Berthoud Sending Five Wrestlers To Pepsi Center

By Dan Karpiel

Sports Writer

After the 2010-11 season where the Berthoud High school wrestling team sent a whopping 12 wrestlers to the state tournament in Denver and brought home a pair of state champions, it was hard to imagine what the Spartans would do for an encore.

The 2011-12 team, despite being younger and far less-experienced in the rigors of varsity wrestling, put together an impressive season. Long-time Berthoud wrestling coach Scott Pickert, a two-time state champion (1984, ’85) in his own right, will bring five wrestlers down to Pepsi Center this weekend to compete for state titles.

Thanks to his second-place finish at regionals last weekend, Berthoud senior Cory Ellis will represent the Spartans in the 182-pound class. Joining Ellis in Denver will be fellow-senior Nick Fleegal (145lbs), junior Alex Kingsley (126lbs) and a pair of sophomores, Preston Pickert (138lbs) and Kagen Hennig (195lbs).  Fleegal, Kingsley, Pickert and Hennig all finished third at regionals.

It will be the second consecutive trip to the state tournament for both Pickert and Hennig, each of whom have moved up two weight classes from their state tourney appearances last year.

The state wrestling tournament will be held Thursday – Saturday (February 16-18) at Pepsi Center in Denver. Information regarding the tournament can be found HERE ^[1].