Casey Cruz is seeking a third trip to the finals in the Class 5A state wrestling tournament.

Only this time, the Wasson 135-pounder is hoping for different results at the Pepsi Center.

Cruz placed second last year at 135, losing to Ponderosa's two-time state champion, Marcus Nelson. He also was runner-up as a freshman at 103. In between, he finished fourth at 119 as a sophomore.

The biggest disappointment was last season, though, as he didn't step to the top of the podium like his older brother, Jesse, who won at 130.

"This is my senior year, and I want to leave something for people to remember," said Cruz, who pinned Boulder's Derek Lange in 1 minute, 48 seconds before an announced crowd of 8,265.

"I look back at those matches, being second, and that has become my motivation. Last year was tough, and now I'm hoping to get the title that I have been working hard for."

Cruz is one of three unbeaten wrestlers in the tournament and improved to 37-0 with the win. The other two are defending champions Tyler Graff of Loveland (44-0) at 130 and Thornton's Marcus Felker (31-0) at 285.

All, as it turned out, were won easily in the first round Thursday.

Graff, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Wrestling USA magazine, pinned Greg Trostel of Poudre in 3:57. Felker wasted little time pinning Cherry Creek's Isaac Hull in 39 seconds.

Another wrestler who is driven in his quest for a title is Regis 140-pounder John Hooper. He is seeking to improve on his fourth- place finish of last season at 135.

Hooper, who beat Daniel Nissen of Standley Lake 10-2 on Thursday, is wrestling in memory of late Regis coach Joe Lachuga, who died of cancer two years ago.

Hooper has also been pushing himself after missing All-America status by a single point at the Fargo (N.D.) nationals.

"I've grown up in a program that has never been at the top of wrestling in the state," Hooper said. "We lost a fine coach to cancer, and I've never forgotten him. Our coach, Brent Bieshaar, has our program turned around. I want Regis to be a wrestling school on the map."

Chaparral's Micah Self pulled off a big first-round upset when he beat Grandview's third-ranked Eric Wilson 8-5 at 103. Self, a sophomore, improved to 31-10, while Wilson (31-4) fell into the consolation bracket.

"I haven't wrestled (Wilson) before, but I nearly had the opportunity," Self said. "I didn't make weight at the Arvada West tournament and didn't get a chance to wrestle. I was able to watch him, and I think that helped (Thursday)."

Ponderosa, seeking its fifth consecutive team title, advanced all 11 of its wrestlers into today's quarterfinals. Defending state champion Zeke Hofer, who won at 103 last season, beat Andrew Mayle of Coronado 10-7 to move on at 119.

Pomona's Willie McClure (37-5), who won the title at 171 last season, advanced in the 189-pound bracket with a 15-7 victory against Devon Minshal of Arapahoe.

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