Getting a quick look at 2A/1A San Juan Basin League foe Dolores’ roster less than 48 hours before seeing the Bears again at the 2015 Piedra Vista Panther Classic down in Farmington, N.M. the Ignacio wrestlers chalked up a 45-18 dual win Thursday, Dec. 17, inside IHS Gymnasium.
Building upon a solid third-place team result at the previous weekend’s Dove Creek “Dawg Fight,” Jordan Larsen’s Bobcats – 52 to 18 victors over the Bears last season – took three of the night’s four contested weights, with juniors Stocker Robbins (113 pounds), Ethan Appenzeller (138) and Timmy Plehinger (152) all winning.
Robbins defeated his opponent 9-2, Plehinger and Appenzeller pinned theirs, but many of the 14 weights were forfeited by either side, making for a fast evening. Robbins and Appenzeller had won their brackets at the aforementioned “Dawg Fight,” while Plehinger had taken third place in his.
Junior 160-pounder Lorenzo Pena was also a champion at that event, and was named its Upper Weight Outstanding Wrestler after a dominating five-for-five effort. Ignacio finished behind only 2A Walsenburg John Mall and 5A Farmington, N.M., in the tournament’s standings.
In addition to IHS and DHS, slated to compete at the Classic were Michael Bejar’s hosting 5A Panthers and fellow NMAA 5A’s Grants, Gallup, FHS, Gallup Miyamura and Los Alamos. 6A Rio Rancho Cleveland and 4A Kirtland Central will also represent the Land of Enchantment, while also coming from the Centennial State will be 2A’s DCHS and Mancos and 3A Bayfield.
Results from the last event scheduled in 2015 were unavailable by press time, as were any further details from the Dolores-Ignacio dual despite attempts made to contact Larsen and DHS’ Dane Gallaher.
IHS’ first competition in 2016 is currently set for Jan. 9 at Pagosa Springs’ Rocky Mountain Invitational.
“DAWG FIGHT” CHAMPS, DEC. 12
106 – Trevor Schofield (Farmington, N.M.), 113 – STOCKER ROBBINS (IGNACIO), 120 – Jonathan Andreatta (Walsenburg John Mall), 126 – Marshal Ross (John Mall), 132 – Case Baughman (Dove Creek), 138 – ETHAN APPENZELLER (IGNACIO), 145 – Ryan Nava (Bayfield), 152 – Tyler Martinez (Del Norte), 160 – LORENZO PENA (IGNACIO), 170 – Grange Simpson (Blanding, UT, San Juan), 182 – Jake Jolly (Del Norte), 195 – Jason Murphy (John Mall), 220 – Kameron Schrock (Farmington, N.M.), Hwt – Sam Westbrook (Bayfield).