For as long as local fans can remember, the rivalry between Montezuma-Cortez High School and Durango High School has run hot. Thus, when the Demons wrestling team arrived in Cortez on Jan. 15, the Panthers had more than enough incentive to be ready.
Competing with guts and determination, M-CHS won four varsity matches and lost just two. Injuries and a much smaller roster forced the Panthers to forfeit six matches however, and as a result, M-CHS lost, 48-28.
“Numbers wise, we couldn’t match up with them, but I wanted to beat them head to head and we did that,” said Panthers head coach Shad Bellmire. “Our team wrestled with a lot of energy.”
Leading the way for the Panthers was 182-pound senior Seager Oliver, who defeated Durango’s Patrick Cunnion, 13-3. Oliver pulled ahead 2-0 after an takedown early in the first period and led 4-2 heading into the second period. Oliver led 8-3 in the second period and dominated throughout the final two minutes.
“Me and Patrick go way back,” said Oliver. “We’ve been wrestling since we were freshman and he hasn’t beat me once. I went out there and took control quick. I couldn’t go out there and lose on my senior night.”
Also wrestling well for M-CHS was senior heavyweight Victor Perez, who defeated Tony Vasquez in the fastest match of the night. After bull rushing the Durango wrestler early in the first period, Perez scored a takedown and pin with 1:20 left in the first period.
“I started off trying to do a duck under,” said Perez. “I got really good pressure and he fell.”
In the 106-pound match, M-CHS junior Colton Reynolds pulled ahead of Cameron Jacobs early before pinning his opponent with 1:05 left in the second. Reynolds’ quickness proved to the decisive factor in the match.
“I’ve been going hard and giving 110 percent in every match,” said Reynolds. “I knew (Jacobs) was a tough kid and he was strong. I just had to out-skill him and I did.”
Rounding out M-CHS’s winners was 160-pound senior Andrew Finch, who pinned Mark Anthony Trujillo with 1:05 left in the second period. Appearing relaxed from start to finish, Finch led 12-1 after the first period and completely dominated the second.
“(Andrew) is getting more aggressive and he’s getting a lot of takedowns,” said Bellmire. “He looked good tonight.”
Durango’s Cole Gustavson pinned Briggs Durbin in the 145-pound match and Durango’s Hunter Hall scored a technical fall victory over Dakota Tycksen in the 126-pound match.
M-CHS sophomore Josh Ramos won the only junior varsity match of the night.
Next up for the Panthers will be a tournament in Alamosa, which will take place on Jan. 17.
“We’ll see some different kids up there,” said Bellmire. “We’ll have our hands full, but I don’t see why we can’t bring home at least five medals.”