Colorado's Matt Addington to wrestle in State Games of America; Colorado athletes can still register

Colorado Springs -- Matt Addington of Florence, one of the most decorated high school wrestlers in Colorado history, has entered the 2009 State Games of America and will compete for a gold medal in the 189-pound Folkstyle event at the Fort Carson Special Events Center.

The two-time state 3A champion won his second title this year with a decisive 17-6 major decision over Iver Sandoval of Centauri at 152 pounds. A year earlier, at 140 pounds, he beat Tyler Miles of Grand Valley for the title.

Addington will carry a phenomenal 77-match win streak into his senior year at Florence after a perfect 48-0 campaign this year, on the heels of a sophomore season that saw him go 29-0 on the way to the state crown.

Addington's registration continues to add muscle to Team Colorado in the Games, which will bring as many as 10,000 athletes from more than 40 states of all ages and skill levels to Colorado Springs, July 30-August 2, for the nation's biggest multi-sport event of its type this summer.

Colorado Athletes Can still register at: www.stategames.org

Triathlon star Jacqueline "Jax" Mariash of Superior will compete in the Track and Field events at Lewis Palmer High, gunning for medals in the 400, 800 and 1500 meters as she returns to the track this year. The Arizona State grad and 2005 State Games of America Triathlon champion (1.21:27) had a great 2008 campaign, finishing second in the USA Track & Field Long Course Duathon Championships and winning a Bronze medal at the World Championships in the grueling event that includes a 3K run, 90K bike race and 21K run.

2009 USA Deaf National Swimming Team member Brian Bennett of Colorado Springs will enter the Triathlon at Memorial Park as a tuneup of sorts for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taiwan. The Colorado School For The Deaf & Blind graduate has been competing for ten years in the pool.

Fiona Dretzka (13) of Northglenn will go for a Gold medal in the Triathlon at Memorial Park after winning the State Games of the West championship last summer in the Youth 13-14 division as well as a gold medal in Open Water swimming.

Masters Track and Field star Ladonna Reed of Colorado Springs will tackle the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump, as she continues her career. The 34-year-old former Cal State-Fullerton heptathlete won silver medals at the 2008 USATF Masters Track and Field Championships in the 100 (14.28), long jump (16-3.75) and took a bronze medal in the 200 (29.70).

Bowler Robin Baschal (22) of Colorado Springs is in the women's adult scratch singles event at the Games after another standout season. She's a Pikes Peak Bowling Association all-star and a member of the 2008-2009 Pikes Peak USBC Girls All-Star Team.

Shooter Anthony Brunetto (59) of Colorado Springs competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials and has Gold medals from the 2007 State Games of America (Air Pistol) and 2008 State Games of the West (Air Pistol) in his bookcase at home. He's entered in the International Air Pistol and Rapid Fire Air Pistol events in the Games' competition at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

The Games' official opening will take place on July 30 with the lighting of the flame by 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo at the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony at the World Arena. Tickets- $10.00/$5.00 at www.tickestwest.com or call (866) 464-2626. Rock star Carly Smithson is the featured entertainer.