Bryce Sciumbato looks like a guy trying to draw attention to himself at the Pepsi Center.

With leopardlike yellow and black dyed hair, he's like a lot of wrestlers at the Class 4A state tournament, trying to make the most of a brief time in the spotlight.

But it was Sciumbato's actions that drew the attention of the crowd Friday night when the Pueblo County senior upset previously unbeaten defending state champion Travis Himmelman of Conifer 7-4 in the 125- pound semifinals.

Sciumbato used an ankle pick in the third period to score the critical points in the final minute of the match, stunning the 38-1 Conifer sophomore, who had the opportunity to stay on course to become a four-time state champion before his surprising loss Friday.

"It feels great," said Sciumbato, who improved to 39-5. "I've had some bad luck at state, but it's time to come out and prove it."

Sciumbato's bad luck included a dislocated elbow in the quarterfinals as a junior, preventing him from placing, but he has an excellent shot now. He will face Alamosa's Dalton Kelley (34-5) in the championship tonight. Sciumbato beat Kelley in the regional championship a week ago in a close match.

"I think it gave me an advantage flying under the radar," he said. "A lot of people look past me and don't realize my potential, and now I can prove it on the mat."

One wrestler who has yet to be seriously tested is 112-pound sophomore Courtland Hacker of Broomfield. Hacker had his third pin of the tournament in the semifinals, fueling Broomfield's quest for its first team title.

The Eagles started the day trailing Roosevelt in points 30 to 25, but Broomfield took command of the tournament in the quarterfinals by winning seven matches. Broomfield will send six wrestlers into the finals.

Hacker, who pinned Drew Schumann of Montrose in the second period in the semifinals, said the team race is pushing him to collect the most points for his team.

"Some of our guys who weren't supposed to, lost yesterday (in the first round), so I'm trying to pull my weight," said Hacker, who improved to 33-4 on the season. "It's on my mind quite a bit. I don't even get nervous for my own matches as much as I do for my teammates. It's like my motivation to wrestle even harder."

Hacker said his father, Charles, finished second at the state tournament wrestling for Centaurus when he was in high school, and he would like to pick up a championship to show it to his dad.

"I'd like to rub it in his face," Hacker said with a laugh.

Hacker has yet to lose to a wrestler from Colorado this season. He will face Conifer's Tony Pena (27-2) for the championship at 112 pounds.

There might not be another wrestler in 4A who can match the level of Greeley Central's Brice Wolf this season. Wolf, who will wrestle for Northern Iowa next year, is gunning for his second straight 171-pound title, and so far no challenge has been given.

With a 16-0 technical fall against No. 2-ranked Josiah Graham of Broomfield in the semifinals, Wolf has two pins and a tech fall in three matches at state this year. He wasn't sure how much more he could improve after dominating the tournament as a junior, but now he is determined to make this year even more memorable.

"I consider myself a lot more focused and determined to win this year," said Wolf, who improved to 40-0. "After I won my state championship I wasn't sure if the bar could be raised. But then I realized it can, and I can just keep going and going."

Class 4A championship pairings

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103 pounds:

Alex Baca, Pueblo Central, So. (28-0) vs. Nick Babcock, Broomfield, Fr. (38-5).

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112:

Tony Pena, Conifer, So. (27-2) vs. Courtland Hacker, Broomfield, So. (33-4).

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119:

Gabe Gomez, Broomfield, Sr. (27-3) vs. Joseph Martinez, Greeley West, So. (41-2).

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125:

Dalton Kelley, Alamosa, Sr. (34-5) vs. Bryce Sciumbato, Pueblo County, Sr. (39-5).

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130:

Dale Shull, Fort Lupton, Sr. (40-3) vs. Dan Frank, Roosevelt, Sr. (37-3).

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135:

Jordan Guitierrez, Broomfield, Jr. (28-6) vs. Kyle Holman, Alamosa, Sr. (22-6).

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140:

James Conrardy, Rifle, Sr. (41-2) vs. Nathaniel Garcia, Greeley West, So. (42-1).

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145:

Jordon Garcia, Pueblo West, Sr. (39-5) vs. Robert Pickerell, Northridge, Jr. (36-1).

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152:

Justin Gonzales, Northridge, Sr. (45-0) vs. Justin Samora, Montezuma-Cortez, Sr. (42-2).

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160:

Josh Ventine, Broomfield, Jr. (32-9) vs. Patrick Gomez, Northridge, Sr. (44-0).

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171:

Brice Wolf, Greeley Central, Sr. (40-0) vs Kohlman Scribner, Mountain View, Jr. (29-12).

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189:

Kohl Martin, Windsor, Sr. (25-2) vs. Ryker Haddock, Longmont, Sr. (43-5).

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215:

Rico Garcia, Canon City, Sr. (41-2) vs. Cody McAnich, Broomfield, Sr. (22-2).

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285:

Justin Williams, Englewood, Sr. (33-1) vs. Tad Davis, Rifle, Sr. (40-0).

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