The bowels of the Pepsi Center was lined with disappointment.

Wrestlers who lost their first-round matches at the state tournament lined the hallways Thursday, sitting against walls, discouraged and dazed, their dreams of winning a state title already dashed.

It's a harsh description, but then, wrestling can be the harshest of high school sports.

If you've been there, you don't want to go back. Alex Baca certainly doesn't. The Pueblo Central sophomore left his first Class 4A state tournament last year without placing. He has returned this year with a chip on his shoulder, a necessity for those with serious title aspirations.

"I hate losing," said Baca, who improved to 26-0 with a first-round technical fall against Berthoud's Tylor Bethel. "And I really hate it just as much when I don't wrestle the way I should."

Before Bethel could blink, he trailed 5-0 thanks to a lightning-quick takedown and backpoints by Baca. The match ended with 26 seconds left in the second period with the score 15-0.

Baca had five losses as a freshman, but his maturity level has made all the difference this season.

"I'm working harder and smarter," said Baca, who has more technical falls than pins this season. "I've worked so much harder this year, but I also have taken the time this year to ice and recover."

He hasn't gone to overtime yet this season, and no Colorado wrestler has given him a challenge. But before it's over, Baca's quest to finish unbeaten will be tested. Broomfield freshman Nick Babcock (36-5) likely will face Baca in Saturday's final.

The most anticipated collision course in 4A will likely happen in the 130-pound weight class, where two-time champion Dale Shull (38-3) should meet two-time champion Dan Frank in the final. Both won with pins Thursday.

Frank (35-3) won both his titles in the 3A classification, while Shull won 4A titles in 2006 and 2008. Roosevelt moved up to 4A this season, a move that will cost one of the two-time champions a third title.

"It's all just competition," Frank said. "I'm used to it."

Frank beat Shull 8-5 earlier this season at the Roosevelt Invitational after trailing 5-0. But he won't think about Shull or anyone else until they are standing across from each other. Distractions are as dangerous as opponents at this stage.

"I really don't think about any of that stuff," he said.

Broomfield came into the tournament as the favorite to win its first Class 4A title. But the Eagles were dealt a setback in the first round when Jerry Huff, the runner-up last year at 103 pounds, lost in overtime to Derek Ruiz of Pueblo South at 125 pounds. Ruiz finished third at 119 pounds last year.

Overall, three of the Eagles' 10 wrestlers lost in the first round. Roosevelt, which also brought 10 wrestlers to state, lost only one match Thursday.