With the state wrestling tournament less than one month away, the Dolores High School wrestling team appears to be rounding into form.
Competing at the Sand Devil Classic in Page, Ariz., Jan. 23-24, the Bears placed eleventh out of 24 teams and put three wrestlers on the podium.
Leading the way for Dolores were 145-pound senior Guy Wallace and 106-pound sophomore Brandon Ward, who both placed second.
Wallace and Ward finished the tournament with 3-1 records.
Wallace lost a 10-1 decision to Bayfield's Colter McMenimen in the 145-pound finals finals. Ward was pinned by Camp Verde's Skylar Pike in the 106-pound finals.
Brandon has really come alive the last couple of weeks," said Dolores head coach Leo Garand. "He's been coming in early to work on technique and it's really paying off for him. Guy made a few mistakes in the finals, but otherwise, he wrestled great."
Also making the podium for Dolores was 120-pound sophomore Tristan Medina, who finished fourth with a 4-2 record. Medina lost to Camp Verde's Alex Casillas in the third-place match.
"Tristan made a mistake in the semifinals that cost him a couple of points and kept him from going to finals,'" said Garand. "He had a real good tournament. He wrestled like he's getting ready to qualify for state."
Other Dolores wrestlers who competed in the tournament included Austin Hackney, who finished 3-2, Kellen Gatzke, who finished 3-2, Riley Syra, who finished 2-2 and Aiden Hopcia, who finished 0-2.
"(Gatzke) wrestled far and away the best tournament that he has ever wrestled," said Garand. "Austin really stepped up this weekend. Riley Syra was one point out of the medals (and) Aiden Hopcia keeps improving."
Next up for Dolores will be the Ignacio Invitational Tournament, which will take place in Ignacio on Jan. 31.
"We're looking at Ignacio as our last tune up before regionals," said Garand. "Hopefully we can get guys a couple more wins and get them through to the medal rounds. They are working hard and feeling good."
