After long regular seasons during which they battled injuries and low numbers, Dolores High School, Dove Creek High School and Mancos High School will be represented at the Colorado state wrestling tournament.
Leading the way for the Bears at the Class 2A Region 1 Tournament in Montrose on Feb. 15-16 was senior Bryan Escarcega, who placed third overall in the 220-pound weight class and qualified for state.
To qualify, Escarcega won a tiebreaker over Highland High School’s Clayton Wood, pinned Hotchkiss High School’s Hector Elizalde, and pinned Soroco’s Tristan Singer in the third-place match. Escarcega’s only loss of the tournament came when he was pinned by Meeker’s Ridge Williams.
Also competing at Regionals for Dolores were Jalen Boyd, who won three of his six matches and placed sixth in the 132-pound weight class. Tezman Hackney finished 0-2 in the 138-pound weight class, and Dolores finished 13th overall in the 15-team regional tournament.
Pacing the Bulldogs as he has throughout this season was Gage Bailey, who placed fourth in the 113-pound weight class after winning three of his five matches.
Bailey opened the tournament by pinning West Grand’s Ben Biekert. Bailey also scored a 4-3 decision victory over Highland’s Jace Harrison.
Also competing for Dove Creek were Wyatt Kennedy, who finished 1-2 in the 145-pound weight class, and Jaydon Bailey, who finished 0-2 in the 106-pound weight class. Dove Creek placed 15th overall in the 15-team tournament.
Leading the way for the Bluejays was 152-pound sophomore Colt Fury, who won four of his five matches at the regional tournament and placed third overall in the 152-pound division. Fury’s defeated Highland’s Greg Coy, Rangely’s Justin Rusher and Meeker’s Dax Sheridan after losing to Norwood’s James Franklin in the opening round.
Also placing for the Bluejays was Ty Everett, who finished sixth overall in the 126-pound weight class after winning two of his five matches. Trevor Paquin finished 1-2 in the 113-pound weight class, and Lot Martin finished 0-2 in the 132-pound weight class. Mancos finished 14th overall in the team standings.
Escarcega, Bailey and Fury will next compete in the Colorado High School Activities Association state tournament, which runs Feb. 21-23 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
