Prior to traveling to the Alamosa High School wrestling tournament on Jan. 17, Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestling coach Shad Bellmire said that he hoped his team could win five medals.
After emerging victorious in several hard-fought matches, the Panthers came away with six. As a team, M-CHS placed 10th overall in the 11-team tournament. Mesa Ridge finished first overall.
Leading the way for the Panthers was 182-pound senior Seager Oliver, who received a bye in the first two rounds before pinning Delta High School’s Daniel Brown in the semifinals and earning a technical fall victory over Mesa Ridge’s Logan Beatty in the finals.
Finishing fourth for the Panthers was 160-pound senior Andrew Finch, who won two of his four matches overall. 106-pound junior Colton Reynolds also placed fourth after winning two of his four matches.
At 132-pounds, M-CHS junior Levi Gross received a first round bye and won in the second round. Gross forfeited his final two matches due to an injury, but still finished fourth overall.
Senior Heavyweight Victor Perez placed fifth, 138-pound sophomore Josh Ramos placed sixth.
Next up for the Panthers will be a tournament in Page, Ariz., which will take place Jan. 23-24.