IGNACIO
Friday night’s wrestling duals served as an appetizer more than anything for Bayfield and Ignacio High School.
The Bobcats defeated Rangely 26-24 and Bayfield 34-11 in dual matches ahead of their Butch Melton Invitational on Saturday at IHS.
Heath Peters of Rangely opened the evening by pinning the Bobcats’ Colton Logan with 33 seconds remaining in the first period of their 132-pound bout.
Lorenzo Peña handled the Panthers’ Kiki Ruiz 15-0 at 152 pounds for a technical fall with 1 minute, 16 seconds remaining in the third period. He nearly scored a pin late in the second period, but time ran out just as he was finishing his move.
Lucas Heinle pinned the Bobcats’ Timmy Plehinger at 145 pounds with 1:44 left in the second period.
Miguel Perez ended the competitive matches in that dual by defeating the Panthers’ Kaleb Lawson 11-6 at 152 pounds.
The Bobcats turned around quickly to wrestle BHS 10 minutes later in a brief dual.
Ethan Appenzeller pinned the Wolverines’ Taylor Winch at 113 pounds 1:12 into the first period.
Cash Snooks pinned Logan with 56 seconds remaining in the 132-pound match after leading 10-2 through two periods.
“He was really strong,” said Snooks, son of Kristin and Michael Snooks. “I’m a first-year wrestler, so I don’t really know the moves, I don’t really know the technique. I just go with what happens.”
Colter McMenimen continued his return to form in his return from injury by defeating Peña 16-1 for a technical fall victory at 138 pounds with 16.2 seconds remaining.
“He’s real strong on top, and I couldn’t really do anything on bottom,” said Peña, son of Mossy and Shasta Peña. “I was just trying my best out there.”
Plehinger led Gus Roberts 7-2 after two periods, then outscored him 6-2 in the third to claim a major decision at 145 pounds.
“We started morning practices this week so the boys are sore and tired,” IHS rookie head coach Cody Haga said. “It was a good couple of duals.”
BHS also wrestled three exhibition matches against Rangely after its dual with Ignacio: Peters pinned Winch with 1:20 remaining in the third period of their 132-pound match; Snooks scored his second pin of the night against Ruiz after just 58 seconds had passed; Henley pinned Roberts with 1:15 remaining in the second period to end the evening’s competition.
“It’s about mat time at this point,” BHS head coach Todd McMenimen said. “None of these matches matter preparing for regionals. That’s what we’re building toward.”
Both BHS and IHS will compete in the Bobcats’ Butch Melton Invitational, which will start at 9 a.m. Saturday and will feature 12 teams in a round-robin tournament.
“We’re trying to get the boys as many matches as possible,” Haga said. “Their goal in the back of their head is to perform well at regionals.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
