Still missing football players, the Durango High School wrestling team took a mixed lineup to Bloomfield for the first meet of the year.

The Demons fell 42-30 to the Bobcats of New Mexico after having to forfeit at five of the 14 weight classes.

“We did some good wrestling,” DHS first-year head coach Leo Garand said. “We have a lot of green kids out and we’re still missing the football players who haven’t gotten their five days of practice in yet, and they would’ve helped the lineup. Those forfeits contributed to the outcome.”

Durango came up with wins from Cameron Jacobs at 132 pounds and Cordell Schneider at 220 pounds.

Jacobs earned a pin with 1 second left in the second period, and Schenider also earned a pin in the third period.

Garand also commended the wrestling of freshman Paul Smagacz in his first career match for the Demons. He was pinned late in the second period in his 106-pound match, but Garand was pleased with what he saw.

“We had guys out of their weight classes a bit trying to get guys matches,” Garand said. “Our fundamentals looked good, and we’ve come a long way. Now we’re gonna build from here going into Flagstaff this weekend. We will probably see five of Arizona’s best teams at that big tournament this weekend.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com