Panther wrestlers to see lots of action

RANGELY I It’s going to be a busy weekend for the Panther wrestlers.
Rangely will have its first home match tonight against Grand Valley, starting at 6.
Then, the Panthers will compete at dual team tournaments Friday at Roosevelt, Utah, and Saturday at Mesa State in Grand Junction.
“We get 11 duals this week,” said coach Jeff LeBleu. “That’s what we did last year, and they loved it. They thought it was great. It will get us in wrestling shape, for one thing.”
The Panthers opened the season last Saturday at Hotchkiss and finished third in the team scoring, behind Olathe and Paonia.
“It was a pretty good showing,” LeBleu said, “outside of a couple of things we need to work on. And we need to get into shape. Other than that, I was real pleased with how we wrestled.”
Devon Rose won at 130 pounds, and Cole Barlow and Travis Witherell were second at 140 and 145 pounds, respectively. JC Chumacero was third at 125, as were Brandon Gray and Mike Dillon at 152 and 215 pounds.
Chad Peterson was fourth at 112, while Blake Wanstedt and Bo Armstrong were fifth at 119 and 189 pounds. Chance Peters was sixth at 119, and Zakk Wenzel was sixth at 140.
The Panthers had four seniors — Rose, Witherell, Chumacero and Dillon — wrestle last weekend, but were minus three wrestlers for various reasons.
Still, LeBleu likes this year’s Rangely team.
“I can tell you right now, it will be a two-team race, us and Paonia,” LeBleu said. “The only bad thing is I may lose my 152-pounder (Brandon Gray), because he might be moving. Boy, that would hurt. I’m trying to keep him here.”