Not much makes Hayden Newberg drop her stoic expression.

But after the Vista Ridge 120-pounder’s performance in the finals against Vista Peak’s Amelia Bacon on Saturday, the Wolves junior couldn’t hold back her smile.

Newberg capped her junior campaign at Ball Arena in Denver with a 5-1 decision win against Bacon to capture her first state title.

“I was able to control the match and finally get that state championship that I’ve been working so hard to get,” Newberg said.

Newberg placed fifth as a freshman at state and second last year with a 7-0 decision loss to Fountain-Fort Carson’s Alexsys Jacquez at 105 pounds.

Newberg spent the summer with wrestling club Community where she “worked with some awesome coaches” who prepped her for this year.

The Vista Ridge junior compiled a 45-2 record and lost just one match in Colorado while cruising through the rest of her competition.

In the finals, the only point Newberg allowed came on an escape early in the match while Newberg scored on an escape and takedowns.

“I controlled the ties and made sure I was in good position,” Newberg said. “I watched her hips and legs and made sure to defend properly anytime she tried to score.”

Newberg paused for a moment to find the words to describe her state success before cracking one last smile and finding the answer.

“It’s incredible,” Newberg said.

“No words can describe the work and effort I put in to get here and it’s an amazing feeling that only a few people ever get to experience.”

Vista Ridge’s Hayden Newberg wins the 120-pound finals Saturday at the state wrestling championships at Ball Arena in Denver.

Parker Seibold, The Gazette