By Dan Karpiel
The Surveyor

Berthoud wrestlers and coaching staff pose for a photo after winning the 12-team Montrose Indian Invitational on Jan. 9.
Karen Fate / The Surveyor

After a nearly three-week layoff for the holidays, the Berthoud High School (BHS) wrestling team returned to the mat and returned to the dominating form they had demonstrated in the first third of the season.

The Spartans won a Tri-Valley Conference dual with Frederick in extreme fashion, 75-4, and then took first place in the 12-team Indian Invitational in Montrose on the Western Slope. In Montrose, the Spartans scored 215 points as a team, easily besting second-place Olathe, who tallied 168. With the pair of victories Berthoud was able to solidify their hold on the No. 2 team ranking in Class 3A.

Through the 14 weight classes Berthoud recorded nine pins and accepted a trio of forfeits against Frederick. Colin Leypoldt (113 pounds), Austyn Binkley (120), Matt Bailey (132), Kyler Bailey (138), Jimmy Fate (160), Wyatt Larson (170), Chad Ellis (190), Connor Balliet (220) and Jared Hennig (285) all recorded their wins via the fall, with Ellis pinning Warrior grappler Michael Castro in just 29 seconds. Berthoud’s A.J. Black won a 17-10 major decision in the 182-pound class.

The night before the invitational, Berthoud participated in a dual with Olathe and were able to eke out a 38-30 victory over the pirates after the six-hour bus ride over the divide. Fate (160) won his bout with a pin in just 57 seconds, while Matt Bailey (132), Kyler Bailey (138) and Ben Poirier (152) each also won.

At the Montrose Invitational, 10 Spartans made the podium with four of them, Binkley (120 pounds), Matt Bailey (132), Fate (160) and Ellis (190), taking home the gold medal. Three more Berthoud wrestlers, Christian Kalinoski (106 pounds), Kyler Bailey (138) and Poirier (152), each wrestled in the title bout but lost by close decisions; Kalinoski 6-5, Bailey 6-4 and Poirier 6-3, to take second place.

Hennig took third place by winning his bout in the heavyweight class over Trevor Barrett of Palisade, while Balliet pinned Montrose’s Kyler Keyes at 3:29 in 220s to also claim bronze. Freshman Brock Johnson won his third-place bout with a 3-0 decision over Ralston Valley’s Isiah Grimes at 145 pounds.

Berthoud hosts the annual Soeby Spartan Classic at BHS on Saturday, Jan. 16. Bouts begin at 9 a.m.