MCHS wrestlers to have a new beginning

MCHS wrestlers to have a new beginning

November 27, 2001

ELIAS LEHI, A SENIOR on the Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity wrestling team, went to Australia last summer to a tournament Down Under. A heavyweight, Lehi will open the regular season this Thursday when MCHS holds its Cortez Quad Tournament. Lehi (kneeling), who also may get an opportunity to go back to Australia next summer to play football, got financial help from Office Outpost and Cortez Rotary Club. Office Outpost’s Jon Stockdale (second from right) donated $100 and a like amount came from Rotary Club members. Present were Jean Price, Bill Williamson, and Clarke Hubbard.

By Jim Thomas
Journal Sports Editor

A new coaching staff takes over the Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestling program for the 2001-02 season.

Karl McGee, who just wrapped his second season in guiding the MCHS varsity football team, is the new man in the coaching chair. He succeeds six-year coach Mike Allison, who stepped down last spring in order to concentrate on his duties as athletic director at the school. McGee will have a new assistant in Chuck Cotter.

This is McGee’s first experience as being head wrestling coach. He has been an assistant, though, so he brings some experience to the program. Cotter, though, was head wrestling coach at Los Alamos High School in New Mexico. Cotter assisted McGee this past season with football and is the MCHS head baseball coach.

A total of 26 wrestlers are in the wrestling room vying for positions, according to McGee.

"I think we will have a good squad," he said. "Our leaders are Tyler Gray (third place finisher at last year’s State Wrestling Championships), Lyle Benally, and Elias Lehi (state qualifier a year ago)."

At 103 will be have, "a pretty good battle going on in Cody Dennison, Benally, and Owen House. This should be interesting to see who comes out on top. It will be a war each week in the room."

At this time, Ryan Meany, if healthy again, will be at 112. Ryan Mestas could be a factor at this weight.

Gray is the man at 119. "If he wrestles as his full potential, the sky is the limit for him. He has an untapped wealth of knowledge of the sport of wrestling and he has great ability," McGee commented.

At 125 will be Benally. "He looks very smooth in the room right now. He is very strong and athletic. There will be some youngsters who will push him," he added.

Jared Sanders, who sat out last year, is back with the team this season. He will likely be at 130. McGee said Sanders is a little rusty but should return to form.

Ryan Mestas and couple others are likely for 135. There aren’t a lot of wrestlers at or near this weight class and several other middle weights. Ryan Buffington is a candidate at 140.

Veteran Travis Spruell will be at 145. He did not finish the season last year, but did well the season before. "Travis is head-and-shoulders above anybody around. He is a very physical wrestler. We are looking for good things from him."

At 152, will be Andy Spruell or P.J. James. James has varsity experience. Spruell did not wrestle a year ago because of a knee injury. "They have been going after each other hot and heavy. It is going to be a war there," he added.

Several grapplers are vying for the 160-pound spot. Connery Benally, who has varsity experience, is a leading candidate. Dallas Reed could be at 171. Reed may try to wrestle a little light this year but be at this spot.

Michael LeCompt will be at 189. He is moving down from 215 where he wrestled a year ago. Brad Phillips will be at 215. Phillips was at 189 last year.

Elias Lehi, a State qualifier a year ago, will be back at heavyweight at 275.

"It is hard not to spot Lyle and Tyler right now in the room," McGee commented. "They are both so smooth and silky. Andy Spruell has caught my eye and is doing a good job and making good progress. Travis Spruell looks really good. P.J. is battling hard. Those wrestlers who Mike had a year ago know what they are doing in the wrestling room," he said.

The season gets under way with a double dual with the Cortez Quad Tournament this Thursday, Nov. 29, in Ron Wright Memorial Gym. The Panthers will dual Grand County (Moab, Utah) at 4 p.m. while Shiprock meets San Juan County High (Blanding, Utah) on the other mat. Cortez will tangle with San Juan at about 6 p.m. while Shiprock meets Grand County. Cortez and Shiprock will dual at 8 p.m. San Juan and Grand County will meet later in the season and will not dual.

The Panthers take on Bayfield in a home dual on Dec. 6. The Panthers will then head to Kayenta, Ariz., for the Monument Valley Tournament Dec. 7-8. Just before Christmas, the Panthers will go to the always-tough Warrior Classic at Central of Grand Junction High School. They will also host Ignacio in a dual on Dec. 20 before the break.

Returning following the holidays, Cortez will go to the Florence Tournament Jan. 5. It will dual Monticello, Utah, at home on Jan. 10. The Mullen Tournament is on tap on Jan. 19. The Panthers begin Southwest League duels with the first being Durango at home on Jan. 24. They go to the Rifle Tournament on Jan. 26. Then it is back to SWL duels with Montrose on Feb. 1, Grand Junction High Feb. 2, and then home to Central of Grand Junction Feb. 8 and Fruita-Monument Feb. 9.

Regionals is set for Montrose Feb. 15-16 and the Class 4A State Wrestling Championships is slated Feb. 21-23 in the Denver Pepsi Center.