in 2013

DENVER – Jesse Ortiz. Jakob Vargas. Jaron Balman.
    The “Triple Js,” as they came to be called.
And though the trio of Frederick wrestlers did not place at their respective weight classes at the state 4A wrestling tournament over the weekend at Pepsi Center, Balman said all would be back.

Photo by Steve Smith

Frederick's Jesse Ortiz, right, battles with Eagle Valley's Damien Atencio in the state 4A preliminary round of 106-pound matches at the state wrestling tournament Thursday night. Ortiz shutout Atencio 6-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals but did not place.

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Kathy Schneider

Frederick's 182-pound wrestler Jakob Vargas tries to stay out of a pin against Palmer Ridge's Billy Farmer during the Class 4A state wrestling prelims Thursday at Pepsi Center in Denver. Vargas lost the match to a 10-4 decision and did not place.

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Kathy Schneider

Frederick's 195-pound wrestler Jaron Balman tries to stay out of a pin against Thompson Valley Cody Anderson during the Class 4A state wrestling prelims Thursday at Pepsi Center in Denver. Balman lost the match to a pin in the first period and did not place.

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    “Triple Js are coming for those state brackets next season with more of our teammates,” he said.
    Balman, who had never wrestled in high school until this season, made it to the second round of the consolation bracket at 195 pounds Friday night before he ran up against Silver Creek’s Nate Dunleavy. Dunleavy won 7-6 to end Balman’s season. The junior had a record of 24-6.
    The two met for the regional title a week before in Longmont, and Dunleavy won.
    “I wasn’t pleased at all how I did,” Balman said. “I know I could’ve done better, especially in my last match. I was leading 6-3, and I just made too many mistakes in the third period, which cost me my season.”
    Like his fellow state qualifiers, Balman was making his first trip to the state meet.
    “It definitely didn’t surprise me at all. The best 16 in your weight class make it in the state,” he said. “The experience was phenomenal I faced -- same with Jesse and Jake. It wasn’t just another tournament. It was the biggest tourney of the year, and I was happy I qualified but disappointed I didn’t go as far as I hoped. I’m sure Jesse and Jake would say the same thing.”
    Ortiz moved into the quarterfinals at 106 pounds with a 6-0 win against Eagle Valley’s Damien Atencio. However, Ortiz, a freshman, came up just short against Rylen Thalhammer of Palmer Ridge in Friday’s quarterfinals by a score of 8-7. Ortiz declined comment afterward.
    “I keep telling the kids. Matches down here (at state) are won on their feet,” FHS coach Gerry Galway said.
    Ortiz dropped into the consolation bracket and came up short against Brandon Poulos of Vista Ridge in Friday night’s match. The final was 4-0. Ortiz finished the year with a 31-12 record.
    Jakob Vargas was out of the tournament after Friday afternoon’s consolation round. Frederick’s junior 182-pounder lost a 5-2 decision Friday afternoon to Eagle Valley’s Joey Sanchez in the consolation round. Vargas, who finished with a record of 26-10, lost his first-round match 10-4 to Palmer Ridge’s Billy Farmer Thursday night.
“It was a great experience,” Vargas said. “The atmosphere is awesome and it was a lot of fun. “The truth is that it is just another tournament, just in a larger venue. I’ll admit that it was hard to say that after I walked out of the tunnel in front of 30,000 people at Pepsi Center.”
    Balman think his wrestling will help his other main sports (football and baseball).
“Wrestling will help me in my offseason, even though I won’t be wrestling as much. I’ll be more focused on baseball and football,” he said. “But wrestling will definitely help me out in those sports and keep me in shape. I’ll be in the wrestling room in my free time.”
    Vargas said he would use this as a learning experience for next year so he can take care of some “unfinished business” at Pepsi Center.
“This will be motivation for the offseason because I believe I can contend for a state championship next season,” Vargas said. “I’m going to work harder than I ever have. Like Jaron said, we will be back with one mission. Hopefully, there is some more of us.”

Contact Sports Editor Steve Smith at ssmith@metrowestnewspapers.com or at 303-659-2522, ext. 224.