Its that time of year, where wrestlers seek a spot at the Pepsi Center.
High School regional wrestling tournaments are on Friday and Saturday. A spot at state is at stake in Denver.
At 2A, Dove Creek has high expectations of possibly winning a regional title in Grand Junction and sending eight to 10 Bulldogs to the CHSAA state championships.
Hopefully, the kids will show up and wrestle well, Bulldogs coach Shane Baughman said. Theres a couple kids that should have a good chance of getting to the finals. Last year, we had a great regional. I hope we can repeat that. If they do well at regionals, that sets up (good) seeding at state.
No. 1-ranked Paonia is in Dove Creek and Dolores region, so it will be tough grappling against the fellow 2A Eagles.
Theyre tough, Baughman said. They got 14 guys, 14 weight classes and every single one of them is a solid kid.
Dove Creek wrestlers going to regionals are Nick Jones, 106 pounds, 27-7; Chance Randolph, 113, 31-11; Cole Baughman, 120, 36-5; Tommy Fury, 126, 8-26; Tyler Ebberts, 132, 25-14; Dalton Randolph, 138, 21-7; Dillon Daves, 145, 18-18; Alex Ogas, 152, 6-20; Wyatt Applin, 160, 16-8; Chance Johnson, 182, 22-5; Jared Galyean, 220, 20-10; and, Tyson Smith, heavyweight, 24-11.
Jones, Cole Baughman, Ebberts, Dalton Randolph and Johnson all went to state last year. Jones and Cole Baughman finished sixth in their respective weights.
Dolores has 10 grapplers suiting up at regionals, including 2011 state runner-up Wyatt Wade. He took second at 112 pounds last year and is competing at 126s this season. Things havent been as smooth in an injury plagued season so far for Wade (23-11). He will hobble into regionals with an injured shoulder he suffered last week.
Other Bears going to regionals include, Deano Valdez (113) 20-11; Wyatt Mattausch (132) 17-12; Ethan Upton (145) 22-12; Wyatt Wallace (160) 25-13; Richard Belt (220) 13-8; Ryan Johnston (152) 3-6; and, Levi Noyes (120) 12-3.
Were as ready as can be, I guess. Were working on conditioning and technique. Thats all we can do anymore, Dolores coach Dean Valdez said. Ive seen some state spots get stolen from kids getting tired and thinking they were done. Its get pretty hairy there (at regionals). Its a heck of a deal.
Deano Valdez, Mattausch and Johnston all made state in 2011.
Ive got high expectations. Im sure will have our disappointments. Id like to take everyone. We have 10 weights filled. I hope we do pretty good, coach Valdez said. I feel like Im out there on the mat with these guys. I get so worked up with these guys. I get pretty excited. Its a heck of a deal to get up there to state. Lets get some guys up there.
Regionals are at Grand Junction Central High School on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.
For Montezuma-Cortez High School, only five will suit up at the 4A regional meet in Gypsum on Friday and Saturday.
Levi Gross (113) 23-16; Ryan Daves (126) 33-5; Justice Ramos (132) 8-23; Seager Oliver (152) 29-11; and, Trenton Gustafson (182) 31-6; are the Panthers competing for state.
Daves has finished fourth at the state championships the last two seasons, while Gustafson is the other returning state qualifier.
Levi and Seager definitely have a hot at qualifying. Theyll definitely have to wrestle good and smart, M-CHS coach Eric Smith said. The biggest part is going to be mentality. That is going to be half the battle.
Smith, ultimately, is taking the one match at a time approach.
The goal I have for them is to advance at this point, he said. Once you get to state, it starts over. I want them to understand to advance to the next week.
The Panthers will wrestle Friday at 2 p.m., and Saturday at 9 a.m. at Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
