For seven local wrestlers representing Montezuma-Cortez, Mancos, Dolores and Dove Creek high schools, competing at the Colorado State High School Wrestling Tournament in Denver, Feb. 21-23, was a dream come true.
As usual, competition was tough, yet Jayven Valdez, Matthew Broughton, Kerwin Tom, Swayde Noyes, Colt Fury, Gage Bailey and Bryan Escarcega acquitted themselves well.
Heading into the tournament as the top-ranked 152-pound wrestler in the 3A classification, M-CHS senior Matthew Broughton knew that he would be in the running for a state title.
Things went as planned for the Panthers standout early in the tournament as he pinned Sierra High School’s Elijah Smith in the opening round and won a 7-3 decision over Berthound High School’s Kyle Conlon in the quarterfinals.
A semifinals match against Brush High School’s Oswaldo Nunez did not end well for Broughton, however, as the M-CHS senior lost an 8-5 decision. Broughton battled back two win a 2-1 decision over Alamosa’s Kolten Hillis in the consolation semifinals before losing to a 9-8 decision to Fort Morgen’s Kase Givens in the third-place match and finishing fourth overall.
Joining Broughton as a match winner for M-CHS was teammate Swayde Noyes, who opened the tournament with a 10-1 victory over Eaton High School’s Judson Church in the 182-pound division.
Broughton then wrestled tough during a 3-0 decision loss to The Classical Academy’s Nathan Johns, who captured the state title. Noyes bowed out of the tournament with a 5-1 decision loss to Brush High School’s Nick Wellen.
Also competing for M-CHS were 170-pound senior Kerwin Tom and 113-pound sophomore Jayven Valdez. Both lost to tough competition.
M-CHS finished 31st overall in the team standings, and Alamosa High School captured the Class 3A team title.
Competing in the 2A class against the toughest competition they had faced all season, wrestlers from Mancos, Dolores and Dove Creek high schools enjoyed mixed results.
Mancos’ 152-pound sophomore Colt Fury opened with a loss to Swink’s Kaleb Fisher but rebounded for a 9-5 decision over Del Norte’s Keegan Medina in the first consolation round. Fury wrapped up his tournament with a loss to Wray’s Emmanuel Huerta.
Dolores senior Bryan Escarcega lost to Calhan’s Ethan Dustrude and Wray’s Ike Fisher at 220 pounds, and Dove Creek’s Gage Bailey lost to Rye High School’s Michael Atencio and Fowler High School’s Fernando Salazar in the 113-pound weight division.
With their seasons now complete, underclassmen from all four local teams will return to the weight room and the mats with hopes of returning to the Colorado High School State Tournament next season.
