Patrick Cunnion, Hunter Hall, Cameron Jacobs and Matthew Lavengood wrestled their way into the semifinals and are two wins away from becoming regional champions.
The Durango High School wrestling team began competition in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Region 4 tournament Friday in Golden.
“The guys all looked good, but we have more work to do,” DHS head coach John Gurule said.
Cunnion (28-3) and Lavengood (28-3) both needed only one match to reach the semifinals. Both received byes in the first round and earned pin victories in the quarterfinals. Lavengood defeated Leah McCoy of Standley Lake 20 seconds into his 120-pound quarterfinal. Cunnion needed 2 minutes, 57 seconds to pin Standley Lake’s Richard Meisinger III at 182 pounds.
“Patrick came out and took care of business,” Gurule said.
Hall (27-14) also received a bye in the opening round before he earned an 8-0 major decision at 126 pounds against Larry Flores of Glenwood Springs.
Jacobs (17-21) welcomed a bye in the first round before earning a pin win in the 106-pound quarterfinal against Eben Rackett of Standley Lake.
“Cameron came out and got a great win. He wrestled very well, and we’re proud of him getting into the semis,” Gurule said.
Still fighting in the consolation bracket are Tristan Martinez (113 pounds), Austin Counts (132), Cole Gustavson (145), Fernando Garcia (160), David Etz (195) and Joseph Gillen (220).
Henry Dorr (152) was the lone DHS wrestler eliminated Friday. He lost in the quarterfinals via technical fall to Myles Wilson of Glenwood Springs. He then dropped a second-round consolation match to Jack Roy of Dsicovery Canyon via 7-4 decision.
DHS is fifth in the team standings with 44 points. Pueblo South is first with 92.5 points, and Discovery Canyon sits in second with 87 points. Palisade is third with 62, and Glenwood Springs is fourth with 60. Standley Lake is right behind Durango with 60 points, followed by Montrose with 35 points.
The top four placers in each weight class will earn a spot in next week’s Class 4A State Championships at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Those wrestlers will be placed into a 16-man bracket.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
