Panthers crown two champs

RANGELY I Almost half the the Panther wrestling team did not compete last weekend because of illness but four of the five who did wrestle placed in the top three, including two individual champions.
“We had four wrestlers out because they were under the weather,” head coach Jeff Heinle said. Taran Smedly, Ryan Barlow, Colton Coombs and Drew Collins did not wrestle last in Steamboat but Lucas Heinle, Ethan Allred, Heath Peters, Caleb Lawson and Josh Bolding did.
Heinle and Allred both won championship matches, while Peters and Lawson finished as consolation champs.
“We looked really good for the most part, executing when it counted and finishing moves,” coach Heinle said. “We had a few moments though where we got caught off guard, costing us points and ended up costing us the match.”
“Josh wrestled varsity at 160 and had some good matches but came up just a little short,” Heinle said. “Josh was so close to winning two of his three matches against tough kids from Steamboat and Summit.”
The Panthers will dual Rifle this Friday and compete in a tournament at Grand Junction High School this Saturday.
Coach Heinle said he hopes to have all his wrestlers healthy for this weekend.