Two Western Slope teams aim to defend state wrestling titles

District 51 girls and Cedaredge boys wrestling squads look to repeat as champions

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

The District 51 girls wrestling team and the Cedaredge boys wrestling squad, both from Colorado's Western Slope region, are seeking to defend their state championship titles this season. The teams are led by veteran coaches Chad Dare and Cutter Garrison, respectively, who have the same goal of guiding their squads to repeat as state champions.

Why it matters

High school wrestling is a major source of pride for many Western Slope communities, and repeat state titles would cement these programs as regional powerhouses. Defending championships is notoriously difficult, putting pressure on the coaches and athletes to maintain their high level of performance.

The details

The District 51 girls team and the Cedaredge boys team both won state titles last year after strong regular seasons. This year, the coaches are tasked with motivating their athletes to stay focused and hungry to defend their crowns against tough competition from across Colorado.

  • The 2026 state wrestling championships will take place in late February.

The players

Chad Dare

The head coach of the District 51 girls wrestling team.

Cutter Garrison

The head coach of the Cedaredge boys wrestling team.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let our guard down. The target is on our backs now, and we have to work even harder to stay on top.”

— Chad Dare, Head Coach, District 51 Girls Wrestling (The Daily Sentinel)

“Repeating is the hardest thing to do in sports. But our guys have the talent and determination to make it happen again.”

— Cutter Garrison, Head Coach, Cedaredge Boys Wrestling (The Daily Sentinel)

What’s next

The District 51 and Cedaredge wrestling teams will compete in several high-profile tournaments over the next few months to prepare for the state championships in late February.

The takeaway

The Western Slope's wrestling powerhouses face the challenge of defending their state titles, underscoring the difficulty of maintaining excellence at the highest level of high school sports.