RANGELY I The Rangely Middle School wrestling team placed several wrestlers within the top four at Oak Creek on Saturday, and the young grapplers will host the Northwest Colorado League Championship tournament on Saturday at the Rangely Junior/Senior High School.
“It sounds good to say (that) all but two Panther wrestlers placed in the top four, but honestly, we did not wrestle good all day,” RMS coach Jeff LeBleu said. “I don’t know if it was the early trip or what, but we have some simple things to get worked out in the room this week.”
Tytus Coombs was Rangely’s lone champion, and Coach LeBleu said Justin Rusher “wrestled well” and placed second in the 120-pound bracket.
Dontea Pearce got on the medal stand for the first time this year, placing fourth, as did Zane Varner, Hunter Hanvey and heavyweight Dalton Dembowski. Brennan Dodd won his first medal of the season, placing fourth, and his twin brother won a match, was close in two others but did not place. Nor did Brent Cantrell, although coach LeBleu said, “He wrestled one of his best matches of the season,” in the 145-pound bracket.
The annual league tournament will start at 9 a.m.
