Sports Wrestling

IHS matmen open season at Maverick Duals Three Bobcats each go 4-1 in Grand Junction

Friday - December 7, 2018 by Joel Priest | Special to the Drum

With assistant coach Cody Haga looking on at right, Ignacio’s Dustin Sanchez works against an opponent during the 2018 CHSAA Class 2A State Wrestling Championships inside Denver’s Pepsi Center back in February. Now a senior, Sanchez began his final State quest at the Colorado Mesa University Maverick Duals on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum

Getting their season underway traveling to Grand Junction, Ignacio High School’s wrestlers not only competed at the 2018 Maverick Duals, hosted Saturday, Dec. 1, by Colorado Mesa University, but ranked in the upper half of 17 teams attending.

Overall, Jordan Larsen’s crew went 3-2 inside Brownson Arena with victories over Parachute Grand Valley (33-28), Olathe (36-35) and New Castle Coal Ridge (33-18), and losses against G.J. Central (58-18) and GJHS (57-12).

“I’m very pleased with the performance,” Larsen said.  “There was no quit in any of them, from the young to the experienced.  It was an outstanding day for all the boys.”

Senior Dustin Sanchez, one of the Bobcats’ returning State qualifiers, went 4-1 at 160 pounds, and senior Skieler Grooms (the other State qualifier) finished the day 3-2 at 138/145.  Heavyweight Randy Herrera went 4-1 with three forfeit wins plus a 58-second pin in his first bout.

Cesar Pedregon went 4-1 at 195/220 with two forfeit wins, and newcomer Isaac Welker was 2-3 at 113 with a pair of forfeits.  Clay Campbell went 2-3 at 182 pounds, as did Jeremy Roderick at 195/220, while Tyler Barnes went 1-4 at 145/152.

Hunter Robbins was 2-3 at 126 pounds, facing an opponent—including GVHS’ A.J. Serna (to whom he lost 8-0), last season’s Class 3A State Champion at 120 pounds—each time he stepped onto the mat.

Up next, the ’Cats will hit the Dove Creek ‘Dawg Fight’ on Saturday, Dec. 8.

“I’m looking forward to going back to the drawing board for…Dove Creek,” said Larsen.

 

LOSS MEANS WIN:At the Duals, a defeat actually helped Ignacio claim one of its victories.

Against Olathe, the Bobcats had six six-point victories via pin or forfeit, while the Pirates had five (Sanchez’s lone loss was by third-period pin against OHS’ Wyatt Mansker). The one-point difference on the scoreboard when all was said and done was due to OHS 145-pounder Clay Yarnell defeating Barnes by 15-0 technical fall—earning the Pirates just five points—rather than going for the six-point stick.

Neither squad sent out an entrant at either 106 or 170 pounds.

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