2011-2012 Season Summary

Valor Wrestling continued to build on last year’s strong campaign by capturing a number of individual first place honors this season. More than nineteen first place medals were earned by Valor wrestlers on their journey to an 18th place finish at the State Tournament. The season concluded with a great finish at the Regional Tournament and five state qualifiers representing Valor at the Pepsi Center. In the end, Cody Weitzel and Chaz Polson represented Valor on the award stand. Chaz wrestled through arguably the toughest and deepest weight classes ever and earned a 6th place finish in the 4A bracket of the State Championships. In route to this 6th place metal, Chaz defeated seven highly ranked wrestlers this season, earned Honorable Mention League Honors, won two tournament championships and collected a team high of 59 takedowns. Cody Weitzel became Valor’s first State Wrestling Champion with a 2-1 in the Finals and put an exclamation point on his high school career where he was a three-time state placer (also 3rd in 2011, 3rd in 2009). Cody finishes high school with 152 wins against 7 losses. During his senior season, Cody won every tournament he competed in and went 39-0.

Seniors captains Austin Worden, Matt Nelson and Corey Adcock punched their ticket to the State Tournament in 2012 with top four finishes at the Regional Tournament. Austin Worden placed in five tournaments this season, culminating with a fourth place finish at the League Tournament and his third place finish at Regionals. Austin pinned his Evergreen opponent to win the consolation finals of Regionals (3rd), the same wrestler who beat him the previous week at the league meet. Matt Nelson, having placed in four tournaments in 2011-2012, wrestled his way to a 3rd place finish at the Regional Tournament. Matt was Valor’s only 1st Team All-League wrestler this season when he captured 1st place at the Jeffco League Championship. Corey Adcock finished the season with four trips to the award stand. He beat his Summit opponent on his way to a 4th place finish at Regionals and earned the chance to wrestle at the State Tournament. In the Regional Tournament, Corey overcame his loss to Summit the week before at the Jeffco League Tournament by making the consolation finals. All four seniors had twenty plus wins this season, leading the Valor team to a 3rd place finish at the League Tournament and a 5th place finish at Regionals.

John Holst’s 30 wins, 3rd place finish at the Jeffco League Tournament and 5th place finish a Regionals contributed to a great deal of the team’s success this year. Austin Veen’s 26 wins and 3rd place finish at the League Tournament demonstrated how far he has come in only three years of wrestling. Austin Robinson’s 2nd place finish at the League tournament, Zach Smith’s twenty wins and Turner Henington’s 5th place finish at the Regional tournament proved the team’s great success and promise this season. Each of these wrestlers will team up with Chaz Polson in leading the way for Valor Wrestling next season.

During the 2011-2012 season, the Valor Wrestling team continued to demonstrate the team motto, “Climbing the Mountain for a Greater Gold.” Each week brought more success to the team, but they never wavered from what was most important, the “Greater Gold” that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Individual medals and team success never moved in front of humility and sportsmanship. In a number of ways the wresters surrendered their own personal success for that of the team and of our Lord. They resolved themselves to grow in their faith, to preservere through challenging times and upon earning victory, they would gladly exchange it for the greater work that God was doing throughout the Valor Wrestling community. The greatest award achieved this season by the Valor Wrestling program was the bonds and community developed among its team members. 2012-2013 looks to be promising for this team, both on and off the mat!