DENVER – After a sprint of a 2021 wrestling season ended on the floor of the Southwest Motors Events Center in Pueblo, three local wrestlers earned one more accolade in a season full of impressive achievements.
Levi Martin, Class 2A state champion at 113 pounds, capped his freshman season with a selection on the all-state first team, while Bluejays classmate Dillon Eichner made the honorable mention squad. Montezuma-Cortez senior Anthony Abeyta capped his fine career with an honorable mention in the 3A classification.
Martin’s fantastic season began on the practice mats in the Mancos High School gymnasium and ended at the top of the heap in Pueblo, where the freshman capped a 21-1 season with a 12-4 decision over Buena Vista’s Chris Hutchings to capture the state title. It added to Martin’s dominance in dual meets across the Western Slope, in a season where he also steamrolled opponents en route to a 2A regional crown.
In the 106-pound division, Eichner made his debut memorable as well, as the Bluejays built on successes later in the season, peaking at the right time to qualify for the 2A state championships, courtesy of a runner-up finish in the regional meet. Eichner carried an 8-3 record into the event, then continued his success in Pueblo, going 2-2 on the day, good enough for a fourth-place finish in the meet and an honorable mention all-state recognition.
Making a return trip to the state’s highest stage, Abeyta earned the highest finish of the three Panthers seniors who qualified to the 3A state tournament. In the 152-pound weight division, Abeyta picked up a pair of victories in the consolation bracket, capping his senior campaign with an 11-3 record and a fourth-place finish in the championships. The result coupled with Abeyta’s runner-up finish in the regional meet, as he finished out another chapter in a storied tradition of M-CHS wrestling.
All-state selections were compiled by Colorado High School Activities Association, based on final results from the 2021 state wrestling tournament, with the top four finishers in each classification taking all-state spots.