The Dolores, Mancos and Dove Creek wrestling teams saw their first action of 2017 last weekend with the Bears and Blue Jays competing at the Rocky Mountain Wrestling Tournament in Pagosa Springs and the Bulldogs heading to Vernal, Utah for the Tournament of Champions.
Wrestling in the 120-pound weight class, Brandon Ward and Richard Martinez were the top finishers for Dolores and Mancos, respectively.
Martinez won two straight before falling to eventual champion Joe Chavez of Centauri in the semifinals and then bouncing back to win his third place match. Ward won his first three matches, but he too was dropped by Chavez, falling by 12-3 decision in the title match to finish second.
Other placers for Dolores were freshman Tezman Hackney and juniors Logan Fuller and Austin Hackney. Tezman and Fuller each went 3-2 on the day to place seventh in their respective classes, while Austin went 2-3 to take eighth in the 126-pound division.
Zander Eichner, Josh Petrow and David Schmittel each compiled 1-2 records on the day to round out the Bears.
Aside from Martinez, Kaleb Hargraves and Cameron Fury placed for Mancos.
Each went 3-2 to finish in seventh place, while Casey Orange went 1-2 and Andrew Ruatti finished 0-2 for the Blue Jays.
Dove Creek junior Derek Kibel was again the only grappler for the Bulldogs last weekend.
Competing in the 138-pound class of the loaded Tournament of Champions, Kibel went 2-2 on the weekend but did not place.
Mancos and Dolores are back in action on Wednesday at Dolores’ home quad, while Dove Creek is off until this weekend when the Bulldogs will compete in the Doc Wright Invitational in Winslow, Arizona.