PRESCOTT VALLEY — Parker’s Aaron Herder, Billy Escoto and Javier Gomez all came close but just couldn’t quite get to the top of the podium.

David Bell/News-Herald Photo, File. Parker’s Billy Escoto, top, gets a Bourgade Catholic wrestler in position for the pin, during a 120-pound match at PHS, Dec. 17, 2011. Escoto finished second in his weight class, one of five Broncs to place at the Division IV State Finals, Friday, in Prescott Valley.

The trio, along with Dallas Wells and Sterling Welch, made up the five Broncs that placed at the Division IV Wrestling State finals, at Tim’s Toyota Center, in Prescott Valley, Friday,

Meanwhile Lake Havasu’s Luis Rivera won his Friday matches to advance to the semifinals, Saturday.

The Division IV 106-pound top seed, Herder opened with a pin on San Manuel’s Frankie Tamayo with one minute gone in the second period. Herder then out-pointed Benson’s Chance Sutton, 10-0, in the second round. In the semi-finals, Herder pinned Morenci’s Joe Guerra at 1:34 in the second period to earn his spot in the finals. That’s where he lost a heartbreaker by two points to Campe Verde’s Michael Casillas, 8-6.

“Aaron being just a freshman, it’s a good learning experience for him,” said PHS head coach David Daly.

In the Division IV 120-pound weight class, the No. 2 seeded Billy Escoto pinned Bisbee’s Cesar Ocano 56 seconds into the third period, then he pinned Thatcher’s Brendan Skinner 1:18 into the second period. In the semifinals, Escoto outlasted Wilcox’s Anthony Quezada in one of the toughest matches of the day, 4-3.

That set up another Parker-Campe Verde showdown, with Camp Verde’s Ryan Allred coming out on top, 9-1.

Javier Gomez, the Division IV No. 2 seed at 182 pounds, also made his way to the finals. He opened with a pin in just 33 seconds on Bisbee’s Esteban Olivarria, outscored Holbrook’s Shem Bowman 3-1 and outscored Yuma Catholic’s Alex Demyan 4-1 in the semifinals.

In the finals Gomez fell to St. Johns’ Tyler Johnson, 9-2.

The Broncs’ Wells took a fourth place finish. The 195-pounder dropped his first round match, to Wilcox’s Ben Miller. In the consolation bracket, Wells defeated Greyhills’ Carlton Robbins, Round Valley’s Hunter Hamblin, Seton Catholic’s David Probst and Globe’s Michael Echevarria. But in the third place match he lost in a rematch with Miller.

Welch, a heavyweight, dropped his first match to Tuba City’s Daniel Foley. In the consolation bracket, Welch then defeated Canyon State’s Kenny Brazier, Morenci’s Santiago Robledo and Round Valley’s Tyler Steed before falling in a rematch with Foley, earning Welch a sixth place finish.

At 145-pounds, Parker’s Cameron Booth lost his opening round match to Mongollon’s Cy Depsin. In the consolation bracket, Booth defeated Benson’s Kieran Makestad and Round Valley’s Chris Padilla, before falling to Camp Verde’s Joel Lobaugh.

The result was a fifth place team finish for the Broncs.

“You have got to be happy with these results,” Daly said. “Not many teams can say they have five state finals placers.”

In the opening round of Division II action Friday, Havasu’s Luis Rivera, the top seed at 170-pounds, won both his opening matches by fall. He pinned Cholla’s William Hohmann at 1:38 of the second period. Then he pinned Raymond Kellis’ Quentin Grill at 1:13 of the first period to advance to today’s semifinals. Rivera will face Sunnyslope’s Bret Stevens.

“At the state finals, everyone looks tough. Right from the start,” said LHHS head coach Alex Ruiz. “Right now Luis is just taking each match one at a time. And I think he matches up ok with the Sunnyslope wrestler. They have similar styles.”

Havasu’s Aramis Rodriguez, at 120-pounds, dropped his opening match to Barry Goldwater’s Tory Vandall. In the consolation bracket, Rodriguez defeated Bradshaw Mountain’s Colton Audsley.

Havasu’s 195-pounder, Carlos Seaone, lost in the first round to Gila Ridge’s Kainoa Renaud. In the consolation bracket, Seaone defeated Queen Creek’s Cody McGhee.

“Aramis, as freshman, it’s a big accomplishment just to get to state. And to win a match at state is another big accomplishment,” Ruiz said. “Carlos has been making adjustments, reducing his mistakes and being aggressive. He was competitive in both his matches.”

The Division II Finals take place at Tim’s Toyota Center, in Prescott Valley, today.