Competing for the final time in 2018, the Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestling team came through with another impressive dual victory, this time defeating Centauri 36-24 in Cortez on Dec. 21.
Among the many impressive performances by the Panthers was that of senior Swayde Noyes, who regained his composure after being taken down early in the first period and pinned Daniel Chavez in the 182-pound match.
“At the end of the first, I didn’t know how to feel,” said Noyes, who trailed 2-1 after the opening period. “Coming out in the second, I figured I had to ride him hard and get him turned. He rode me pretty good, but I rode him better.”
Also delivering an impressive performance was 106-pound freshman Kael Buffington, who pinned Mario Vigil with 1:00 left in the second period. Vigil, who was ranked fifth in Class 3A entering the match, hung tough early, but was unable to deal with Buffington’s strength and athleticism.
“(My win) was just a product of hard work,” Buffington said. “Me and coach worked on (techniques) throughout the week, and I knew what was coming. The level of difficulty in high school is way higher (than in middle school). ... It’s all about going out and dominating.”
Other pins for M-CHS came courtesy of senior Shawn Higgins, who pinned Jordan Martin in the second period of the 138-pound match, and Kerwin Tom, who pinned Jownes Archuleta in the first period of the 195-pound match.
Senior captain Matthew Broughton utilized his upper-body strength throughout a one-sided pin victory over Zach Buhr at 152 pounds. Devin Frost was credited with a win at 220 pounds after Centauri failed to fill that weight class.
Among the Panthers who ended up on the wrong side of things was Casen Allmon, who was pinned by Byron Shawcroft in a 160-pound match that began with a takedown by Allmon and ranked as perhaps the most entertaining match of the evening.
Ethan Root was pinned by Zach Martin in the first period at 145 pounds, and M-CHS heavyweight Kale Hall was pinned by Bennie Chacon. Jayvon Valdez lost a tough 6-3 decision to Centauri’s Andrew Ross at 113 pounds. Austin Featherman lost to Centauri’s Jeremy Coombs at 126 pounds.
M-CHS wrestlers will return to the practice room with an eye toward improving technique and conditioning before the start of the new year.
“We can do a lot better,” said Noyes. “We can get a lot more takedowns, and we can get in better shape.”