Panther wrestlers open season with easy dual win over Shiprock

Panther wrestlers open season with easy dual win over Shiprock

Dec. 2, 2000

BY JIM THOMASJournal Sports Editor

FRESHMAN RYAN MAESTAS, 112-pound wrestler from Montezuma-Cortez High School, takes the high road over Shiprock opponent Jonathan King during the first round of their match. Maestas lost a heartbreaker 6-9. The Panthers, though, won the dual 49-16 in the 2000-01 season opener.

It was a good opening-season match for the Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity wrestling team Thursday night, Nov. 30, in Ron Wright Memorial Gym. The Panthers won the dual 49-16 over Shiprock, N.M.

It was originally scheduled to be the annual Cortez Triangular but San Juan High (Blanding, Utah) was forced to cancel at the last minute.

"It was a very good dual meet," MCHS head coach Mike Allison said. "Cecil Linens does a good job down there and they keep getting better and better. But in looking at my lineup, we are young in spots, but I expected to win the dual. At the same time I thought it was a good early-season high school dual."

Many of the matches went the distance (three full rounds).

"I saw some things we need to work on. I think some of them learned a few things," he added.

One of the most interesting matches was at 140 pounds between Jared Carver and Brandon Bull, both seniors. Bull, who normally is at 135, was moved up while both teams double forfeited at 135.

Carver took Bull down quickly but neither grappler would score again during the opening period. Carver made a reversal but Bull escaped early in the second. Carver quickly recovered and made a reversal and then nearly pinned him to go up 9-1 at the end of the second. Bull made a stand and ended up on top of Carver but he never could turn him over. Carver won 11-1.

Nick Martinez, 145, faced Shiprock’s Nate King and wasn’t so lucky. King took Martinez down to lead 0-2 but was penalized a few minutes later for a slam. Martinez made a reversal to take a 3-2 lead with 1:02 on the clock in the first period. King tied it with a last-second escape. The second period was close all the way through. Martinez took an 8-6 with 23 seconds left. But King came back with a takedown and then nearly pinned Martinez for an 8-12 lead. Martinez seemed to tire in the third and King scored with a takedown and near fall for the final 8-17 score.

Freshman Cade Fox took on Shiprock’s Marcus Smith for another match that went the distance. Fox took Smith down for a 2-0 lead but Smith escaped. A few seconds later Smith scored on a reversal for a 2-3 lead. Smith dominated in the second period and nearly pinned Fox. Smith led 4-8 when the period ended. Fox picked up a point when Smith locked his hands and he escaped but Smith went on to win 6-10.

Tyler Gray, at 125, destroyed Delvin Williams. Gray took Williams and everything went Gray’s way from there. He nearly pinned him three different times and led 9-0 when the period ended. Gray took Williams down again and got Williams in a leg lock. Gray continued to work the lower body with a scizzor. He led 14-2 when the second period ended. Williams knew he was cooked and done and was called for stalling. Gray never could pin him, though. Gray won 18-6.

MCHS frosh Ryan Maestas got his feet wet as he took on Jonathan King. Maestas got in trouble early and then made a reversal for a 2-0 lead with 1:17 to go in the first. King made a reversal with 8 ticks left for a 2-2 tie. In the second, Maestas went out front again with a takedown with 1:08 showing. He led 6-3 at the end of the second. King made an escape and then came back with a takedown to tie it 6-6 at 1:32 left. Maestas got King on his back but Maestas made a mistake and King escaped, scizzored him, stretched him out and then nearly pinned him at the end of the match for a 6-9 win.

Richard Yake, 103, pinned SHS’s Jorge Chee at the 3:46 mark. Lyle Benally, 119, won by forfeit. Cortez’ P.J. James, 152, took Hiram Perhlakai down, headlocked him, and pinned him in 1:29.

Dan O’Neal, 160, took a little time to get going against Shiprock’s Ambrose Lee. Lee took O’Neal down but O’Neal escaped. O’Neal then took Lee down. A few seconds later Lee took O’Neal down but O’Neal escaped. The first period ended in deadlocked at 4. But O’Neal bear hugged took him down and then pinned him.

Cole Allison, 171, won by forfeit. Brad Phillips, 189, pinned in 45 seconds against Shiprock’s Rafert Yellowhorse. Michael LeCompte, 215, led 4-2 after the first period but ran into trouble in the second and was pinned by Shiprock’s Kevin Lee. Cortez’ Elias Lehi quickly pinned Shiprock’s Lamour Tulley in the heavyweight bout.

The Panthers travel to Bayfield on Thursday, Dec. 7, for another dual. Former Aztec (N.M.) High School coaching great Herb Stinson has now taken over the program there. Stinson holds the national record for winning 10 straight state titles and made Aztec High a nationally-ranked powerhouse.

Mancos and Dolores County open the 2000-01 season today, Dec. 2, at the Wolverine Classic in Bayfield. Dolores also opens the season today at the Kirtland-Central Tournament in Kirtland, N.M.