Panthers win dual on Friday, tournament on Saturday: Home cooking suits Rangely wrestlers

RANGELY — The Rangely wrestling team was home for the first time this season last Friday and Saturday.
On Friday the Panthers hosted the Duchesne Eagles. Rangely won the dual easily and won all but two matches and gave away one forfeit.
The final score was Rangely 51, Duchesne 16.
At 103 Chance Peters was defeated 14-5, at 112 Ryan Petty won by a pin, at 119 Blake Wanstedt won in overtime 9-7 to last year’s Utah state runner-up, at 125 Devon Rose defeated his opponent 6-1 also a Utah runner-up, at 130 JC Chumacero defeated his opponent 8-2, at 135 Cole Barlow won by a pin as did Travis Witherell at 140, at 145 Ryan Cramer defeated his opponent 9-4, at 152 Christian Holcomb won by a pin, at 160 Keane Raley won a close match 9-8, Rangely forfeited at 171 and at 189 first year wrestler Bo Armstrong was pinned by the defending Utah state champ. Armstrong is improving his technique every day and will get better as time goes on.
At 215 “Butterbean Dillon” won by a pin and at heavyweight Kindal Cushman won by a forfeit.
In exhibition matches at 103 Chad Petersen lost by a pin, at 135 Brandon Gray won by a pin, at 140 Zakk Wenzel also won by a pin, and at heavyweight Kindal Cushman won 13-12.
On Saturday the Panthers hosted their own tournament with 12 teams attending.
The Panthers had another outstanding showing pushing nine wrestlers into the championship finals and two into the consolation finals.
Every Rangely wrestler won at least one match on the day.
At 103 Chance Peters was one match away from the medal round, at 103 Chad Petersen went 2-2, at 112 Ryan Petty went 3-1 for a third place finish, at 119 Blake Wanstedt advanced to the finals before he was defeated 14-8, at 125 Devon Rose advanced to the finals and easily won the match 10-1, at 130 JC Chumacero advanced to the finals but was defeated 10-2, at 135 Cole Barlow advanced into the finals match but was defeated 10-2, also at 135 Brandon Gray lost his match for a fourth place finish.
At 140 Travis Witherell got Rangely back on the winning side and defeated his opponent 8-3, at 145 Ryan Cramer pinned his way to the championship as did Christian Holcomb at 152, Jake Smith was one match away from the medal round at 152, and at 160 Keane Raley was injured after his second match and was unable to continue to wrestle.
At 189 Bo Armstrong won a match but did not place, at 215 Butterbean advanced to the finals where he lost in overtime 3-1, and at heavyweight Kindal Cushman pinned his way to his first high school championship.
The team has set some goals this season and right now they are on a mission to reach these goals.
The top five team standings: first, Rangely 249; second, Hayden 165; third, Duchesne 155; fourth, Coal Ridge 134; and fifth, Cedaredge 99.
This week we will travel to West Grand for the league tournament. Wrestling starts at 10 a.m. The coaching staff would like to thank all the volunteers who donated their time to make this another successful tournament, and all the parents and coaches’ wives for the best hospitality room in the state.