Regis Jesuit wrestler Antonio Segura won his second straight Colorado wrestling championship this season at 145 pounds.

He has been named the Colorado Community 2020 South Metro Wrestler of the Year.

Segura was picked from athletes who wrestled for Douglas County and Littleton school districts plus Valor Christian, Regis Jesuit, Cherry Creek, Grandview, Smoky Hill, Eaglecrest and Cherokee Trail high schools.

“Definitely, it was tougher to win the state championship this year,” said Segura. “I had changed my mindset from being the underdog to the champion and everybody was giving me their best match. That was a lot tougher with some good competition. And the competition out of state was definitely a lot tougher.”

Segura went 47-5 this season but was tough to beat in his home state and wrestled at three different weights.

“I know he had five losses but all his losses were in national tournaments in California,” said Regis coach Brent Bieshaar. “He was undefeated in Colorado.

“He is just passionate about the sport. He is one of the few kids I've ever coached that I put him in the toughest situations that I can. So he wrestled 160, 152 and 145 for us all year. I put him where their toughest kid was. The reason we went with him at 145 at state is because we thought that was the tougher bracket than 152s.”

Segura liked the challenges he faced.

“I like the competition,” he said. “I like to wrestle the best guy that I can so I can better myself. I like opponents to give me their best and really come after me because now it's time put it on and give it my best match. If they win, they win. They are good competitors. If I win, I beat a really good guy.”

“I wrestled good this season. My wrestling was improved from last year to this year. It might be how I looked at matches, how I looked at opponents, how I looked at myself and reevaluating my matches.”

Bieshaar pushed Segura hard.

“He's a great leader, but the best part is that as a leader, I am probably harder on him than any kid in the room,” explained Bieshaar. “He doesn't take it personally. He always understands that when I criticize him it's for him to get better. Rather than get upset and pout he responds to that and other kids see that.”