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Ignacio to host Durango wrestlers in season-opener
Big turnout boosts Bobcats in new year
Herald Sports Writer
Ignacio is a boom town these days - when it comes to casinos and wrestling.
The Bobcats opened wrestling practice for the 2008-09 season with a recent-record turnout of 25 wrestlers and one ecstatic new head coach.
"We're a young, young team. We've got a lot of freshmen. There's a lot of competition (for positions)," said first-year head coach Bob Overturf, who moved up to take over for longtime head coach Chris deKay.
Overturf was an Ignacio assistant last year; he also coached the middle school wrestlers, many of whom will vie for varsity spots for the Bobcats this year.
"When we had our wrestleoffs, I had some battles ... which I loved," said Overturf, who was a Fort Lewis wrestler back when FLC had a wrestling program.
"From 112 to 125 (pounds), we're deep," Overturf said, adding that the program picked up a bit of energy with the reclassification to 2A from 3A.
"Our (new 2A) league will still be tough," Overturf said. "There are some good programs. But I think the change will help because we're just not big enough to match up to the bigger (3A) schools consistently."
Still, he said, the Bobcats will wrestle a tough out-of-conference schedule to prepare for postseason tournaments and the Class 2A State Championships.
"We've got a tough schedule. We have Durango (Class 5A) here (tonight) for a dual. Then we go to the Bayfield tournament (Wolverine Classic) on Saturday," Overturf said.
"This year, we're going to the Paonia tournament, which should be tough. And we're going to Walsenburg, the John Mall (High School) tournament," he said.
He said the lineup for tonight is basically in place, led by five returning state qualifiers.
Sophomore Casey Haga, who was second in state last year as a freshman, is wrestling at 119 pounds this year.
State qualifier Josh Plehinger, a junior, will wrestle at 130 tonight. Senior Raudel Lucero, another state qualifier for the Bobcats, returns at 140.
Abel Velasquez, one of only two Ignacio seniors, is set at 189 pounds. He's a returning state qualifier.
And Chance Wyatt, a junior, rounds out the state veterans. He'll wrestle at 215 this year.
Ignacio's lineup for tonight also includes:
•sophomore Tyler Wancura at 103;
•freshman Alex Pena at 112;
•freshman Jeff Herrera at 125;
•sophomore Will Appenzeller at 135;
•sophomore Ethan Pearson at 145;
•sophomore Trent Ostendorf at 152;
•freshman Colton Wyatt at 171;
•junior Jared Ruybal at 275.
The 160-class likely will be open tonight for the Bobcats, Overturf said. But Colton Wyatt may move to that spot, opening the 171 position to Derrick Naranjo in the future. "I think we'll be in the hunt for our league ... and our region," Overturf said, adding that the Bobcats should have state aspirations in 2A this year as well.
"We're excited, definitely," Overturf said.
Tonight's Durango matches at Ignacio are scheduled for start at 7 p.m. at Ignacio High School.
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