Pomona Wrestlers Dominate 5A State Tournament

Panthers win eighth straight state title with record-breaking performance

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Pomona High School boys wrestling team put on a dominant display at the Class 5A state tournament, winning all nine of their championship matches and setting a new state scoring record with 303.5 points. The Panthers' performance was highlighted by nine individual state champions, including several multi-time title winners.

Why it matters

Pomona's historic performance cements their status as one of the top high school wrestling programs in Colorado. Their ability to win every finals match and shatter the previous state scoring record demonstrates an unparalleled level of talent and preparation within the program. This achievement will likely inspire other teams to raise their level of competition in the coming years.

The details

Pomona sent 14 wrestlers to the state tournament and only suffered 6 losses across 59 matches. The Panthers won individual titles at 106, 120, 138, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, and 215 pounds. Several Pomona wrestlers, including Derek Barrows (3-time champ), Kalob Ybarra (4-time finalist), and Emmerson Claeys and Maddux Najera (first-time champs), had standout performances. Grandview High School also made history by finishing second in the team standings, the first time the Wolves have placed that high.

  • The state tournament took place over three days at Ball Arena in Denver.
  • Pomona set the new state scoring record of 303.5 points on Saturday, February 22, 2026.

The players

Pomona High School

A Colorado high school with a dominant wrestling program that has now won eight consecutive state championships.

Sam Federico

The head coach of the Pomona High School wrestling team.

Derek Barrows

A Pomona wrestler who won his third career state title, having previously won at 120 pounds in 2023 and 144 pounds in 2025.

Kalob Ybarra

A four-time state finalist for Pomona who won his third state championship this year.

Grandview High School

A Colorado high school that finished second in the team standings, the best finish in program history.

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What they’re saying

“Nine-for-nine is pretty unbelievable and 12-for-12 including third and fifth-place matches, so it was a really cool day and a pretty fun environment. This kind of thing just doesn't happen and if you're going to break a record, you might as well shatter it.”

— Sam Federico, Head Coach, Pomona High School (chsaanow.com)

“After the first match, it just started rolling and it didn't stop. That's an extra standard that came tonight after that first match. You didn't want to be the one to end the perfect streak. …300 is a lot of points for a team, so we really had to come out here and dominate the last day and we did that.”

— Derek Barrows, Pomona Wrestler (chsaanow.com)

“The team came and showed up today, so all I could do was end it with a banger. I think this title means the most to me. I had a lot of family here, so it made it more special.”

— Kalob Ybarra, Pomona Wrestler (chsaanow.com)

What’s next

Pomona will look to continue their dynasty next season as they pursue their ninth consecutive state championship. The Panthers will need to replace several key seniors, but their deep talent pool suggests they will remain the team to beat in Colorado 5A wrestling.

The takeaway

Pomona's record-breaking performance at the 5A state wrestling tournament underscores the program's sustained excellence and dominance. Their ability to win every finals match and shatter the previous scoring record demonstrates an unparalleled level of preparation, coaching, and individual talent that will be difficult for other programs to match in the coming years.