Panthers return two state qualifiers

RANGELY I Although tournament competition will not begin until next month, practice for winter sports, including wrestling in Rangely, started more than a week ago.
Second-year head coach Jeff Heinle said nine wrestlers are out for the team, including two returning state qualifiers and several with varsity experience.
“We have some solid kids coming back, and they should fare well,” Coach Heinle said.
The Panthers will be led by three seniors, including Coach Heinle’s son Lucas, Ryan Wilzcek and Taran Smedley. Lucas Heinle has qualified for the state tournament three times and has placed once.
Rangely’s other wrestler with state experience is junior Ethan Allred, who qualified for the Big Show last year and won a match in the Pepsi Center.
Juniors Heath Peters and Caleb Lawson will also return to the team with varsity experience, along with sophomores Kiki Ruiz and Ryan Barrow. Nick Deleon is the only freshman out.
Travis Witherell, who won an individual state title as a senior in 2010 while wrestling for the Panthers, will assist Coach Heinle, and veteran coach Claude Rose will be a volunteer assistant coach again this season.
The Panthers open the season at the Colorado Mesa University duals in Grand Junction on Dec. 6.