Trailing late in the third period of the 182-pound championship at the Warrior Classic on Dec. 20, Montezuma-Cortez High School senior Seager Oliver summoned his strength and scored a reversal to send the match to overtime.
Then, the Panthers’ defending state champion took down Rocky Mountain High School’s Konnar Schmidt in the extra period to win the Warrior Classic for the first time in his high school career.
In doing so, Oliver became the first M-CHS wrestler to win the prestigious tournament since Ryan Daves took first in the 138-pound division in 2012.
“Getting that gold was a great accomplishment,” said M-CHS head coach Shad Bellmire. “(Seager) pulled it out at the buzzer. He took 10 years off my life with that match, but I’m happy he won. All his hard work paid off.”
To reach the finals of the 35-team tournament, Oliver pinned his first two opponents and earned a technical fall victory in the quarterfinals. Oliver defeated Eagle Valley High School’s Devin Ward 14-3 in the semifinals before facing off against Schmidt, the top ranked 182-pound wrestler in Class 5A.
M-CHS finished 19th overall. Arvada West won the tournament, Green River, Wyo., finished second and Paonia High School finished third.
“As a team, I thought we did good,” said Bellmire. “I think (the tournament) lit a fire under some of our kids. It’s a tough tournament and regionals will be here before we know it.”
Complementing Oliver’s championship performance was 106-pound junior Colton Reynolds, who won his first two matches and finished with a 3-2 record overall.
“(Colton) is just a little ball of fire,” said Bellmire. “He wrestled well. He has a few things that he has to work on, but he goes after you for sure.”
Also finishing the Warrior with a winning record was 195-pound senior Elijah Lansing, who won three of five matches.
“Elijah is inexperienced, but he goes out and tries to win,” said Bellmire of the first year wrestler. “He has a special desire.”
Other M-CHS wrestlers that competed at the Warrior included 138-pound sophomore Josh Ramos (2-2), 132-pound senior Levi Gross (1-2), 152-pound senior Justice Ramos (1-2), 160-pound senior Andrew Finch (1-2) and heavyweight senior Victor Perez (0-2).
Next up for the Panthers will be a dual against Ralstin Valley on Jan. 9, followed by the Montrose Tournament on Jan. 10. In the meantime, Bellmire said that the Panthers would continue working to improve.
“I’m satisfied with the performance thus far (this season),” said Bellmire. “After this break, the season flies. It’s time to get it on in practice. We have to keep pushing each other in the (wrestling) room.”