MCHS wrestlers open 2000-01 season tonight at home

MCHS wrestlers open 2000-01 season tonight at home

Nov. 30, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Numbers may down a bit this season, but the Panthers still should have a good wrestling season.

Certainly a big strong point is having a returning state individual champion and several state qualifiers back in the fold. The biggest asset for the team is senior Cole Allison, who went 41-0 last year en route to winning the Class 4A State title at 160 pounds. Allison is one of Colorado’s top wrestlers. However, this year Allison will open at 171.

Coming back with State experience is sophomore Lyle Benally who will be at 119. Junior Tyler Gray competed there and will be at 125. Another veteran wrestler with State experience is Jared Carver at 140.

"Our numbers are down. But the veterans who we have returning plus some good newcomers who want to wrestle, we should do just fine. I’m excited about this group of kids. Some kids are choosing to do other things and that’s good for them. The ones who we have out now are the ones who want to wrestle," MCHS head coach Mike Allison commented.

Sophomore Richard Yake will be at 103 pounds. Yake has some experience at that weight from about the mid-part of last season.

Brian Mason, a freshman, will be at 112. Freshman Cade Fox will be at 130. The Panthers have an open weight at 135. Veteran senior Jared Carver is back at 140. Senior Nick Martinez, who finished fifth at Regionals last year, will be at 145.

Junior P.J. James will be at 152. Veteran senior Dan O’Neal, who placed fifth at Regionals last year, will be at 160. Brandon Phillips will be at 189. Junior Michael McComb will be at 215. Junior Elias Lehi will be a 275.

Others who could break through to the varsity lineup include frosh Cody Allmon at 103, sophomore Ryan Meanie at 112, two-time Regional placer Travis Spruell also could be at 145. Kyle Archibeque could be at 152. Soph Connery Benally will wrestle at 160 this year. Senior Ryan Gray could be at 160 or 171.

Last year Cortez had a good dual team but only a fair tournament team. This year coach Allison looks for his team to do better in tournaments.

"We have a lot of new faces with our veterans. I’m not sure what kind of dual team we will have but we should be a good tournament team. I think we will be better in tournaments, but I haven’t seen a dual yet so I really don’t have a gauge," he added.

They will get that chance immediately as Shiprock, N.M., comes to town beginning at 7 p.m. today, Nov. 30. They were to be joined by San Juan High (Blanding, Utah) for the annual Cortez Triangular which was supposed to start at 5:30. But now it will only be a dual. That will be the last time the Panthers are home until February.

The Panthers will travel to Bayfield for a dual on Dec. 7. They will compete Dec. 8-9 in the Monument Valley Tournament in Kayenta, Ariz., and will be in a dual at Moab, Utah, on Dec. 14. They will travel to the annual Warrior Classic in Grand Junction Dec. 15-16. The 2000 portion of the schedule closes with a dual at Ignacio on Dec. 21.

The 2001 part begins with the Florance Tournament on Jan. 6. They dual at Monticello, Utah, on Jan. 11 and then compete in the Mullen Tournament on Jan. 13. They dual at Southwest League rival Durango on Jan. 18. The Panthers compete in the Rifle Tournament on Jan. 20 and then dual at Grand Junction Central on Jan. 26. They dual twice on Jan. 27 against Fruita-Monument and Delta. At long last they return home to face always-tough Montrose Feb. 2. They host Grand Junction Feb. 3 to close ot the regular season. Regionals is set for Grand Junction Feb. 9-10. The Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament is set for Feb. 15-17 in the Pepsi Center in Denver.

"I’m excited about this year. I think we will have a good team. We have some good wrestlers back. It is too early to predict who will do well at Regionals or State, but I’m sure we will be well represented," Allison added.