GYPSUM — The Eagle Valley wrestling coaching staff was stretched thin late Saturday evening at the Eagle Valley Invitational in Gypsum, having to work three matches simultaneously.
The Devils had “too many” wrestlers in the medal matches. That’s a good problem to have late in a tournament and that showed as Eagle Valley won its home tournament.
The Devils amassed 187 points, easily outpacing second-place Cedaredge (142). Eagle Valley had five individual champions, and eight wrestlers total on the podium out of 14 weight classes. The hosts also had the Outstanding Wrestler of the tourney in Lucas Comroe at 132 pounds.
That’s a good way to start the new year, and, perhaps, more importantly an indication of good work put in during the holiday break. Eagle Valley coach Luke Cross had challenged his squad to stay sharp during the vacation and the Devils responded well.
“It’s good because we put in a lot of effort over break,” Comroe said. “We were practicing as much as we could. We were going hard.”
Not satisfied
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Yes, Comroe came away with Outstanding Wrestler, but that didn’t make him a happy camper.
He had a messy final win over Rifle’s Cauy Smith, a 7-6 win.
“It wasn’t to my fullest potential,” Comroe said. “I guess I kinda underestimated my opponent since I wrestled him earlier in the season. I could have wrestled a lot harder in that second and third period. I still came out with the win. Champions are made in those close matches and you have to keep your head focused.”
And coach Cross is OK with Comroe leaving a tournament with a championship and a unsatisfied feeling.
“Absolutely,” Cross said. “He’s a very driven kid. He’s very goal oriented.”
Matthew Medina started the run of championships for Eagle Valley at 106, gaining a 6-4 decision over Cedaredge’s Lane Hunsberger. The Devils went 5-2 in championship matches on Saturday.
Eagle Valley’s Luke Morrissey was in firm control at 120 for his finals match against Buena Vista’s Carlos Hutchings and had a late takedown to ice a 5-1 win.
At 152, Noah Baldwin was all over Rifle’s Dillon Tiffany, earning a technical fall at 5:43.
Cody Ponce rode a five-point first period to a 5-3 victory over Cedaregde’s Taj Van der Linde at 220.
“It’s a great sign,” Cross said. “We can’t count our chickens before they hatch. If we’re performing like this, the first few weekends of February, I’ll be very happy.”
Huskies impress
With no seniors on the squad, Battle Mountain, nonetheless, had three wrestlers on the podium, led by Victor Ortiz’s win at 160 pounds.
“They came out strong,” Huskies coach Angelo Vasquez said. “We have no seniors this year. We’re a young team. For young kids to come out and perform in a high-level varsity tournament like this is fun to watch.”
Battle Mountain finished 10th out of 22 teams with 53 points on Saturday.
Huskies wrestling hosts Basalt on Thursday, while the Devils have next week off. Eagle Valley heads to Florence on Jan. 19.
Eagle Valley Invitational
106 pounds — Matthew Medina, Eagle Valley, first
120 — Luke Morrissey, Eagle Valley, first
132 — Lucas Comroe, Eagle Valley, first
138 — Ryder Bossow, Eagle Valley, second
152 — Noah Baldwin, Eagle Valley, first
Anthony Sanchez, Battle Mountain, third
160 — Victor Ortiz, Battle Mountain, first
182 — Davis Ward, Eagle Valley, second
220 — Cody Ponce, Eagle Valley, first
Heavyweight — Jeremiah Vasquez, Battle Mountain, third
Abraham Garcia, Eagle Valley, fourth
