This is the time of year when the Mancos wrestling program notoriously takes flight – championship season is upon us.
With the San Juan Basin League meet on the immediate horizon, the Jays took on one more big invitational in preparation for the league and regional championships ahead. With a strong field at the Valley Classic hosted by Center, Mancos earned six top-four individual finishes to kick-start their push for the bigger prizes coming up.
Recently ranked No. 4 in the state’s most recent 2A polls presented by On The Mat Rankings, second-year head coach Ty Penning’s squad bolstered their resume with domination in the San Luis Valley.
Leading the way, Cole Dainty-Guilfoyle continued his state title defense with a spotless performance, raising his record north of 30 victories (31-1), with a clean sweep of his four matches. Dainty-Guilfoyle (190-pound division) pinned all four opponents, including Centauri’s Josh Polkowske in the final match to secure top billing in another showcase event.
In the 285-pound division, fellow senior Elliott Sam claimed second overall, adding two more wins to his record heading into the league championships.
Continuing the strong day for the Class of 2024, Dillon Eichner took third in the 106-pound classification, rebounding from an early round loss to string together four straight wins, including three pins on his way to a five-win day.
Junior Brandon Vannest (157 pounds) took home fourth, taking a record of 4-2 in the event, which included a strong sudden victory win over Buena Vista’s Colton Montoya in a very deep field. Sophomore Jacob Martin (165 pounds) also took fourth, as he and Vannest are nearing 30 wins apiece on the season. Martin earned a tight victory over Centauri’s Spencer Smith in the consolation semifinals to secure a top four placement.
Sophomore Colten Vannest (215 pounds) rounded out the top four finishes for Mancos, taking a 2-2 record through the weekend for Penning’s team, supporting the 134.5 points claimed by the Bluejays – good for fifth as a team. The tournament gave the Jays a good measuring stick of where they stand in the state, as small school powerhouses Centauri (3A No. 5) won the event, while North Fork (2A No. 8) took second, host Center (2A No. 5) claimed third, and Buena Vista (2A No. 6) finished just in front of Mancos.
For Mancos, as well as the rest of the SJBL, the vision now turns to winning league crowns, as Dove Creek hosts the showdown this Thursday, Feb. 1 beginning at 4:30 p.m. from The Dawg House. Mancos hopes to defend their SJBL title from last year.
