Little Panthers wrestle in Rifle youth tournament

RANGELY I Twenty-nine youth wrestlers from Rangely competed in Rifle on Friday; 19 placed in the top four and one champion earned a sportsmanship award.
Carmella Fortunato, age 4, wrestled in her first tournament and not only won the gold medal in her bracket, she was awarded the sportsmanship trophy in her age division.
“Ella did amazing, I just want to say that all the Panthers did an amazing job,” coach Andy Lucero said. “Overall, I think the wrestlers are doing a great job and I also want to say thanks to the coaches who helped out in Rifle.”
Fortunato, Jaden Heredia, Anthony Dorris, Marcos Quintana and Tytus Coombs all won their brackets and gold medals.
Kamden Williams, Clay Allred, Anders Jonsson, Karver Lamoreauy and Luis Quintana were all runners-up. Tyce Lucer, Landon Carlson, Kasen LeBleu, Zane Varner and Byron Mackay all finished as consolation champs in their brackets, while Landon Williams, Bryce Willis and Darmen Maybury each placed fourth.
Braydin Karschner, Kobey Chism, Caleb Shriver, Douglas Slack, Andrew Slack, Jeffrey Slack, Wyatt Zufelt, Tim Stieb, Dontea Pearce and Matthew Countryman, also wrestled in Rifle but did not place.
“The team will be in Moffat County on Saturday,” coach Lucero said. “So, rest up wrestlers.”