Log In


Reset Password
Sports Youth Sports Professional Sports More Sports College Sports High School Sports

Three Ignacio High School wrestlers going to state tournament

Appenzeller still undefeated at 138

Three Ignacio High School wrestlers will make the trip to Denver for the state wrestling tournament

Ethan Appenzeller claimed the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A Region 1 tournament championship at 138 pounds to punch his ticket to the Pepsi Center for next week’s tournament. Tyler Beebe also qualified at 132 pounds with a second-place finish at regionals, and a third-place result from Lorenzo “Woody” Peña at 160 pounds also qualified him for the state tournament.

Appenzeller improved to 34-1 this year, and he’s undefeated at 138 pounds with his lone loss coming at 145 to Bayfield’s Ryan Nava.

“He’s had an extremely special season,” IHS head coach Jordan Larsen said of Appenzeller. “He’s been in some battles, but this year he feels like he’s turned the corner. His confidence level has risen a huge amount.”

Appenzeller finished a perfect weekend in Grand Junction with a 4-3 decision win against Aiden Dabal of the combined team of Norwood and Nucla.

Beebe also reached the championship round before falling 4-0 to Case Baughman of Dove Creek.

“It was a tough battle,” Larsen said. “Beebe is looking very good at this point and is fired up and ready to get after it next weekend.”

Peña’s result guaranteed another trip to the Pepsi Center for a family that has made the voyage a habit in February. He earned a 13-3 major decision win in the third place match against Chase Rule of Meeker to advance. He lost in the semifinals to Trenton Armintrout of Norwood/Nucla in the semifinals. Armintrout went on to win first place.

“He was in a good battle with Armintrout, but he’s battling a bad cold and gassed,” Larsen said of Peña. “His lungs weren’t there, and I’ve never seen that from him before, but it was still a great battle. We’re looking forward to getting that cold cleared up, and I believe he’s hoping for a rematch next week. Armintrout is a state runner-up from last year, and Woody knows where he’s at.”

Also placing at regionals but falling just short of qualifying for state was Timothy Plehinger at 152 pounds. He took fifth place by beating Anthony Felice of Paonia with a third-period pin.

Ignacio’s Stocker Robbins, who qualified for state each of the last two years, was unable to compete at regionals with a knee injury and will look ahead to next year.

jlivingston@durangoherald.com

Feb 13, 2016
Four Bayfield wrestlers going to CHSAA state


Reader Comments