Although the scoreboard wasn’t indicative of it, the Durango High School boys wrestling team dominated its tri against Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central on Thursday, sending its four seniors off in style on senior night.
The Demons beat Grand Junction Central, 53-24, but lost to Grand Junction, 42-30. Despite the 1-1 record in the tri, the Demons won 12 out of 15 matches that weren’t forfeits. Grand Junction scored 24 of its 42 points in weight classes the Tigers won on forfeits, without Durango wrestlers available to wrestle at those weights.
It was a nice send-off at home for the four Durango seniors, Jacob Belt, Asher Thiessen, Mikael Hofman and Dylan Begay. Durango head coach Jason Silva and assistant coach Randy Griswold said they’ll remember this senior group for their growth since their freshman year and their fun attitudes.
“As a team, we competed well,” Silva said. “Like I’ve been saying all season, they’re implementing and improving. They’re getting 1% better every day. The biggest thing I'm impressed about is we’re peeking at the right time … they’re focusing on what they can control.”
In the past, Silva has seen some of his wrestlers get burned out before the end of the season. This year, he’s changed up the practice schedule and really pays attention to the team’s vibe. If the boys are lagging a little bit, Silva will mix it up with something fun like Jungle Ball.
The Demons started the night against Grand Junction. At 120 pounds, sophomore Wesley Megorden pinned Grand Junction’s Yhael Anguiano. Junior Isiah Aguilar also pinned Jaxon Paiz from Grand Junction at 126. At 132, sophomore Cash Silva defeated Issac Mendoza from Grand Junction, 11-0.
Sophomore Ryder Martyn won 17-0 over Grand Junction’s Kennan McCloud at 138.
“A big part of it was definitely the preparation,” Martyn said. “Especially having a dual at the end of the day, trying to make weight all day. But especially for this dual, I figured out how to do that properly without getting tired. I guess it paid off in my wrestling.”
Martyn is feeling confident about how his technique is at this point of the season. He wants to improve on his fifth-place finish at state last season. Martyn is working out in the morning and is visualizing his goal.
Thiessen pinned Grand Junction’s Rhett Kempton at 144. Belt beat Grand Junction’s Mason Fresquez, 5-2.
“It was good; it felt good to have the last home dual,” Thiessen said. “I had two pins, and the first one was a little more exciting … We had a good week in practice this week. The team is peaking at a good time.”
Some of Thiessen’s favorite memories were at state last season, hanging out, playing video games and competing with Martyn, Belt and the rest of the Demons.
Megorden got things started with a pin over Grand Junction Central’s Sheldon Archuleta at 120. Augilar followed that up with a pin in less than a minute against Grand Junction Central’s Atreyu Martinez at 126. Cash beat the Warriors’ Zane Hutto, 16-0, at 132.
Martyn pinned Grand Junction Central’s Leo Fahmey Clark at 138 before Thiessen pinned the Warriors’ Brennen Marshall in less than a minute at 144. Belt finished things off with a pin against Grand Junction Central’s Paul Broussard at 175.
“I could have wrestled smarter, at least in my second match, I've got a knock on my head and arm,” Belt said. “But other than that, I wrestled really well and was able to come back the second match. In the first match, I just controlled the match the whole time and scored the whole time.”
Belt said he has a tendency to be on his back in the first period and then needs to come back after that. He knows with state coming up, there will be close matches, and he won’t win those matches if he’s down seven early.
After going to state last season as a junior, Belt realized he could compete against kids he thought were better than him. This year, he wants to place for his older brothers, Ben and Riley, who both made it to state, but didn’t place. Belt’s very confident he will place this year, but wants to wrestle as best he can in his last season as part of a Demon senior group he loves a lot.
“The best thing I can say about this team is we make good wrestlers and good people,” Belt said.
Durango will compete in the Duff Seaney Invitational in Canon City on Saturday.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
