Loaded with talent at the upper weights, the Mancos High School wrestling team rolled into Dove Creek for the Dawg Fight Invitational on Dec. 9 and placed sixth in the 13-team field.
Leading the Bluejays was 182-pound Cameron Fury, who pinned his first four opponents before defeating Kirtland High School’s Jerryd Polard, 8-2, for the title.
Also on the podium for Mancos was 220-pound Nic Dan, who pinned four opponents before being pinned by Bayfield’s Daniel Westbrook in the finals.
Bluejays heavyweight Casey Orange suffered a similar fate. He pinned four opponents before being pinned by Farmington’s Dante Norberto in the finals and finishing second overall.
“We have a good team this year,” Orange said. “I think that several of us can make state.”
Ty Everett lost his opening round at 106 pounds to Dolores’ Cameron Chavez. He rebounded with a pin victory over Farmington’s Jacob Culler and a 6-2 decision over Durango’s Owen Eicher to finish third.
At 113 pounds, freshman Lot Martin finished fourth, and teammate Cooper McClain finished fifth. Andrew Ruatti lost his first two matches before pinning Durango JV wrestler Eric Dang for a win at 138 pounds.
“I did not wrestle in middle school, but I wrestled in elementary school,” Marin said. “Last year, I decided to wrestle with the peewees a little bit, and I competed in the Aztec Warrior last year. I’m really liking high school wrestling.”
Next up for Mancos will be the Panther Wrestling Classic at Piedra Vista High School. The tournament will take place in Farmington on Dec. 16.
