Continuing to establish a reputation as one of the toughest teams in Colorado’s 2A classification, the Mancos High School wrestling team competed in the Norwood Maverick Invitational Tournament last Saturday and won the nine-team tournament.
Mancos finished first in the team standings with 130.5 points, Hotchkiss was second with 126 points, and Montrose was third with 99 points. Nine teams competed in the one-day tournament.
Among the most impressive performers for the Bluejays was Carter Galloway, who won the 113-pound division with pin victories over Olathe’s Max Johnson, Nucla’s Marley Martinez and Nucla’s Kyle Short.
Sophomore Chase Moore also walked away with an individual title at 160 pounds after pinning Olathe’s Jordan Perez, Montezuma-Cortez’s Casen Allmon, Nucla’s Tim Helkey and Hotchkiss’ Ethan Guy.
Ty Everett rounded out Mancos’ individual title winners with an impressive performance in the 138-pound division that featured pin victories over Montrose’s Tristen Diaz, Olathe’s Chase Ripley, and an 8-7 decision win over Norwood’s Brayden Maggalon in the championship match.
Trevor Paquin finished second in the 126-pound division after he pinned Olathe’s Miguel Rodriguez and Montrose’s Gracey Davis before being pinned by Montezuma-Cortez’s Austin Featherman in the division’s championship match.
Third-place winners for the Bluejays included Ayden Matthews, who finished 3-1 in the 120-pound division; Breccen Morelli, who finished 4-1 in the 145-pound division; and Colt Fury, who finished 3-1 in the 152-pound division.
Lot Martin, who finished 2-2 at 152 pounds, Jake Lewis finished 1-2 while at 106 pounds, Braiden Miera finished 1-3 at 145 pounds, Andrew Ruatti finished 0-2 at 145-pounds, William Small finished 0-3 at 182 pounds, and Benny Lewis finished 0-4 at 220 pounds.
Next up for Mancos will be a trip to Paonia on Jan. 25 to compete in the Screaming Eagle Invitational.
