Fort Collins advanced four wrestlers to the semifinals and is in fourth place with 71 1/2 points. Poudre, sixth with 59 points, advanced three wrestlers to today's semifinals.

Fort Collins' Rodney McConnell, the top seed at 160, recorded a first-round pin before winning a tough 6-3 battle with Poudre's David Poche in the quarterfinals. Henry Nelson, the No. 1 seed at 171, beat Poudre's Sam Gorton 12-3 in the first round before posting a second-round pin.

Poudre's No. 1 seeds — Derek Whitman at 189 and Eric Tonkin at 275 — had first-round byes before recording pins in the quarterfinals. Whitman overwhelmed Fort Collins' Brian Evans in 39 seconds, while Tonkin — ranked third in the state — slammed Highlands Ranch's Jason Bingaman in 2:55.

Poudre's Alan Pace also advanced, putting all three city wrestlers in the semifinals at 140.

The top four wrestlers in each weight bracket following consolation rounds earn berths in next week's state tournament at the Pepsi Center in Denver.