Panthers compete at Rifle duals

RANGELY | The Panther wrestling team competed in the Rifle Duals for the first time and Rangely head coach J.C. Chintala said his team wrestled five duals. The Panthers will wrestle in Paonia’s Screaming Eagle tournament Saturday.
“We wrestled in the Rifle Duals, which was a first for us,” coach Chumacero said. “The tournament was well ran, with good mat time for our guys.”
The Panthers were in the same pool as Moffat County, Basalt, Glenwood Springs and Coal Ridge.
“We won our dual against Coal Ridge and went on to wrestle Steamboat Springs from Pool 2, in the final dual of the day,” Coach Chumacero said.
“We had a couple missing due to injury but as a group, this was by far the best tournament we have wrestled,” Chumacero said. “We wrestled with an attitude and that is what I have been waiting for.”
Rangely junior Tytus Coombs (138) went 3-1 during the day at 138 and Zane Varner (145) also finished with a 3-1 record.
“Justin (Rusher) wrestled his best tournament of the year and went 2-1 at 152,” Chumacero said. “He was very aggressive and got back to the Justin we all know.”
Bryon Mackay won a match at 285 and coach Chumacero said Dalton Dembowski (195) and Brent Cantrell (160) did not win a match but “they wrestled well.”
“I’m hoping to be at full force next weekend, as we head to Paonia,” coach Chumacero said. “This is a very tough tournament it’s important, as most of our regional teams will be there. It is a good opportunity to get head to head matches.”