With postseason competition less than one month away, wrestlers from Montezuma-Cortez, Dove Creek, and Dolores high schools took to the mats at the Norwood Maverick Invitational Tournament Saturday and performed well.
Among the most successful local wrestlers at the nine-team tournament was Montezuma-Cortez junior Austin Featherman, who pinned Montrose’s Gracey Davis, won by injury default over Olathe’s Miguel Rodriguez and pinned Mancos’ Trevor Paquin en route to a top finish in the 126-pound division.
Also finishing on the podium for M-CHS were Jayven Valdez, who finished second in the 120-pound division after winning two of his three matches, and Ethan Root, who won two of his matches at 152 pounds.
Other competitors for M-CHS included Ryan Pipkin, who placed fifth in the 120-pound weight class after winning two of his four matches, Casen Allmon, who won one of his four matches while competing at 160 pounds, and Caden Cote, who finished 0-2 at 138 pounds.
M-CHS finished fifth in the nine-team meet, which was won by Mancos High School.
Of the six Dove Creek wrestlers who competed, none was more successful than Jayden Sanders, who scored pin victories over M-CHS’ Jaquin Laner, Montrose’s Kale Bradshaw and Montrose’s Jake Green, and took home top honors in the 132-pound weight class.
Also turning in an impressive performance for the Bulldogs was Quaden Huffaker, who won four of his five matches and finished third overall in the 106-pound weight class. Huffaker’s only loss was to Hotchkiss’ Anthony Scanlon.
Other competitors for Dove Creek included Isiah Martinez, who finished 3-2 in the 106-pound weight class, Will McKellips, who finished 2-2 overall in a weight class that featured 170-pound and 182-pound wrestlers, and Jessy Gore and Jaqulyn Dennison, who both finished 1-2 at 106-pounds.
Dove Creek finished seventh in the team standings ahead of Dolores and Nucla.
Once again assuming his role as the leader of the Dolores wrestling team was senior Bryan Escarcega, who pinned three of his four opponents and finished second overall in a 195-pound and 220-pound combined weight class at the Norwood Maverick Invitational.
Also finishing second for Dolores in a combined weight class was Gavin Baker, who pinned Mancos’ William Small and Olathe’s Norma Alejandro before losing to Montrose’s Dontea Pearce in a class that featured 170-pound and 182-pound wrestlers.
Other competitors for Dolores included Levi Fuller, who won one of his four matches in the 152-pound weight class, and Akima Edwards, who finished 0-2 in the 120-pound weight division.
Dolores finished eighth overall in the team standings of the nine-team tournament.
