The Panthers proved to be too tough for the Demons, as Montezuma-Cortez took the cup, winning 39-36.
“It was nice to win; the kids fought tough, especially coming to Durango because they’re a tough school, but they’re banged up a little bit,” M-CHS head coach Shad Bellmire said. “Overall, I was impressed because (Durango) comes out fighting and swinging. It sometimes is just a scramble, you know. Every wrestler has a different style, and it’s just who can come out on top.”
The night began with M-CHS’s Stevie Fuentes beating Durango’s Pablo Smagacz at 106 pounds in a 12-2 decision.
Other wins from the Panthers came from Matthew Broughton, who pinned Cameron Jacobs in the 120-pound class, Jared Gray, who pinned Jordan Belt at 132 pounds and Josh Ramos, who pinned Ty Thorsheim at 138 pounds.
Other than M-CHS forfeiting open classes, Durango only had just two wins on the night. Tristan Martinez pinned Vinny Conklin in the 126-pound weight class and Kaleb McMunn pinned Briggs Durban at 152 pounds.
The last match of the night was between Victor Perez and Durango’s Joseph Gillen in the 285-pound heavyweight match. Perez made easy work of Gillen, winning by tech fall, 15-0, and the Panthers claimed the cup with a 39-36 win.
The Panthers rode the momentum into the Alamosa Invitational tournament on Saturday, competing against 12 other teams.
Broughton was the only Panther to place on the weekend, going 4-2 in the 120-pound class and falling to Doherty’s Collin Metzgar in the third place match to finish fourth.
Although they did not place, Shawn Higgins (113 lbs), Ramos (138 lbs) and Perez (285 lbs) finished with winning records, each going 3-2, and Fuentes and Sonny Boren each finished 2-2.
Conklin, Gray and Durban were 1-2 and Rielly Birch rounded out the Panthers at 0-2.
M-CHS heads to Page, Arizona this weekend for its final tournament before the Southwest League Dual Championships are scheduled to take place, in Fruita, on Feb. 6.
Jon Mentzer reports from Durango, and Jardyn Angell from Cortez.