GUNNISON — The trophy stands nearly three-feet tall. It is currently on display in the principal’s office at Mancos High School.

The trophy is for the Blue Jays who finished third place at the Duster Dual Meet Showdown at Gunnison High School on Saturday, Dec. 16.

But they can’t rest on their laurels too long as the Jays host Montezuma-Cortez High School JVs (with some varsity wrestlers thrown in) at 6 p.m. today, Dec. 20, in the Mancos Performance Center. The annual Blue Jay Classic has a night off today but basketball will resume Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 14-16, with varsity action in the Performance Center and JVs in the Old Gym.

"We wrestled like banchees," MHS head coach Travis Bryant reported. "They were just awesome the whole time. They had to be because of how well we did. We dominated most of our matches. Boy, was it a good tournament."

The Jays defeated Grand County (Moab, Utah) 47-32 but lost to host Gunnison 32-47. They dropped into the consolation bracket and beat Conifer 45-30 and then defeated Basalt 42-33 for third place.

"We dominated many matches. We had a lot of pins. I thought we really had a great tournament. If we would have had a few more wrestlers in some our weights we give up, there is no telling how well we could have finished. It was a good tournament for us because we got to see a lot of wrestlers from all over," Bryant added.

Vince Bazile, 103 pounds, won all four of his matches by pins. Anthony Maestas, 112, pinned his way through the tournament for a 4-0 record. Daniel Wilson, 125, finished with a 3-1 mark. Jeremiah Muniz, 130, also went 3-1. Scott Koppenhafer, 145, went 4-0 and was named the Outstanding Wrestler (lower weights).

Mike Montoya, 140, finished with a 4-0 record. Kelly Mitchell, 145, went 3-1 while Jakob Tallent, 152, went 2-2. Philip Wilson, 171, went undefeated at 4-0 while Jeff Roland, 189, went 0-4.

"Right now, we are wrestling very well. I’m pleased with our progress," Bryant added.

Following the dual against MCHS, the Blue Jays will take a few weeks off before returning the mat at the Nucla Tournament on Jan. 6. According to Colorado High School Activity Association rules, coaches can not have contact with their charges between Christmas Eve until after New Year’s Day. The gyms can be left unlocked for the wrestlers to practice on their own, though. But official practices can not be held during that time period.

The Nucla Tournament will be a good opportunity for the Blue Jays to get a good look at perhaps their nearest San Juan Basin League competitor in the Mustangs. Looking ahead, the Jays will compete at the annual Navajo Nations Tournament in Shiprock, N.M., on Jan. 20 and then visit Moab, Utah, for the Grand County Invitational on Jan. 25. They will close out January at the Ignacio Tournament on the 27th and the Bayfield Tournament on the 30th.