RANGELY | The Rangely wrestling team was idle in the final week of the regular season but Panther head coach J.C. Chumacero said the team is ready to compete in the state-qualifying regional tournament, starting Friday in Montrose.
“We are healthy and seem mentally prepared,” coach Chumacero said. “We train all season for this weekend, so I am very excited to see these young men go to battle in what is always a very competitive region.”
Rangely will be represented by five freshman and three juniors, with junior Tytus Coombs the only Panther to qualify for state last year. Coombs is currently ranked No. 8 in 2A at 138 lbs. by On the Mat Rankings.
Freshman Braxton Moore (106), Zane Varner (145), Brent Cantrell (160), Dontea Pearce (170) and Bryon Mackay (285) will all wrestle in their first regional tournament of their high school careers. Junior Justin Rusher (152) was injured his freshman and sophomore year, so this will also be his first regional wrestling tournament. Classmate Dalton Dembowski will wrestle in his second, competing in the 195-pound bracket.
Two rounds will be wrestled Friday, starting at 4 p.m., then completed Saturday, where the top four placers in each weight will advance to the 2019 Colorado State Wrestling Championships, held in the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver the following week.
By Bobby Gutierrez | Special to the Herald Times
