The Ignacio High School wrestling team will not send a wrestler to the Class 2A state tournament Friday in Pueblo.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 wrestling season was reduced to only seven weeks and dual-format meets only until regionals. Additionally, the state brackets were cut from 16 wrestlers per weight class to eight to accommodate a one-day state tournament instead of the usual three days.
At the 2A Region 1 tournament, the Bobcats had only one placer, as Keaton McCoy took third at 138 pounds despite winning four of five matches.
He earned a pin victory 14 seconds into the second period against Olathe’s Trenton Fletcher in the first round Friday. In the quarterfinals, he beat Meeker’s Kaden Franklin at the second-period buzzer with a pin to get into the semifinals.
But McCoy fell via pin 1:03 into the second period against Mancos’ Ty Everett in the semifinals, and Everett would go on to take second place to clinch his spot at state.
McCoy battled back in the consolation semifinals and the third-place match with hopes for a potential shot to wrestle again for a true second-place match if Everett had been able to win the championship, but it wasn’t to be.
McCoy finished with a 12-5 record after he pinned Cedaredge’s Lucas Hoerr 42 seconds into the second period in the consolation semifinals. He then pinned Jaden Gardner of Lyons 36 seconds into the second period in the third-place match.
None of Ignacio’s five other wrestlers won their first match to wrestle for a chance to place.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
