David Marone no doubt could have been a good college football player.

But the Broomfield senior chose wrestling over football when he turned down the opportunity to walk on at the University of Colorado and accepted a wrestling scholarship to Virginia Tech.

The rewards he could reap this weekend might reaffirm his decision. Marone could become Broomfield's first two-time state champion and help the Eagles win their first team title.

"Since my freshman year, we've talked about it," said Marone, who began defense of his Class 4A 215-pound title Thursday at the Pepsi Center with a first-period pin of Josh Satterwhite of Moffat County.

"When (former Broomfield coach) Mark Schmidt was running the program he always talked about the fact that Broomfield had never won a team title, and we felt like we needed to do it soon, to put ourselves on the map."

With nine qualifiers, the Eagles might never have a better opportunity. Marone and senior Cory Casady at 140 pounds are favored to win individual titles, and Gabe Gomez (112), Ryan Trujillo (125), Eric Mortenson (135) and Nick Zissimos (285) also should place in the top five at their weights.

Mortenson needed a takedown with 14 seconds remaining to win his first-round match 3-1 against Brandon Newton of Pueblo West.

Jerry Huff (103) and the rest of the Eagles also will need to score valuable points through the tournament if the Eagles are to overcome defending team champion Alamosa.

Alamosa leads Broomfield 28-23 1/2 after the first round.

Colorado State and Boise State also showed interest in Marone as a football player.

It was a difficult decision to end a football career that looked promising, but Marone (38-1) said when the Hokies made their offer, it made him realize wrestling was his preferred sport.

"Before they offered, I did want to play football (in college)," said Marone, whose only loss this season was to a wrestler from St. Edwards, Ohio, in the Ironman tournament. "But when the (Virginia Tech) offer was made, it opened my eyes.

"I've been wrestling for a lot longer. I've been doing it since I was five. Honestly, I'm better at it. I just don't think I can give it up when I know I still can be competing.

"Wrestling is tougher than football, but for me it's also more rewarding. You get out what you put into it. You can be an average player on a great team in football, but in wrestling it's all you."

Pueblo West also should be a factor in the team race with 12 wrestlers at state.

Perhaps no Cyclones wrestler feels the urgency to win as much as 112-pound senior Victor Sanchez.

He finished second at 103 pounds as a sophomore wrestling for Pueblo South, then dropped to fifth place last year when he moved up to 112. In his final tournament, he opened with a pin against Palisade's Wesley Shingleton.

"This is my last shot," Sanchez (24-1) said. "It's a tough weight class but I'm just trying to have fun and take it one match at a time."

Sanchez's younger brother Vinnie pulled a mild upset at 119 in the first round. A freshman, Vinnie (33-10) beat Fort Lupton senior Eric Zamora 5-3 in overtime.