RHS Panthers place six wrestlers

RANGELY I With only half of the 14 varsity weights filled last Saturday in Oak Creek, the Panther wrestling team placed six of its seven varsity wrestlers in the top three, including one champion, and placed fourth as a team in the Soroco Invitational.
“We wrestled extremely well this weekend for only being the second week of competition,” head coach Jeff Heinle said. “We are making a few little mistakes that have cost us some points and matches but I’m not too worried about them right now, as the season is early and regionals are a long ways away.”
Lucas Heinle was the only wrestler to win a championship for the Panthers, winning the 152-pound bracket.
Heath Peters (113), Colton Coombs (160) and Ethan Allred (170) all advanced the the championship match in their respective weights and all finished as runners-up. Allred wrestled won four of five matches in a six-man round robin.
Taran Smedley, wrestling JV at 126 and varsity wrestler Caleb Lawson (145) both finished as consolation champions.
Ryan Barlow (132), Jesse Odom (145), Josh Bolding (160) and Michael Parker (220) all wrestled in Oak Creek but did not place.
“We just need to fix one thing at a time and all will be in when it counts,” Heinle said. “Ryan and Josh are wrestling a lot better than their record reflects and Michael is showing improvement and heart and Jesse is right there also.”
Coach Heinle is hoping to gain two more varsity wrestlers for this weekend’s tournament in Kremmling.
“We will be competing in the West Grand tournament on Dec. 15 and we are hoping to have a couple more wrestlers on the roster, with JoD Stults (120) and Drew Collins (195),” Heinle said. “If we look anything like we did at Soroco we are going to have a good day of wrestling.”