The Mancos High School wrestling squad found itself in for some tough going Tuesday, Jan. 11, when it hit the mats against the team from Shiprock, N.M., in a dual meet at the old Mancos gymnasium. And the team score reflected the Blue Jay struggle with Shiprock taking a 45-18 win.

Mancos coach Travis Bryant was disappointed with Tuesday’s outcome, but had much praise for his team’s efforts against the larger New Mexico contingent.

"I was hoping to do a little bit better than we did, but that’s the breaks," Bryant said. "We all wrestled tough; we just got caught in some holds. We lost, but we gave it everything we had."

Mid-season attrition has visited the Blue Jay roster with ineligibilities and injuries taking their tolls. Although both teams had gaps in their lineups, the Shiprock team had the edge in sheer numbers and took an easy six point lead at the beginning through forfeitures.

It was not all gloom for the Blue Jays, though. Philip Wilson at 160 scored a fall against Ramon Martin of Shiprock. Jeremiah Muniz won a 3-0 decision over Shiprock’s Brandon Bull in the 125 pound bout. And Scott Koppenhafer, Mancos 130 pounder, decisioned Paxston Buck 5-3. The other Blue Jay points came via a forfeit in the 119 pound class.

Wilson clearly had his opponent outmatched in his 160 pound go round. In the first period he quickly scored on a takedown and finished the first two minutes with a near fall. The second period lasted only 27 seconds. With an escape and a takedown, he extended his lead to 8-0, and he finished Martin off with a pin.

The Muniz and Bull 125 pound bout spelled sweet revenge for the Mancos wrestler. Earlier in the season at a tournament in Shiprock, Muniz lost a decision to the Chieftain.

In the first period, Muniz drew first blood with a takedown, and his two- point lead lasted all the way through the second period. In the final two minutes, Muniz scored an insurance point on an escape .

Koppenhafer spotted Buck two points on a first period takedown and then took the match over in 130 pound bout. An escape and then a takedown put Koppenhafer ahead for good. During the second period, the Blue Jay wrestler scored two on a reversal before giving up a point on an escape.

In other action, David Ausencio was pinned in 1:05 by Jorge Chee of Shiprock in the 103 pound bout. Daniel Wilson lost a 112 pound decision 11-6 to Shiprock’s Billy Bradford.

Mancos got an easy six points in the 119 pound class when Kelly Mitchell went unchallenged.

Nathan Orona, Mancos 135 pounder, suffered a fall against Myron Charlie at 4:40 after falling behind 12-0. And at 140 pounds, Chad Mitchell was pinned by Marvin Frank in 3:36. The 145 and 152 pound bouts went to Garrison Spencer and Ambrose Lee by forfeit.

After scoring on a takedown and then giving up two points on a reversal, Blue Jay Cory Hallam was pinned by Kevin Lee in 1:03 during the 189 pound head to head. Heavyweight Mancos grappler Kevin Shelmer lost by a fall to Phillip Devore in 1:12.

The Blue Jays captured second place at the Nucla Tournament which was held this past Saturday, Jan. 8. It was their second second-place finish of the season. They also took second at the Kirtland-Central Tournament in Kirtland, N.M., back on Dec. 4.

Individually, the Blue Jays did very well. Daniel Wilson, 112 pounds, came in second. Mitchell, 119, grabbed fourth. Muniz, 125, took first. Koppenhafer, 130, also came in first. Phillip Wilson, 160, captured first as well. Josh Seymour, 215, came in fourth. Schlemmer, heavyweight, took second.

The Jays will compete at the annual San Juan Tournament in Blanding, Utah, this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 14-15. Looking ahead, the Jays host Montezuma-Cortez High School JVs in a dual this Tuesday night, Jan. 18. They go back to Blanding for a dual against the Broncos on Jan. 20.

Dolores County and Dolores competed at the Pagosa Springs Tournament last weekend.

Nationally-ranked Aztec, N.M. (13th by USA Today) won easily with 305 points. Durango came in second with 169, Pagosa Springs took third with 122. Bloomfield, N.M., followed with 118.5, Ignacio was next with 115.5, Monte Vista 109.5, Centauri 108.5, Dolores County 86, Monticello, Utah 84, Dolores 59, Del Norte 57.5, Antonito 47.5, Center 36, West Las Vegas, N.M. 35, Bayfield 33, and Pagosa JVs 16.

Dolores County had several placers. Kyle Riddell, 103, captured third. Nick Montgomery, 112, won. Casey Spitzer, 119, captured fifth. Jade Huskey, 135, came in second. Montgomery defeated Aztec’s Dallin King 6-1 in the finals. Huskey lost 2-4 to Durango’s Bryce Weber.

"Individually, we had several good performances," Dolores County head coach Shane Baughman said. "As a team we did not score well because we are missing a lot of weights. But individually, most of them wrestled well all the way through. I was pleased with this tournament because it was the first one since the holiday break. We came in pretty good shape, but we have a lot of room for improvement."

The Bulldogs host a triangular beginning at 6 p.m. today, Jan. 13, at Memorial Gym in Dove Creek. Shiprock, N.M., and Durango JVs will be the opponents. They will travel to Paonia on Saturday, Jan. 15.