IGNACIO – The wrestling season is entering its final stretch, with the first day of the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 2A Region 2 Regional Tournament Friday in Ignacio.
Teams from the San Juan Basin League – Dolores, Mancos, Dove Creek, Ignacio, Norwood, and Nucla are all vying for spots at the state tournament. Last year, the SJBL sent over 20 athletes to the Ball Arena in Denver, including 11 from Mancos and Dove Creek.
The tournament also features Cedaredge, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, No. 7 Monte Vista, and No. 10 Meeker. Cedaredge leads the team standings with 89.5 points, followed by Monte Vista in second place with 63 points, and Hayden in third with 54.5 points.
Mancos is hoping to repeat last year’s success, with four Bluejays advancing to the championship bracket. Tracer White (106), Brandon Vannest (157), Jacob Martin (190), and Colten Vannest (285) all continue in the championship bracket.
White and Martin each received a bye in the first round. White will face Mathieu Dean of Monte Vista, and Martin will battle Eli Mocke of Olathe to start Saturday’s matches.
Colten Vannest won his quarterfinal match against Nucla’s Jacob Davis by pin at 1:53 and will face Cedaredge’s Travis Gill on Saturday.
Senior Brandon Vannest is looking to continue his strong state campaign from last year, where he earned his 100th career win and finished third in the 150-pound bracket. After a slow start in his Friday matchup against Hayden’s John Bene, where Bene led 7-0 at the end of the first period, Vannest turned the match around and won by pin at 3:45. Vannest will face Wylee Lorimor of Cedaredge on Saturday.
Dove Creek is being led by a talented group of young athletes. Four Bulldogs advanced to Saturday’s championship bracket with hopes of qualifying for state. Cael Beanland (126), Teagan Larimore (132), Konner Spigner (150), and Frankey Montoya (215) are all on track to first place finishers.
Beanland received a bye in the first round and then defeated Tegan Mestas of Mancos by a 6-0 decision. He will face Josh Martinez of Cedaredge on Saturday. Spigner also received a bye and won an intense match against Dolores’ Nathan Hill by pin fall at 3:41. He will compete against Hayden’s Ethan Silva on Saturday. Montoya also received a bye and will face Cedaredge’s Frankie Gargus.
Larimore, who hopes to repeat his state appearance from last year after finishing fifth in the 126-pound bracket, dominated his Friday night match against Hayden’s Danek DeMorat. Larimore led 3-1 after the first period, 5-1 after the second, and ultimately won by a 14-3 decision. He will compete against Monte Vista’s Elijah Baumgardner on Saturday.
Representing the Bears is Daniel Jacket in the 215-pound bracket. Jacket received a bye and will face Cedaredge’s Frankie Gargus on Saturday. River Wickstrom won his first-round match against Porter Shawcroft of Monte Vista by pin fall at 4:48 but lost to Ignacio’s Zane Pontine by technical fall, 20-4, at 4:27. Wickstrom will continue his journey to third place on Saturday against Fierce Clair of Platte Canyon.
Day 2 of regionals will continue Saturday in Ignacio. For updates and results, visit trackwrestling.com.
