The Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestling team started 2012 last Saturday at the Montrose Indian Invitational.
Levi Gross, Ryan Daves, Seager Oliver and Trenton Gustafson all placed top-five at 113, 126, 152 and 182 pounds, respectively.
Daves, a junior, placed second with a 2-1 mark. He pinned Matt Sandoval, of Montrose, and won a 4-2 decision over Jacob Solseth of Olathe. Daves lost a tough 6-4 decision to Palisades Justin Ray.
Oliver took third at 132 pounds by winning three straight matches after getting pinned by Nuclas Tray Sickles the first match. The M-CHS freshman came back to pin Eli Chavez, of Palisade, decision Paonias Jorge Quinonez 6-4, and then pin Hunter Brasfield of Delta.
Gustafson also went 3-1 with each match resulting in a pin. The junior took care of Grand Junctions Jonny Pauli (twice) and Chris Ray of Nucla. Gustafson fell to Morgan Reider of Paonia.
Gross had one of his better outings, going 2-2 to take fourth-place. He pinned James Wilkerson and Tyler Montoya of Nucla and Pueblo West. But was pinned by Trenton Piatt and Jeff Christeleit from Olathe and Grand Junction.
Justice Ramos was 0-2 at 132 pounds. He lost by pin to Erik Romero of Pueblo West and fell by a 15-3 major decision to Tyson Cordova of Delta.
The Panthers will wrestle at the Palisade High School tournament on Saturday at 9 a.m.
See Saturdays Journal for a full recap of Wednesday nights home dual against Durango.
