Whether each of the Englewood High School wrestlers continues the season or turns in his gear rests on the outcome of the Feb. 13 and 14 regional state-qualifying tournament.

This year’s regionals will be held at Elizabeth High School and the teams scheduled to take part include Alameda, Arvada, Broomfield, Castle View, Conifer, Denver North, Denver West, Elizabeth, Englewood, Evergreen, Fort Lupton, Golden, Jefferson, Lewis-Palmer, Northridge, Rock Canyon, Thompson Valley and Wheat Ridge.

The regional tournament will be set up on a traditional 16-wrestler, double-elimination bracket. The top four finishers in each weight division qualify to go to the state tournament Feb. 19-21 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

At regionals, the wrestlers are seeded in the brackets according to their records this season. Generally, the top-ranked wrestler draws the 16th-ranked wrestler in the first round. In weight divisions where there are more than 16 wrestlers, seeding will determine who competes in the pig-tail matches necessary to trim the field to 16.

Wrestling action begins at 2 p.m. Feb. 13 with the first-round matches. Wrestling resumes at 5:30 with the second round championship bracket matches and the first-round consolation bracket matches.

The championship finals are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 14 and will be followed by the second round of consolation matches.

The third round of consolation matches is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. with the consolation semifinals scheduled to start at 3.

The gym will be cleared and, at 5 p.m. there will be matches to determine the first through sixth-place finishers in each weigh division.

An adult all-tournament pass is $15 and the all-tournament pass for seniors and students I $12. Admission to Friday’s matches is $5 for adults and $4 for students and seniors.

An all-day Saturday ticket is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and the price for finals tickets is $5 for adults and $4 for students and seniors.

Englewood heavyweight Jason Williams has the best individual record on the team and his goal isn’t just to win regionals but he wants to qualify for state and win the Class 4A title.

Williams, who wrestled at 215 pounds last year, knows what it is like to get to the final round as he finished second in state last season.

He said last week, he is where he wants to be at this point in the season. He said his goal was to be ranked No. 1 in state going into regionals and that is where he is ranked.

He quickly added that rankings are fine but that he just can’t assume he’ll get to state and into the finals.

“I have to stay focused and work hard in practice to improve my techniques,” the Pirate senior said. “Like everyone says, you have to take it one match at a time. Go out there, win then move to the next match. That’s what I want to do at regionals and then when I get to state.”

Nick Sheppard is another Pirate looking to advance to state.

He said he worked harder this season and feels he is where he wants to be as he prepares for regionals.

Coming into the week, Sheppard had a 20-7 record and should draw good seeding in the 171-pound bracket at the regional tournament.

“I feel ready,” he said. “I have had a good regular season and I have won some good matches this season and I want to keep that string going as we advance to regionals.”