If anyone had doubts about the Mancos High School wrestling team’s ability to compete at a high level, such doubts were erased by an impressive performance at the Panther Classic wrestling tournament in Farmington on Dec. 16.
Leading the way for the Bluejays during the tournament, which pits teams against one another in dual matches, was 182-pound standout Cameron Fury, who won all five of his matches and scored three pin victories.
Also delivering a stellar performance was 145-pounder Breccen Morelli, who scored pin victories over wrestlers from Whitehorse, Pojoaque, Piedra Vista and Miyaramura and finished 4-1 overall.
Heavyweight Casey Orange also came away with four victories in five matches and 220-pounder Nic Dan won three of five matches and registered pin victories over Whitehorse’s Rex Harvey and Farmington’s Tucker King.
Kaleb Hargraves picked up a pin victory and two forfeit victories in the 195-pound division, Colt Futy won two of his four matches in the 126-pound division, Lot Martin picked up two forfeit victories in the 113-pound division, and 138-pounder Andrew Ruatti registered a forfeit victory.
As a team, Mancos defeated Whitehorse 42-30 and registered a tiebreaker victory over Pojoaque after the final score after matches were recorded was 36-36. Bluejays losses came at the hands of Farmington (69-12), Piedra Vista (54-30), and Miyamura (48-28).
Next up for the Bluejays will be the Pagosa Springs Invitational, which will take place in Pagosa Springs on Jan. 6.