Intent on expanding the sport of wrestling in the local community, the Mancos Wrestling Club took 27 wrestlers to the Aztec Warrior Tournament, April 25-26.
Among the high school wrestlers that attended the tournament was Andrew Morgan, who placed 6th in his weight division. Assistant coach Deano Valdez also placed for Mancos, finishing 2nd in his weight division.
Other high school wrestlers who attended the tournament, but did not place, included Austin Howerton, Kaleb Hargraves, Bowen Strazza-Whalen and Nick Valdez.
Numerous middle school and peewee wrestlers also attended the tournament much to the delight of Mancos High School and Mancos Middle School head coach Grant Hobbs, who is thrilled to see his sport gaining popularity in the community.
"It was a great feeling and it was good for our program to continue to get better," said Hobbs. "We had our wrestling banquet last night and I said, 'look around this room, we're going to build a state championship team. I truly believe that with my heart."
Hobbs went on to credit Mancos peewee coaches Alan Mathews Travis White for helping to develop wrestlers at a young age.
"Every time we step out on the mat, we're building character," said Hobbs. "We have a lot of kids buying into the way that we are coaching and in the next five or six years, we are really going to make some noise."
Hobbs said that members of the Mancos Wrestling Club will continue competing and practicing throughout the summer.