Mancos wrestlers take fifth at Navajo Nation Invitational Tournament

Mancos wrestlers take fifth at Navajo Nation Invitational Tournament

Jan. 16, 2001

KEVIN SCHLEMMER (left) of the Mancos High School wrestling team ponders his next move against a Red Mesa, Ariz., opponent during action at the annual Navajo Nation Invitational Wrestling Tournament at Shiprock High School on Saturday. Schlemmer made a fireman’s carry and then dropped the RMHS wrestler to the mat and pinned him a few seconds later. The Blue Jays finished fifth at the tournament.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

SHIPROCK, N.M. — Had they not had so many bys in the first round of the annual Navajo Nation Invitational Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 13, Mancos might have scored more points.

"We just got too many bys," MHS head coach Travis Bryant said between matches. "We needed the matches. You can’t score points when you get bys and it doesn’t do the wrestlers much good."

Mancos happened to draw several Montezuma-Cortez High School JV wrestlers in the first round. MCHS was a no-show. In fact, several other teams were a no-show because of the snow which covered the Four Corners Area Friday night, Jan. 12.

"This usually is a good tournament. But it is not as good this year," he added.

Kirtland-Central won the team competition with 242 points. Ignacio came in second with 216, followed by Aztec JVs (N.M.) 201, Shiprock 150, Mancos 148, Espanola (N.M.) 119, Chinle (Ariz.) 73, Grants (N.M.) 64, Albuquerque-Valley 63.5, and Farmington JV 63.5, K-C JV 49.5, Navajo Prep 28, Bloomfield JVs (N.M.) 26. 5, Piedra Vista (Farmington) 21, and Newcomb 12.

Six Kirtland wrestlers muscled their way to the final round, four winning the final matches. Kirtland's Marcus Young (103 pounds), Brian Bond (145 pounds), Jake Collins (152 pounds) and Daniel Sloan (189 pounds) emerged victorious. Kirtland's Louis Garcia and Ryan Stock lost by a default and a 5-4 decision, respectively.

Kirtland's 189-pounder Daniel Sloan and Ganado's 125-pounder Sam Cornfield were awarded the outstanding wrestlers.

For Mancos, Scott Koppenhafer won by default over a Kirtland-Central wrestler for the championship at 135 pounds. At 103, Vince Bazile lost 2-8 to a K-C competitor to settle for second. Also settling for second was Philip Wilson at 160. Wilson lost a heartbreaker 10-15 by an Espanola grappler.

Montezuma-Cortez High School placed sixth at the Mullen Tournament in Denver. Windsor won the tourney with 125 while Canon City was a close second at 124.5 and host Mullen third 123. Fort Morgan placed fourth with 112 while Liberty took fifth at 109 and MCHS sixth at 106.5. Rounding out the field were Kennedy at 51.5, Alameda 42, and Chaparral 25.5.

In the championship round, Tyler Gray captured first place at 119 with a 14-4 decision over a Fort Morgan grappler. Cole Allison, 171, took first with a 16-0 superior decision over a Canon City wrestler. Elias Lehi, heavyweight, lost by fall in 1:41 to grab second place.

In the consolation finals, Richard Yake (103) came in third with a 12-7 decision over a Canon City competitor. Lyle Benally (112) came in fourth after dropping a 2-9 count to a Windsor wrestler. Nick Martinez (145) took third with a pin over a Kennedy wrestler in 3:59.

"It was a well balanced tournament," MCHS head coach Mike Allison commented. "There were a lot of quality teams and a lot of quality wrestlers. We wound up with six placers in the tournament which is pretty good considering the competition. We wrestled some great bouts and we wrestled not-so-great bouts. But for the most part I thought we were pretty consistent."