Same story. Different year.
In the most anticipated season opening wrestling match Thursday night, two rivals in Montezuma-Cortez and Dove Creek squared off.
Two competitive rivals highlighted the night at 182 pounds. Chance Johnson of Dove Creek versus Trenton Gustafson of Montezuma-Cortez.
The two state qualifiers from a year ago have battled each other in the past with Johnson always coming out on top.
Johnson wrestled up a weight and took an early 2-0 first round lead with a reversal. But Gustafson soared back with three points after a near fall and reversal of his own. Johnson countered with an escape and three near fall points to take a 7-3 lead into the second round. In the final round, both grapplers were nearly grappled out, as each tried to score the knockout pin, but to no avail. Johnson won the third round 4-3 to earn a hard fought decision, 14-8.
I just kept fighting, I guess, said a winded Johnson. I was really tired at the end. I couldnt even see straight there for a while.
Johnson and Gustafson dont have much time to recuperate. They will wrestle each other again today at the Bayfield Wolverine Tournament.
I wrestled him last year, so I knew it was going to be tough, Johnson said. Im confident that I can beat him. Just every time, I know its going to be tough. Its not going to get any easier. I have to wrestle him again on Saturday. Hopefully, I can beat him again.
The 2A Bulldogs of Dove Creek bit the 4A competition, beating Aztec (N.M.) and Montezuma-Cortez High School, 50-12 and 57-18, at the M-CHS tri-meet.
I thought they wrestled good, Dove Creek coach Shane Baughman said. Some of them are still trying to get down to the next weight. Theres a lot of stuff theyre not doing right in their stands. I dont know if they dont know what to do or they just got a bit lazy, working the cobwebs out. But it was a good win. It was good for these kids to get out and wrestle some tough schools. Well have practice tomorrow and then get ready for Bayfield. It will be more of a grueling day. We get five (duals) on Saturday.
M-CHS defeated the Aztec Tigers 38-24 in the first dual of the evening to go 1-1 on the day. Aztec went 0-2.
Ryan Daves, Segar Oliver and Wyatt Jeter pinned their way to 2-0 starts at 132, 145 and 160 pounds for the Panthers. The pins were Olivers first victories at the high school level after a historic career at Cortez Middle School.
I was really excited, nervous, it being my first high school match and everything, the freshman said. Once I got my first one over, then the confidence built. It was better.
Oliver feels the biggest difference in high school is the overall size of competitors.
Theyre pretty heavy, the freshmen and the upperclassmen. Its pretty tough, he said.
Jeter scored a come-from-behind win in his first match of the third round against Aztecs A. Varvel. After trailing 8-4, Jeter secured the pin at the 3:08 mark.
Perhaps the most stunning win for M-CHS came from sophomore Alec Atencio at 170 pounds. Wrestling in his first ever match, M. Martinez of Aztec dominated, but Atencio wouldnt quit. That persistence paid off in the end when Atencio capitalized on a Martinez mistake. Atencio now had Martinez on his back. With the home crowd cheering at the top of their lungs, Atencio made the referee tap the mat with just seven seconds remaining in the third round. Atencios arm was raised for the first time.
My coaches taught me well. Never quit. Just keep going, Atencio said. If you lose, just hold your head high and go out with your heart. Do the best you can do. When I won, I felt really proud. I was really happy for everyone cheering me on.
In his next match, Atencio was pinned by Wyatt Applin of Dove Creek in the second round.
That second match, Im still proud, even though I lost, Atencio said. He was a tough kid.
Other results for M-CHS were Levi Gross, 1-1, 113 pounds, Justice Ramos, 1-1, 120 pounds, Gustafson, 1-1, and Cole Jeter, 0-2, 195 pounds.
Its easy, easy to just quit. I generally preach that to them all the time. You wrestle six minutes to the end, Panthers coach Eric Smith said. That was pretty evident, that they just kept digging. They definitely made me proud of their efforts. Dove Creek is solid. They have some good kids.
For the Bulldogs, Nick Jones (103 pounds), Chance Randolph (120), Cole Baughman (126), Dalton Randolph (138), Applin, Johnson, Austin Carter (195), Jared Galyean (220), and Tyson Smith (heavyweight) all posted 2-0 records on the day.
M-CHS and Dove Creek will both wrestle today at 8 a.m. in Bayfield.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.