Panthers use down time to get ready

RANGELY I Even though it has been more than two weeks since their last meet, the Panther wrestlers haven’t exactly been taking a break.
“We’re doin’ two-a-days this week, so we’re getting ready,” Rangely coach Jeff LeBleu said.
The Panthers are preparing for this weekend’s regional tournament, which starts Friday night and runs through Saturday in Palisade. The top four individuals from regionals qualify for state.
Last year, Rangely sent a record 11 wrestlers to the state tournament, where they finished seventh as a team.
“I’m hopin’ we beat that record this year,” LeBleu said. “We’ll be close, but if everything falls right, we could take 12.”
As far as the team standings at regionals, it should come down to Rangely and Paonia, LeBleu said.
“The way I figure it, we should meet them in seven or eight of the finals,” LeBleu said. “It’ll be fun. We’re pretty evenly matched with them. It should be a barn burner to the end.”