Wrestling returned to Pagosa Country last week, with the Pagosa Springs High School Pirate wrestling team hosting the Rocky Mountain Duals and Rocky Mountain Invitational tournament last Friday and Saturday, Jan 10 and 11.
The Pirates matched up against the Durango Demons on Friday, losing by a team score of 42-22.
Coach Dan Janowsky explained in an interview that it was the first action for both teams after the two-week winter break, and the Pirates were unable to field a complete lineup.
“We just didn’t have our lineups together,” Janowsky said, “but we decided to go ahead and wrestle the guys that could.”
Janowsky added that “it was helpful” for the Pirates who were able to compete on Friday, particularly highlighting Taylor Hancey’s performance, noting he “had a really good match.”
Janowsky explained that Hancey missed the Warrior Classic tournament in Grand Junction due to illness before the winter break and that he is looking to wrestle at any opportunity.
“We wanted to make sure we took advantage of that, and he did a great job,” Janowsky said.
Hancey competed in the 165-pound weight class, defeating his opponent by a 13-3 major decision, earning four points for the Pirates.
Anthony Manzanares competed in the 113-pound weight class and pinned his opponent in one minute and six seconds, earning six points for the Pirates.
There was a double forfeit in the 106-pound, 120-pound and 175-pound weight classes.
Pagosa did not field any wrestlers in the 138-pound, 144-pound and the 150-pound weight classes, resulting in a total of 18 points being awarded to Durango.
Durango forfeited in the 285-pound and 215-pound weight classes, giving 12 points to the Pirates.
Jonathan Baker competed in the 126-pound weight class and was pinned by his opponent in 1:37, giving six points to Durango.
Stetson Osborn competed in the 132-pound weight class and was pinned by his opponent in 1:02, giving six points to Durango.
Michael Thomas competed in the 157-pound weight class for the Pirates and lost his match by getting pinned in 1:39, giving six points to Durango.
Jesus Serratos wrestled in the 190-pound weight class and was pinned in 1:09, giving six points to the Demons.
Rocky Mountain Invite
“It was a busy day … full day,” Janowsky said of the tournament.
The Pirates finished 12th out of 19 teams.
“The competition was outstanding, it really was,” Janowsky added, explaining there was a high level of competition across all of the weight classes.
Rocky Ford claimed the top spot in the tournament, Janowsky mentioned, adding, there were “some very competitive programs”on display and “plenty of other good teams and individuals in every single bracket.”
Manzanares and Colton Lucero were the highest-placing Pirates on the day, with both earning second place in their respective weight class.
After receiving a first-round bye, Manzanares won his next two matches by pinning his opponent in 1:38 and by a 7-6 decision. He then lost his first-place match by pin in 3:51.
“That was back-and-forth match,” Janowsky said, adding that Manzanares will need to make some adjustments and “keep working at it,” as he will likely face the same opponents in the regional and state tournaments.
Lucero also received a first-round bye in the 150-pound weight class and then pinned his next two opponents in 49 seconds and in 2:28, respectively.
Lucero lost the first-place match by a 10-0 major decision.
Janowsky described it as a tough loss, mentioning, “sometimes those things are very helpful in pointing you in the direction you want to go.”
Hancey and Davian Coss each earned sixth place in their respective weight class.
This was Coss’ first varsity level tournament, Janowsky noted, explaining that Coss has been training with the Pirates for a while and was finally able to compete in his first tournament.
“He’s real savvy,” Janowsky said, noting that Coss puts “a lot of common sense into his matches” and knows how to win.
Coss competed in the 285-pound weight class, winning his opening round match by 2-0 decision. He then won his second round match by a 4-3 decision.
Coss was then pinned by his next two opponents, sending him to the fifth-place match, where he was pinned by his opponent in 3:38.
Janowsky added that Coss was a “very solid part of the lineup on Saturday.”
Hancey competed in the 165-pound weight class, winning his opening-round match with a 15-0 technical fall in 2:55.
Hancey then lost his second-round match by pin in 1:19, sending him to the consolation round three match, where he pinned his opponent in 2:40.
Hancey lost the fifth-place match after being forced to pull out of the match due to a knee injury.
“He was working super hard in all of his matches,” Janowsky said, explaining Hancey will likely be out of the lineup for the Pirates in their tournament this weekend.
Eric Smith, Antonio Quezada and Hunter Martinez each earned eighth place in their respective weight classes, with Smith being forced to withdraw from his seventh-place match due to injury, Janowsky explained.
Janowsky further explained that Smith missed a decent chunk of last year’s season due to an injury and has done a “remarkable job of catching up.”
