DENVER – David Burchett secured his victory, found his coaches and jumped in their arms.

Then, the Air Academy senior dropped to the mat and left a few tears of joy that put an exclamation point on his night at Ball Arena. Yes, even more of a stamp than Burchett’s 4-1 overtime win against Pueblo East’s Justus Freeman in the championship match Saturday.  

“I thought about this all year,” Burchett said. “All I could think about was that match last February and this meant everything to me. My dad told me I would give up my left arm just to win state while these kids wouldn’t give up a night of sleep. … I work two to three times per day and my partners push me.”

As a junior with Falcon, where Burchett won a title, he finished fourth at state in 2025. In his lone year with the Kadets, he was their only champion and helped Air Academy finish third in 4A’s team standings with 134.5 points.

This was Burchett’s fourth showdown with Freeman this season and the Eagles senior previously owned a 2-1 record. Burchett lost to Freeman last week at regionals, but after Friday’s semifinals, Kadet coach Brandon Lucero said “the best wrestler” would win.

“All I got told was this is mine and I got this,” Burchett said. “But if I don’t believe in myself then it’s worthless. (Everyone) was telling me the whole time that this was my match and this was my title.”

Burchett tied the match at 1-1 with 27 seconds left in the third period. He followed with more theatrics as he scored three on a takedown as time expired in overtime to earn the Kadets’ only title of the night.

“I know we’ve had a lot of back-and-forths, we’re 3-3 all-time,” Burchett said. “It was all about heart and to push. My coaches believe in me and I believe in them. Why shouldn’t I give them a reason to believe in me.”  

Cañon City goes four for four

The saying is “third times the charm,” but sometimes it takes a fourth. 

Elias Koonce won the 4A boys 190-pound state championship, after placing third three consecutive years. Koonce defeated Pueblo East’s Elijah Contreras 14-11 with a takedown in the final 15 seconds to earn the elusive title. 

“It feels really good to get over that barrier, break the mold a little bit,” Koonce said. “I was trying hard in the offseason. I told myself I’m not going to lose this year.”

As he walked out, Koonce dawned an Irish flag, an ode to fellow Irishman Conor McGregor, who’s also draped in orange, white and green during his walkouts. Koonce rolled his ankle in the second period, but pushed on knowing. 

“I didn’t have a doubt in my mind that I could win this one,” Koonce said. “I feel really accomplished, wish I had won it three times before, that’s how it worked out.” 

Koonce moved up in weight class after competing at 150 pounds his freshman and sophomore years, and at 165 as a junior. The move proved successful as Koone said he has been quicker than most of his opponents.

The senior’s only loss this season came to Windsor’s Robert Kendall, who won the 4A 175-pound title.

“Eli is pretty amazing, the last couple years his statement was, ‘You can’t beat me in third and fourth place round.’ I said, ‘Next year, you are going to take care of it in the first place match,’” Canon City coach Tam Gerl said. “He believes in the process we try to teach at Canon City. I’m thankful to have him in our lives.” 

For teammate Ben Reish, his state title almost didn’t happen. Reish won his 4A heavyweight match 5-0 and said he nearly skipped his final year.

“I was focused on football, but the coaches convinced me to come out,” Reish said. “Bless the Lord because I’m so glad I did. None of this would have happened without Jesus. This is something I’ll carry for the rest of my life and I’m grateful to have been blessed with this.”

Reish earned an escape point in the second period and closed with four points on a near fall to end the match.

“There are a lot of people who don’t achieve something like this,” Reish said. “I’m grateful for the chance and thankful for the way everything played out.”

On the girls’ side, mat 1 briefly turned into Piper’s Pit as Piper Montoya gave the Tigers their third champion.

Montoya earned the 4A girls 110-pound title after a ferocious 16-0 tech fall in the championship round against Severance’s Madison McElmeel. Montoya led 10-0 after the opening period and poured on six more points in the second to earn the tech fall. 

The title match victory comes one season after Montoya finished second at state. Montoya said her loss in last year’s 100-pound championship to Pomona’s Justice Gutierrez supplied the fuel to battle back this year to a 39-2 record.

“I went to multiple practices and had to get my composure back because I’ve lost in the finals a couple of times,” Montoya said. “In my club, I train with a whole bunch of boys, so that gets me better. That and just wanting to get the title really pushed me.” 

Kate Doughty almost didn’t wrestle in the state championships. 

The Tigers senior suffered a pair of injuries that prevented her from wrestling for a month. Still, won her second consecutive 4A girls 135-pound championship. 

Doughty beat Arvada’s Samaya Carreon by fall in the finals match. Doughty also finished her season undefeated at 20-0 her second consecutive year going unbeaten.

“It’s been a lot of mental work,” Doughty said. “My mindset has improved a lot over the last couple of years, and I try not to overthink my matches. I’m much more clear-headed. It’s understanding that I have to win the match before I go up.”

After tearing her MCL and MPFL, which forced her to take a month off, Doughty returned for regionals with the encouragement of her family, friends, and coaches. While semis were difficult on her knee, she felt ready for the finals. 

“I have some principles going into every match, and one of them is to be relentless,” Doughty said. “I also understand I am super blessed to wrestle and have every opportunity to get on the mat. Understanding this is supposed to be fun and to have so much fun doing it. I love this sport and try to have as much fun as I can.” 

Doughty’s brother, Jack, was the 2025 4A 190-pound boys state champion, and now competes for Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Neb. where Doughty also plans to wrestle after graduation. 

Pine Creek boys drop pair of title matches, finish seventh

Gavin Weichelt and Brogan Trollope finished as runners-up after Saturday’s finals and the Eagles finished the 5A tournament with 57 points.

Weichelt lost 1-0 in the 157-pound finals to Pomona’s Donovan Symalla and finished the tournament 3-1. Trollope lost 14-1 to Pomona’s Kalob Ybarra in the 175-pound match. Trollope also finished the tournament 3-1 and earned a tech fall, pin and decision win at state.