GREELEY — Competing against many of Colorado’s top wrestlers and a few out-of-state visitors, several local standouts impressed throughout the annual Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament.
Saturday’s finals matches at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley saw Broomfield junior Shayla Martinez win the girls’ 190-pound division, Mead senior Carter Woods take second in the boys’ 190s, and a few other local talents earn a podium finish.
“It’s really good mat time, a lot of good reps and work that’s going to help prepare me and make me better,” Woods said.
### BHS’ Martinez Repeats as 190-Pound Champion
For the second straight year, Martinez claimed the 190-pound crown, this time pinning Thornton’s Kaida Hull in the first-place match.
“I’m proud of myself,” Martinez said. “I won it last year, but this time I had more confidence in myself and knew that I really had another chance to get at the top of the podium.”
Martinez, who last season became the first girls wrestler from the Boulder Valley School District to win a state championship, credited consistency and confidence for helping her repeat at the NCCT.
“Honestly, I had to go in with confidence in myself and thinking, if I want to be the best, I have to beat the best and do everything I can, no matter what,” Martinez said. “While I was wrestling, I stayed calm and knew that if I worked my stuff, I would get what I wanted.”
Currently, Martinez is the top-ranked 190-pound wrestler in the girls’ Class 5A division, according to On The Mat.
Four other Broomfield wrestlers placed in the top eight:
– Abigail Borden (eighth, girls’ 105)
– Nicholas Penfold (fifth, boys’ 157)
– Kaliyah Schimpf (fifth, girls’ 155)
– Bella Barajas (fourth, girls’ 170)
### Legacy’s Clifton Bounces Back from Quarterfinal Loss
Legacy senior Matthew Clifton aimed to stay alive longer in the 132-pound championship bracket but remained proud of his resilience following a quarterfinal defeat.
Instead of giving up in the consolation bracket, Clifton regrouped and earned an 8-1 victory over Littleton’s Christian May in the third-place match.
“I had to fight back, a long day, lots of matches,” said Clifton, who placed third at state last season. “I wanted to finish out hard, I wanted to be dominant, I didn’t want to give up any points. I worked hard. I could have had a better tournament, but I think that’s a strong way to end it.”
Clifton entered the week ranked No. 2 in his 132-pound Class 5A weight class, per On The Mat. Cherokee Trail’s Cooper Matthews, the top-ranked wrestler in Clifton’s division, took first place on Saturday.
Fellow Legacy wrestler Isaac Woolman took third in the 138-pound division, while 285-pound Lightning Leo Medina reached the fifth consolation round.
“We got that dawg energy in some of my guys,” Clifton said. “Last year we had a tough year, but these guys have come back meaner and hungrier.”
### Carter Woods Comes Up Just Short
One year removed from finishing third in the Class 4A 190-pound state tournament, Woods is enjoying another strong start to his senior season.
“I thought I did well,” Woods said. “I thought I got to my shots and offense well, but I’ve got a long way to go. There’s tons of stuff I can work on heading into state.”
Fellow Maverick Breckan Palko took eighth in the 132-pound class.
### Other Local Placers
Erie produced a pair of sixth-place finishers in Tyler Muir (190s) and Wyatt Walston (215s). Holy Family’s Veronika Hafer also took sixth in the girls’ 110s, while teammate Adam Moore placed eighth in the boys’ 157s.
https://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/2025/12/20/broomfield-girls-meads-carter-woods-shine-at-ncct-wrestling-tournament/