DENVER — D’mitri Garza-Alarcon represents.
He represents his history-rich town and school, perhaps as well as anyone ever has.
He represents his beloved mother Angelina and his tight-knit family — which, incredible wrestling technique aside, is likely what he does best.
He also represents an inspirational story of someone who emerged from modest beginnings and what could have been a turbulent upbringing, if not for the support of his aforementioned mother and family, to become the ultimate champion.
How ultimate of a champion is he?
Well, a high school wrestler can be no more decorated than Garza-Alarcon.
On Saturday night in Ball Arena in front of thousands of onlookers — most important of which, Angelina, and D’mitri’s close aunt Sara Mondragon — Garza-Alarcon (40-4) became a four-time state wrestling champion. He defeated Mullen senior Gilbert Antillon (41-6) via a 6-1 decision in the Class 3A 138-pound title match.
“What I realized the last couple years — especially beating a three-time champion going for four (Woodland Park’s Brady Hankin) my sophomore year — is you don’t want to overthink your opponent,” Garza-Alarcon said. “You want to stay humble, and you want to go out there and just wrestle and have fun. If you have fun, you’re going to win any match you want to.”
It’s been a fun ride for Garza-Alarcon.
That might not have been the case had Garza-Alarcon succumbed to a cycle of gang life within his family or had he not made the most of his modest upbringing, as his mom worked hard to support his family on a single income.
Garza-Alarcon’s father was deported to Mexico when Garza-Alarcon was just 3 years old.
Garza-Alarcon has helped his mother support their family. Angelina has returned the favor by being her son’s unquestioned No. 1 biggest fan.
“I pointed at her first (after the title win),” Garza-Alarcon said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. She’s taken me to all the places I’ve needed to go. She’s driven hours and hours just to take me to practices. She’s dedicated her whole life, for the past 18 years, just for me to be where I am.”
Garza-Alarcon is just the fourth wrestler in Weld County history to be a four-time state champion. Greeley Central’s Andrew Alirez was the first in 2019, and Windsor’s Dominick Serrano and Isaiah Salazar became the second and third the following year.
Before this week’s tournament, only 30 wrestlers in Colorado history were four-time state champions.
During the initial day of the three-day state tournament, Garza-Alarcon reached the 150-win and 110-pin mark in his career.
He was only getting started.
Garza-Alarcon efficiently powered through his bracket, pinning his first three opponents with a combined 2:08 of mat time.
Though he wasn’t able to keep his pin streak alive in the finals, one could argue that victory was just as decisive.
Once more, he represented. And once more — for the final time at the high school level — he dominated.
“Honestly, (winning a fourth title) hasn’t hit me yet,” said Garza-Alarcon, who plans to start his college career at a top junior college program before exploring potential Division I options. “It’s still sitting back there lingering, until I step upstairs and everybody is just crowding me.”
— Bobby Fernandez covers high school sports for the Greeley Tribune. Reach him at (970) 392-4478, by email at bfernandez@greeleytribune.com or on X @BobbyDFernandez.
