Colorado wrestling fans won’t have to wait long for one of the most stacked early-season showdowns of the year. This Friday and Saturday, December 5–6, the 15th Annual Pine Creek Duals — also known as the Battle of the Best — brings together elite programs from across Colorado and even a few heavy hitters from Kansas.
With six of the top eight 5A teams and multiple top-ranked 4A programs in attendance, this year’s field is incredibly deep with instate power and will definitely be exciting to see unfold.
Teams scheduled to battle it out include:
Broomfield, Chaparral, Chatfield, Cherokee Trail, Cheyenne Mountain, Falcon, Fountain-Fort Carson, Fruita Monument, Garden City (KS), Mesa Ridge, Palmer Ridge, Pomona, Ponderosa, Pueblo County, Pueblo East , Riverdale Ridge, Rose Hill (KS), Sand Creek, Thompson Valley, Thunder Ridge, Vista Ridge, and Widefield.
Multiple traditional powerhouses — Pomona, Ponderosa, Pueblo County, and Pueblo East , Pine Creek (Interesting thing with the “P” going on there. hmm)— guarantee that dual after dual will feature ranked wrestlers squaring off.
Pomona: Not at Full Strength, But Still Dangerous
The defending 5A kings, Pomona, will arrive without a few varsity starters. Several of their top athletes are suiting up in the 3A State Championship football game this same weekend.
But even with some missing firepower, Pomona brings enough depth and high-level talent to remain a major threat in the team race.
Ponderosa: New Staff takes the reigns
With the departure of Head Coach Jarion Beets to IMG Academy in Florida, Ponderosa will look to keep the train moving and show they still are contenders
Potential Marquee Matchups to Watch
Dual formats make it tough to predict exactly which stars will collide, but several must-watch potential matchups could steal the show — if the lineups align.
138 lbs — #1 vs #2 – Star Power
#1 Angel Serrano (Pomona) — nationally ranked #38
#2 Mikey Lopez (Ponderosa) — 2025 Preseason Nationals Champ
If this one happens, it will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire dual tournament.
113 lbs — 4A #1 vs #2
#1 Tristan Pino (Sand Creek)
#2 Zandin Ness (Riverdale Ridge)
A perfect early-season test to establish supremacy in 4A.
120 lbs — 4A #1 vs #2
#1 Israel Trujillo (Pueblo County)
#2 Angel Fernandez (Widefield)
These two could easily meet in February — getting a preview in December would be huge.
138 lbs — Another Heat Check
#1 Jack Simpson (Ponderosa)
#2 Alex Rodriguez (Chatfield)
Ponderosa vs Chatfield matchups always draw a crowd, and this one could ignite the building.
175 lbs — 5A #1 vs #3 Potential
#1 Kalob Ybarra (Pomona) # 8 in the country
#3 Brogan Trollope (Pine Creek)
190 lbs — More Heavy Hitters
Emmerson Claeys (Pomona)
Ryder Hoffschneider (Chatfield)
Again — nothing is guaranteed, but the talent pool makes the possibilities endless.
With so many ranked wrestlers and powerhouse programs, the Pine Creek Duals serve as a litmus test for Colorado wrestling:
Who’s as good as advertised?
Which teams are for real?
Which individuals are ready to make a jump in 2024–25?
Early-season momentum starts here.
The Battle of the Best is living up to its name once again. Whether you’re looking for national-level star power, 4A/5A title previews, or scrappy underdogs trying to pull off upsets, this year’s event will deliver two full days of high-energy, high-drama dual wrestling and we are here for it!