Mancos takes second at Bayfield Wrestling Classic

Mancos takes second at Bayfield Wrestling Classic

Dec. 7, 2000

STAFF REPORT

Three out of the four area prep wrestling teams stayed busy over last weekend, Dec. 1-2.

Mancos and Dolores County competed at the Bayfield Wrestling Classic while Dolores visited Kirtland, N.M., for the Kirtland-Central Invitational. Montezuma-Cortez opened the 2000-01 season by hosting Shiprock, N.M., in a dual on Thursday, Nov. 30, which it won easily.

Bayfield, now being coached by former Aztec (N.M.) High School coaching legend Herb Stinson, came away with 230 points and first place in the tourney. Stinson compiled a 445-45-4 record in his 22 seasons at AHS. He won 12 state titles including the last 10 in a row (a new national record). He retired from teaching and decided to take the Bayfield job when it opened up.

The overall team points were Bayfield 230, Mancos 180, San Juan County High (Blanding, Utah) 170, Dolores County 109 and Farmington JVs 84.

Two area wrestlers were chosen as the tournament’s outstanding wrestlers. They were Dolores County’s Casey Spitzer at 125 pounds and Mancos’ Mike Montoya at 140.

Individual awards for the tourney went to Mancos’ Kevin Schlemner, who had the fastest pin of the day, 12 seconds; and Dolores County’s Kyle Riddell, who at 112 pounds won the award for the most pins (four) in the least time.

"It was a good opening meet and did just about what I thought we would do," DCHS head coach Shane Baughman commented. "They didn’t do too badly as a team. I was pleased with Casey and Kyle."

Spitzer finished the day with a 5-0 record. Riddell went 4-0. Matt Beanland, 103, went 3-1. Randy Curtis, 135, went 2-3; Vern Hassell, 140, 3-2; Kyle Krafka, 215, 0-3; Jake Williams, 119, 0-4; Trinity Cressler, 130, 0-3; and Alden James, heavyweight, 0-3.

Three Blue Jays went through the tournament undefeated. Scott Koppenhafer, 135; Mike Montoya, 140; and Philip Wilson, 171, all went 4-0 en route to individual titles.

MHS head coach Travis Bryant reported the team wrestled well for an opening tournament.

Kelly Mitchell, 145, had a good by going 3-1. Scott Yost, 103; Daniel Wilson, 125; Cody Montoya, 130; Jeff Roland, 189; and Schlemmer all went 2-2. Anthony Maestas, 119, finished at 1-3 while Jakob Tallent, 152; and Dave Malinsky, 160, went 0-4. Garrett Barton, 125, and Matt McGuire, 140, also attended the meet.

The Blue Jays head to the Cedaredge Tournament all day this Saturday, Dec. 9. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. with finals set late that afternoon. Other teams participating include Gunnison, Basalt, Hayden, West Grand, Grand County (Moab, Utah), and Sange de Cristo.

Dolores, meanwhile, competed at Kirtland. Four wrestlers placed including Derek Thompson who grabbed first place at heavyweight, Tyler Hicks who took second at 215, Casey Garvin who grabbed second at 189, and Shawn Everett who placed third at 152.

The Bulldogs visited Monticello, Utah, for a dual on Wednesday, Dec. 6, (after deadline). They then head to compete in the Monument Valley Invitational in Kayenta, Ariz., on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9. The Bears compete all day at Sargent (near Monte Vista) on Saturday. The Blue Jays head to the Cedaredge Invitational all day Saturday in Cedaredge. The Panthers, who are coming off a dual win over Shiprock, N.M., on Nov. 30, return to action today, Dec. 7, with a dual at Ignacio.