Panthers end regular season in Fruita

RANGELY — The Panther wrestling team traveled to Fruita to wrestle its last dual of the season last Tuesday.
“I promised all the sub-varsity wrestlers they would get the matches before the varsity team would,” head coach Jeff LeBleu said. “We did not wrestle well but it was expected, going up against all but three of Fruita’s varsity.”
The Panthers lost the dual 39-23. Wrestling for the Panthers were Devon Rose Chad Petersen, Blake Wanstedt, Stephan Boleng, Zakk Wenzel, Logan Osborne, Cole Barlow, Travis Witherell, Ryan Cramer, Keane Raley, Levin Boulger, Mike Dillon and Ralph Carabajal.
“This week is the week we have been wrestling for, as we head to the regional tournament in Grand Junction,” LeBleu said. The top four placers in each weight will qualify for the state tournament in Denver starting Feb. 21 at the Pepsi Center.
The Panthers are currently ranked fifth as a team and have several wrestlers ranked. At 103, Rose is ranked second, Boleng ranked third at 125, at 135 Travis Witherell ranked second, Christian Holcomb ranked fourth at 152 and Nick Halcomb is ranked second at 171. Ryan Petty, J.C. Chumacero, Barlow, Cramer, Raley and Carabajal are all ranked in the top 15.
“We are getting healthy and should be at full strength for the tournament,” LeBleu said.