Lowest in weight, but not least in motivation, Aven Bourriague copped his first high school wrestling tournament title Saturday as he helped Ignacio place second at Norwood’s 2023 Maverick Invitational.
After receiving a first-round bye at 106 pounds, the freshman finished 3-0 on the day – pinning 4A Palisade JV entrant Hunter Rish 1:19 into the second of three regulation two-minute periods, claiming an injury-default win over 2A Olathe’s Jacob Avila, and ultimately pinning 3A Delta JV freshman Mar Soe with 0:05 left in the second stanza of the division’s championship.
Senior Keaton McCoy and freshman Zane Pontine also placed first at their weights as IHS racked up 118 points at the meet, trailing only 1A Monticello, Utah’s winning 171. 5A Fruita Monument’s JV placed third with 99, 4A Montrose’s JV (93.5) took fourth and 2A Rangely (82) rounded out the standings’ top five.
The hosting Mavs scored 57 points and finished 10th out of 12 teams.
“It was a good tournament for us for sure,” Ignacio head coach Jordan Larsen said via text message, “and (a) good confidence booster for some of the boys.”
McCoy went 4-0 with three pins and a major-decision win at 144 pounds, and capped off his day with a quality second-period stick of Monticello junior Zachary Thayn (a UHSAA State Runner-up in 2022, at 126). Pontine pinned all three of his foes at 132, including Montrose’s Leo Matesevac 1:08 into the third.
Posting a 2-1 record after a 7-0 loss to Monticello senior Joshua Wheeler (a UHSAA State third-placer last season at 132) in the title tilt, IHS freshman Lincoln deKay placed second at 138. Freshman 113-pounder Joshua Kerrigan won his first match, pinning Palisade’s Devlend Jones with 0:03 left in the third period, but then lost four straight tests in placing fourth.
Freshman Dillon Brann went 0-2 at 120 pounds, but sophomore Kendrick Nossaman went 1-3 – beating PHS’ Judah Steele 8-7 in his first match – and placed sixth at 165.
Deciding against traveling to Dove Creek for a quad meet – also reportedly attracting fellow 2A San Juan Basin Leaguers Norwood, Nucla and Dolores, plus nonleague Del Norte – Tuesday eveningesults were unavailable at press time), the ’Cats will next venture west to Page, Arizona, for the 32nd Sand Devil Classic, Jan. 20-21.