Smith competed in the 120-pound weight class, winning two out of five matches on the day. He lost his opening-round match by a 17-0 technical fall score in 3:20, and then went on to pin his next two opponents in 30 seconds and then in 2:12.
Smith lost his next match by an 18-4 technical fall in three minutes, which sent him to the seventh-place match.
Mark Ray also competed in the 120-pound weight class, losing his only two matches on the day by getting pinned in 1:26 and then in 30 seconds.
Quezada dropped down into the 215-pound weight class for the first time this season and was given a first-round bye. He then lost his second-round match by getting pinned in 3:15 and then won the following match by pinning his opponent in 28 seconds.
Quezada lost his next match by a decision of 12-6, sending him to the seventh-place match, where he was pinned by his opponent in 3:08.
Janowsky commented that the 215-pound weight class “was surprisingly strong,” noting that Quezada led in multiple matches but was unable to hold on for the win.
Another Pirate making his varsity debut was Hunter Martinez in the 285-pound weight class.
“He’s got a lot of promise,” Janowsky said.
Martinez received a first-round bye, and then lost his second-round match by pin in 2:47. He then received another bye and went on to lose the following match by 5-2 decision, sending him to the seventh-place match, where he was pinned by his opponent in 49 seconds.
Chris Rafferty also competed in the 285-pound weight class for the Pirates, losing his opening-round match by getting pinned in 34 seconds. He then received a second-round bye and went on to lose the following match by getting pinned in 2:29.
Jimmy Elledge competed in the 215-pound weight class alongside Quezada.
Elledge lost his opening-round match by getting pinned in 3:08, then received a second-round bye. Elledge lost the following match by getting pinned in 23 seconds.
Serratos competed in the 190-pound weight class, losing his opening-round match and receiving a second-round bye. He then lost his third-round match by pin in 2:38.
Thomas wrestled in the 157-pound weight class and lost both of his matches on the day, one by 16-1 technical fall in 2:28 and the other by pin in 3:20.
Trevor Faber competed in the 144-pound weight class, winning one of three matches on the day.
Faber lost his opening-round match by pin in 3:02, then won the following match by a 9-6 decision. He then lost his third-round match by pin in 1:58.
Vinny Fish and Tucker Jacobson both competed in the 138-pound weight class for the Pirates, with Fish losing both of his matches on the day by pin, in 1:41 and then in one minute.
Jacobson also lost both of his matches on the day by pin, in 3:09 and then in 1:20.
Osborn wrestled in the 132-pound weight class, winning one of three matches on the day. He lost his opening-round match by a decision of 16-13, and then won the following match by pinning his opponent in 2:11.
Osborn then lost the next match by getting pinned in 4:50.
Noah Bellina and Baker both competed in the 126-pound weight class, with Bellina winning one of two matches and Baker winning one of three matches on the day.
Bellina pinned his first opponent in one minute and then lost the following match by a 16-6 major decision.
Baker lost his opening-round match by getting pinned in 1:28, then won his following match with a 10-9 decision. He then lost his third round match by pin in 3:28.
Janowsky mentioned the Pirates have “some young guys” on this year’s team in the 126-pound through 144-pound weight classes with minimal varsity level experience.
He mentioned that he is seeing improvements in the younger Pirates and knows that “they want to be in that fight, and they want to get better.”
Janowsky also commented that wrestling at home in front of a full crowd always puts some extra pressure on the wrestlers, but, “I think they did a good job,” praising their willingness to compete while mentioning there is “a lot of promise” with the younger guys.
He added, “If they didn’t win the match, they won parts of the match,” noting they are improving in certain areas, which is “encouraging.”
This weekend
The Pirates will be traveling to Florence this week to compete in the Mel Smith Invitational tournament, which will feature more than 30 3A teams all across the state, Janowsky notes in an email to The SUN.
Matches will take place at Florence High School starting on Friday, Jan. 17, and continuing into Saturday, Jan. 18.
After a long weekend of wrestling, there is “a long menu of things you can work on,” Janowsky mentioned, but noted the most important thing is to “keep building confidence.”
He noted that it can be difficult without wrestlers getting their hand raised, “but it’s important to point out to them where they’re getting better.”
Janowsky explained that sometimes wrestlers might put in a quality performance and still end up losing, while the opposite can also happen with wrestlers winning a match in which they did not put in their best performance.
“We’re looking at developing our physical and our mental skills,” Janowsky said, adding, “Winning is very, very important but it can’t be the only measure because sometimes it’s deceiving.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
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