Home › RockyPreps › Wrestling
Unsung Polkowske out to make some noise
Centauri junior will be looking to stay undefeated
Published February 17, 2007 at midnight
It's hard to keep a low profile when you've won 46 consecutive matches. Somehow, Mitchell Polkowske has pulled it off.
A junior at Centauri, Pol- kowske might be the most unsung of all the undefeated wrestlers in the state.
It might be because he never has placed higher than sixth in previous state tournaments. Or, it could be because he's the sixth-youngest of seven boys, two of whom previously had won state titles for the Falcons.
Whatever the case, Polkowske has an opportunity to make a name for himself tonight when he takes on Justin Prieto (35-9) of Monte Vista in the Class 3A 135-pound state championship match at the Pepsi Center.
Polkowske (46-0) said that while he doesn't mind the anonymity, he also wouldn't mind a little recognition for what he has accomplished.
"It's better sometimes when people don't know about me because they don't know what hit 'em," said Polkowske, who has surrendered only one point in his three matches at state. "But it would be nice to be known."
Polkowske said he took a beating at state last season and was determined to come back stronger this year.
He spent the summer honing his skills, grappling with his brothers. The result: He has rolled through an impressive list of opponents this season.
He was in total control of his semifinal match with Derrick Cordova on Friday, getting an early takedown before turning the Brush senior six times for back points en route to a 15-0 technical fall victory.
Cordova's loss was one of very few missteps for the Brush squad Friday, as the Beetdiggers are in contention for the team crown. Brush (140 points) sent eight wrestlers into the semifinals and four reached the finals. Roosevelt leads with 150 points.
Cody Cole (119), Rafael Munoz (145), Aaron Quinlin (171) and Nick Dreitz (215) all advanced to the championship match for the Beetdiggers.
Three wrestlers will get the opportunity to add a second state title to their personal trophy case, as La Junta's Ross Leyba, Ethan Martinez of St. Mary's and Lance Gallegos of Arrupe Jesuit advanced to the finals.
Leyba, who won the 103- pound title in 2005, trailed Jake Eitzen of Estes Park during their 112-pound semifinal match, and Eitzen threw Leyba to his back midway through the second period. But Leyba rolled through the throw and quickly stuck Eitzen for his third pin of the tournament.
"He threw me on my back, but I held on to his head and got the pin," said Leyba, who improved to 21-5.
Martinez (32-1), who won the 119 title last year, scored a hard- fought 4-0 decision against Cole Kembel of Brush to advance to the 125-pound final.
Gallegos (39-3) was one of three Arrupe Jesuit wrestlers to reach the finals, needing only 1 minute, 17 seconds to pin Richie Grauberger of Brush in the 140- pound semifinals.
Younger brother Vincente Gallegos (36-5) ended the title reign of Bryson Gray of Olathe in the 119-pound semifinals. Vincente, a freshman, built a big lead and then held on to post the 10-7 upset. He was called for stalling four times during the match and would have been disqualified if he had been penalized again.
Senior Richard Apodaca (39- 3) was the other Generals wrestler to reach the finals, coming from behind to score a 12-7 victory against Cody Haga of Ignacio at 130.
"It's awesome, three of the four guys we brought got through (to the finals)," said Apodaca, who is a cousin of the Gallegos brothers. "It's a pretty big achievement, coming from one family."
Class 3A championships
103: Gabrian Martinez, St. Mary's, So. (28-1) vs. Garret Eastep, Manitou Springs, Fr. (21-4)
112: John Bailey, Florence, So. (37-1) vs. Ross Leyba, La Junta, Jr. (21-5)
119: Cody Cole, Brush, Sr. (38-1) vs. Vicente Gallegos, Arrupe Jesuit, Fr. (36-5)
125: Ethan Martinez, St. Mary's, Jr. (32-1) vs. Dan Frank, Roosevelt, So. (35-5)
130: P.J. Gallegos, Roosevelt, Sr. (34-7) vs. Richard Apodaca, Arrupe Jesuit, Sr. (39-3)
135: Mitchell Polkowske, Centauri, Jr. (46-0) vs. Justin Prieto, Monte Vista, Jr. (35-9)
140: Lance Gallegos, Arrupe Jesuit, Sr. (38-3) vs. Mickey Koonce, Florence, Sr. (40-4)
145: Rafael Munoz, Brush, Sr. (17-0) vs. Brandon Montoya, Roosevelt, So. (33-7)
152: Shane Mendoza, University, Jr. (32-10) vs. Tim Frank, Roosevelt, Sr. (38-3)
160: Brandon Kammerzel, Eaton, Sr. (40-1) vs. Chris Diaz, Olathe, Sr. (39-2)
171: Aaron Quinlin, Brush, Sr. (27-6) vs. Nathan Heuer, Roosevelt, So. (35-9)
189: David Clark, Platte Valley, Jr. (40-4) vs. Joe O'Farrell, University, Sr. (34-6)
215: Nick Dreitz, Brush, Sr. (36-3) vs. Dustin Frank, Roosevelt, Jr. (28-11)
285: Troy Appel, Lamar, Sr. (35-14) vs. Austin Kinnison, Highland, Jr. (30-2)
Back to Top
