Wrestling as well as he has this season, Montezuma-Cortez High School junior Matthew Broughton won three of his four matches at the Alamosa Invitational on Jan. 13 and placed second overall in the 138-pound division at the 11-team tournament.

Broughton’s finish marked the highest for any M-CHS wrestler, as the Panthers team placed ninth overall. Alamosa High School took top honors in the team standings, Pueblo West finished second, and Doherty High School finished third.

In addition to Broughton’s solid performance, M-CHS received a gutsy effort from Kerwin Tom, who pinned Thunder Ridge’s Nathan Mueller in the first round before dropping his final two matches in the 170-pound division.

Thorin Howell won one of his three matches at 152 pounds, while Austin Featherman pinned Colorado Springs Christian School’s Justin Condit, but lost his other two matches in the 113-pound division.

Ethan Root picked up a pin victory over John Mall’s Johnny D’Ambrosia in his second of three matches at 145-pounds, while Kael Buffington, Case Allmon, Noah Harris, and Swayde Noyes lost two matches each, but gained valuable experience.

Next up for M-CHS will be a trip to the Sand Devil Invitational Tournament, which will take place in Page, Arizona, on Jan. 19.