The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate wrestling team traveled to Florence to compete in the Mel Smith invitational Tournament held at Florence High School on Friday, Jan. 17, and Saturday, Jan. 18.
The Pirates finished 27th out of 30 teams with a team score of 28 points. Cedaredge claimed the top spot in the tournament with a team score of 187 points.
Coach Dan Janowsky explained that the Pirates were missing wrestlers in the 150-pound, 155-pound and 167-pound weight class due to injuries and one wrestler competing in a different tournament.
“We’ve got some injuries that have impacted our varsity lineup,” Janowsky said.
He explained that Colton Lucero competed in the Top of the Rockies tournament held on the same days in Lafayette.
Janowsky mentioned that the team had planned to send Lucero to that tournament since before the start of the season, and noted that the Top of the Rockies has a reputation of being one of the “toughest” tournaments.
Lucero won four matches and lost two on the day, coming up one round short of placing in the 150-pound weight class.
“It was a really good place for him to wrestle,” Janowsky said, even though it hindered the Pirates’ team score at the Mel Smith Invitational.
Lucero won his opening round match with a 5-2 decision, then lost the following match by pin in one minute and 17 seconds.
Lucero then won three straight matches, pinning two opponents and defeating one in a sudden victory. He lost his last match of the day by pin in 2:24.
At the Mel Smith Invitational, Anthony Manzanares earned the highest place of the Pirates in the 106-pound weight class, taking fifth place.
Janowsky commented that he was “really impressed with the bracket itself,” and that “There’s an unusual number of 106-pounders and [Manzanares] is right in the middle of it.”
He added that Manzanares’ physical and mental skills are improving as the season goes on.
“We are progressing,” he added.
Manzanares was able to pin his first two opponents in 2:53 and in 1:26, respectively.
He then lost his third-round match by a major decision of 8-0, sending him to the consolation round-four match, where pinned his opponent in 28 seconds.
Manzanares pinned his opponent in the following round in 2:17, which sent him to the consolation semifinal match, which he lost by a major decision of 11-0. He won his fifth-place match by pinning his opponent in 2:26, earning a total of 21 team points for the Pirates.
Antonio Quezada competed in the 285-pound weight class and earned a total of seven team points on the day.
“He’s wrestling better, too; it’s pretty obvious,” Janowsky said of Quezada.
Quezada lost his opening-round match by pin in 54 seconds, and then received a second-round bye. In his third-round match he pinned his opponent in 2:02, sending him to the consolation round-three match, which he won due to forfeit.
Quezada then lost the following match by pin in 1:51.
Janowsky explained that Quezada built an early lead in his final match, but was unable to come away with the victory.
He explained that they made some “strategic mistakes and rushed some positions that we didn’t need to rush … and it cost us.”
Jonathon Baker competed in the 126-pound weight class, losing two matches on the day by a 17-1 technical fall and being pinned in 2:20.
Stetson Osborn wrestled in the 132-pound weight class and lost two matches after receiving an opening-round bye. Osborn lost his second-round match with a 20-3 technical fall, and was then pinned in the following match in 19 seconds.
Tucker Jacobson competed in the 138-pound weight class and lost his opening-round match by a technical fall of 20-4. He then received a second-round bye and was pinned by his opponent in the third round in 1:39.
Vinny Fish wrestled in the 144-pound weight class and received an opening-round bye. He then lost his second-round match by 15-0 technical fall and was pinned by his next opponent in 2:07.
Jesus Serratos competed in the 215-pound weight class and received an opening-round bye, then lost his second-round match by pin in 2:56.
Serratos then received a third-round bye and lost his fourth-round match by pin in 2:07.
Janowsky mentioned that it’s important for the Pirates to “remain optimistic,” noting that everyone still has the chance to qualify for state at the regional tournament.
“They work hard,” he said. “We’ve just to help ‘em continue to believe and press their attacks.”
Upcoming schedule
Starting Friday, Jan. 24, the Pirates will compete in six duals in a total of four days, Janowsky explained.
The Pirates will travel to Bayfield on Friday to compete in their first Intermountain League dual of the season. Matches are set to begin at 5 p.m.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Pirates will compete in a five-team dual in La Jara at Centauri High School. Matches are set to begin at 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 28, is senior night for the Pirates as they host a dual against Montezuma-Cortez. Matches are set to begin at 5 p.m.
