The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate wrestling team hosted its second Intermountain League dual of the season on Saturday, Feb. 1, against Alamosa.
The Pirates lost by a team score of 45-28, with Alamosa earning a total of 24 points due to Pagosa forfeits in the 113-pound, 126-pound, 165-pound and 190-pound weight classes.
The Pirates earned six points due to an Alamosa forfeit in the 215-pound weight class, and were also awarded one point for a technical violation by Alamosa in the 190-pound forfeit.
There was a double forfeit in the 144-pound weight class.
Despite the team score, coach Dan Janowsky mentioned that “it was a good experience for us in our preparation for the regional tournament.”
Janowsky noted that outside of the forfeited matches on the day, the Pirates split the remaining eight matches with Alamosa, winning four.
Antonio Quezada was the first winning Pirate on the day, pinning his opponent in the 285-pound weight class in one minute, 56 seconds, earning six team points.
Janowsky noted that Anthony Manzanares “had a very, very good wrestle” in the 106-pound weight class, even though he was pinned in 3:50.
Janowsky commented that Manzanares was able to score points in some new positions.
“We’re gonna keep getting better,” he added. “It was good wrestling for sure.”
Stetson Osborn wrestled in the 132-pound weight class and pinned his opponent in 3:57, earning six team points.
Janowsky mentioned that Hudson Mazur’s match in the 138-pound weight class was “another highly competitive match.” Mazur was defeated by his opponent by a decision of 8-5.
Janowsky explained that Mazur was “in it all the way to the end,” noting that he was looking for a takedown in the waning seconds to send the match into overtime.
Taylor Hancey returned to the Pirates’ lineup for the first time since early January, wrestling in the 175-pound weight class. Hancey pinned his opponent in 1:38, earning six points for Pagosa.
“We’ve missed him,” Janowsky said of Hancey, noting that his presence in the lineup makes a “noticeable difference” for the Pirates’ team score.
Eric Smith competed in the 120-pound weight class and was pinned in 1:29, giving up six team points.
Colton Lucero wrestled in the 150-pound weight class, defeating his opponent by a decision of 3-2, earning three team points.
Michael Thomas wrestled in the 157-pound weight class for the Pirates and was pinned in 3:20, giving up six team points.
Janowsky explained that he wants the Pirates to be “fresh and energetic” going into this weekend’s regional tournament in Parachute at Grand Valley High School.
The tournament will take place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7 and 8, with matches scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Janowsky noted that the Pirates will be looking to “sharpen our techniques” and “keep the intensity up” over the course of this week’s practices, with the main goal of being fully recovered and ready to compete on Friday.
“The bulk of the work has been done,” Janowsky said, noting that each wrestler has specific areas to work on in preparation for regionals.
He added, “I just think we finished on the rise,” mentioning the Pirates had some struggles throughout the season with keeping a full lineup.
“We’ve been wrestling much better and our lineup is getting back to strength,” he said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
