Three States, Nine High School Team Excel State Finalists, Six State Champions and Two Who Win Their Fourth State Title

Tyler Graff of Loveland, CO, representing Loveland High School and Coach Jim Sanchez, wins his 4th straight Colorado High School State Championship.  Graff finished his high school career with a standing ovation at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO.  His overall high school record was 162-1.

Graff has grown up in the North Denver Excel Program.  Since that time, he has won some of the toughest tournaments in the country including the Fargo Summer Nationals.  He has represented the US on the US Junior World Team in world competition and is now on a new quest, training for the 2008 US Olympic Trials.  The 2008 US Olympic Trials will be held mid June, in Las Vegas, NV.  Graff will compete at 55kg, 121lbs.  He will go on to wrestle for Badger Head Coach Barry Davis and the University of Wisconsin next fall in Madison .

Jared Hatley, who has been a part of the Wyoming Team Excel Junior Olympic Program for the past five years also won his 4th consecutive Wyoming High School State championship.  Hatley represented Torrington High School in Torrington, WY and Head Coach Doyle Meyer.  Jared finished his career likewise, with a standing ovation in Casper last Saturday night, claiming career win number 165.  His overall high school record is 165-5.  He will go on to wrestle for the University of Wyoming and Head Coach Steven Suder.

Claiming his second Colorado State Championship was Dan Frank of Roosevelt High School in Johnstown, CO.  Dan competes for legendary coach Mike Pallotto, who grabbed his 3rd Colorado State Team Championship in Class 3A this year.  Frank won last year at 125lbs and takes the title at 130lbs this year.  He has earned high school All American status at several national folkstyle competitions and this summer hopes to be competing in Fargo on the Colorado Junior National Team.  Next season, Frank will be looking for title number three.

In his second finals appearance at the Iowa High School State Championships is Evan Knight.  Knight was a runnerup last year as a freshman at 152lbs and this year, claimed his first Iowa state title in Class 3A, 160lbs. for Urbandale High School and Coach Mike Moreno.  Evan trained with the Team Excel program in Colorado for ten years before relocating to Iowa.  He just completed his first year in the Iowa Team Excel Junior Olympic Program and second year at Urbandale HS.  Knight was a Fargo All American last summer and will compete nationally again this spring and summer.

In Colorado , Chad Stroh conquered a Colorado State Championship this year after last year's runner up finish at 112lbs.  He competes for his father, Holyoke Head Coach Duane Stroh this season at 119lbs. in Colorado 's Class 2A division as a sophomore.  Stoh has been a part of the Colorado Team Excel Junior Olympic Program for the past two years in North Denver.  He and his father have consistently commuted almost three hours each way for practices this winter from Holyoke to Broomfield, CO.  Congratulations father and son!

Earning his first Colorado State Championship at the Pepsi Center this year is Jake Eitzen of Estes Park, CO  competing for Estes Park High School and Head Coach Don Patterson.  Jake captured his first state championship at 119lbs in Class 3A.  Eitzen was a returning place finisher from last year's season and attributes his success this season to all of his off-season training and competition.  He too will continue to compete this spring and summer nationally and will be looking for another title next year as a senior. 

Team Excel Junior Olympic Program State runners up were sophomore Mike Moreno of Urbandale, IA at 152lbs, senior Drew Love of Waukee, IA at 189lbs and Jared Cass of Platte Valley, CO at 140lbs.  Each reached the state finals for the first time this season. 

From the Iowa Team Excel Junior Olympic Program, 14 wrestlers qualified for the state tournament, 9 were place finishers, 3 were finalists and 1 State Champion.  In Colorado , 21 Team Excel wresters qualified for the state tournament, with 13 place finishers, 5 finalists and 4 State Champions.  In Wyoming, 4 Team Excel wrestlers qualified for the state tournament, 3 were place finishers and one was the state champion.

Congratulations to all Team Excel High School wrestlers this season.  Keep up the good work!