The state wrestling championships got underway Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver, and a few wrestlers from La Plata County kept their championship hopes alive.
Two Bayfield Wolverines and one Ignacio Bobcat won their first-round matches to advance to the quarterfinals. The Durango boys, meanwhile, were scheduled to compete in the evening session Thursday after press time.
Bayfield junior Keaton Pickering started the Class 3A tournament strong, scoring a 10-2 major decision against Grant Slinkard of Resurrection Christian. Pickering, who improved to 33-8 with the win, will next face Talon Kibler of Gunnison (10-11) in the quarterfinals Friday. Kibler knocked off the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Aiden Young of Sterling, 4-0, in the first round.
BHS senior Deegan Barnes also got off to a strong start and pinned Isaac Valencia of Rifle in 2:31 to advance. Barnes (35-8) will take on Paxton Daggett of University (43-2) in the quarters.
Ignacio senior Faye Hackett didn’t waste any time in her first-round match at 130 pounds. Hackett pinned Naveah Nomura of Mesa Ridge in just 1:33, advancing to the quarterfinals against Samantha White of Broomfield (12-7). Hackett improved to 25-3 with her win.
The county’s other seven wrestlers who competed in the opening session on Thursday, however, came up short.
BHS freshman Zayden Cundiff (25-16) got pinned by Miles Harris of Gunnison at 138 pounds. He’ll face Tanner Ludgate of Brush (26-11) next.
BHS junior Jordan Cundiff (20-14) took on Ryder True of Eaton at 285, but got pinned in 2:56. He’ll next wrestle Caleb Van Meter of Mullen (19-14).
In the 2A boys championships, Ignacio freshman Aven Bourriague (14-13) lost to Trevor Platt of Olathe, 12-4, at 106 pounds.
Ignacio freshman Lincoln deKay (18-17) took on Dillon Buford of Crowley County at 138, but got pinned in 1:45.
Bourriague will next face Devin Saenz of Cedaredge (27-16) while deKay will take on Ty Michael of County Line (28-8).
Freshman Hana Maletich of Durango High School took on Elisha Allen of Arvada in the first round of the girls’ tournament. The match went to the third period, but Allen was able to pin Maletich in 4:47 to advance.
Maletich, who is now 30-13 overall, will next face Haley Scofield of La Junta (12-11) in the consolation first round Friday.
Senior Gracie Patton of Bayfield (11-8) also lost her first-round match at 190, getting pinned with one second left in the first period by Ezry Bonomo of Poudre.
Also wrestling at 190, freshman Larissa Espinosa of Ignacio (8-13) had to take on the No. 1 seed, Blythe Cayko of Eaglecrest, and was pinned in the first period.
Patton will next face Abby Stearns of Loveland (13-16), while Espinosa will take on Taryn Holloway of Vista Peak (18-11).
