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Feb. 21—Pueblo has been a haven for Colorado high school sports championships over the years.
Start with the baseball title games that have been held at the Runyon Sports Complex in many classifications.
Add in the Class 2A and 1A championships in boys and girls basketball, a staple at Massari Arena on the Colorado State University Pueblo campus and Southwest Motors Events Center for years.
Then there’s the state tennis state championships, a fixture at the City Park Courts for decades.
And last December, all seven classifications showed off their wares in football state title games at the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl on the CSU Pueblo campus. Several classifications will do so this spring and again next fall.
Now, state wrestling is coming to the Steel City for the first time in March. And it’s well deserved for Pueblo.
If I’ve learned one thing in my three-plus decades in this town: natives love their sports. Pueblo has the reputation of a baseball town, but it’s so much more than that.
High school events, even those in the regular season, have always drawn great support here. Whether that be football, basketball, baseball, soccer or tennis, Pueblo sports fans come out to watch.
Wrestling is right near the top. And I have full confidence Pueblo will prove to be a gracious host once again with the state tournament in its backyard.
To say we in Pueblo have been blessed is an understatement. Not only does the Colorado High School Activities Association trust Pueblo, but participants say they leave the title events with a warm, positive feeling.
Pueblo is like going to your grandma’s house. The door is always open and the hospitality is unmatched. It’s like walking in the door and being served cookies and milk.
No one goes unnoticed. We roll out the red carpet.
That’s just how Pueblo rolls.
Hosting big events, from the pros to the preps, is a natural for the city.
We’ve had the Babe Ruth World Series here. The Denver Nuggets played a preseason game here. Members of the Denver Broncos played in a fundraising basketball game. The Colorado Springs Sky Sox even made an appearance in Pueblo and the Olympic women’s volleyball team played here.
Heck, even Babe Ruth was here. Sports stars have made their appearances in Pueblo — from Tommy Lasorda to Brooks Robinson to Tom Seaver to Troy Tulowitzki.
And every time, they have been treated with the utmost hospitality.
The state wrestling tournament next month will be no different, and you know Pueblo can’t wait.
Chieftain interim sports editor Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeffletofsky
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