First-round byes brought mixed results to the Ignacio High School wrestling team Friday at the CHSAA Class 2A Region 1 tournament in Grand Junction.
Eight of the 10 Bobcats wrestlers received byes and six progressed to the semifinals.
Ethan Appenzeller, Tyler Beebe, Josh Gallegos, Blaine Mickey, Iaasic Peña and Stocker Robbins still are alive for regional championships and all 10 Bobcats still are alive to make it to the state tournament.
“The results kind of played out about how I thought they’d play out,” IHS head coach Cody Haga said. “They all wrestled tough. A couple of them had some really tough first-round matches. The four that are on the back side ,they still have a good attitude. They’re pushing for (Saturday). That’s important.”
Wyatt Mickas was pinned 34 seconds into his 106-pound quarterfinal match by Dove Creek’s Colin Hobbs. He received a bye in the first consolation round.
Robbins began his quest to return to the state tournament with a pin of Dolores’ Austin Hackney in the first period of his first round match at 113 pounds. Then the returning state silver medalist pinned Cedaredge’s Wyatt Toothaker with four seconds left in the first period.
Beebe defeated Hayden’s Tate Montieth 18-14 in the quarterfinals at 132 pounds.
Appenzeller handled Hayden’s Tanner Guire 8-2 at 138 pounds.
At 145 pounds, Lorenzo Peña ran into Dolores’ Guy Wallace in the quarterfinals and lost 15-4. His older brother, Iaasic Peña, defeated Zach Anderson of Cedaredge 11-4 at 152 pounds.
Miguel Perez was pinned by Hotchkiss’ Wade Katzdorn with 10 seconds left in the 160-pound quarterfinal match. He received a bye in the second consolation round.
Mickey didn’t wrestle at all at 182 pounds and still qualified for the semifinals with two byes.
Alex Lopez lost his 220-pound quarterfinal 7-5 in sudden victory to Hayden’s Hunter Rummel. He received byes in the second and third consolation rounds.
Gallegos pinned Lebo Armendarez of Hayden with 29 seconds left of their heavyweight quarterfinal.
The top four placers in each weight class will earn a spot in next week’s Class 2A State Championships at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
“The chips fall how they fall,” Haga said. “I tell the boys the true champs come back on the back side. I hope they can make it happen.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
