Bucks, Broncos face off for annual wrestling duel

by Anna Thayn

The age-old wrestling rivalry between the Monticello Buckaroos and the San Juan Broncos came to Monticello on December 19, as the schools took to the mat for their pre-Christmas dual.

The mat, as it happens, was brand new, having been purchased through a generous donation from Encana Oil and Gas.

Before the match began, Coaches Kent Adair and Ronnie Musselman and Principal Scott Shakespeare made a presentation to Encana representative Steve Garcia. The Bucks broke in the mat with a win, defeating the Broncos 47-27.

Buckaroo Rhett Adair got to be the first to wrestle on the new mat. The starting weight was selected randomly by San Juan Coach JJ Squires. It was ironic, and seemed fitting, that he selected Adair’s weight, since it was his brother Todd, an Encana employee, who sponsored the request for the donation.

Despite Adair’s best efforts, San Juan got the win at 171 pounds. Adair faced off against Joseph Begaye. Begaye got the early takedown and earned an escape in the second period, but Adair fought hard and did not allow Begaye to turn him, but was unable to put points on the board and lost 3-1.

Tyrel Shupe came out strong at 189 against Jesse Grover. Shupe traded points with Grover in the first, but was put on his back in the second, giving Grover a four point lead. Shupe picked up two points from penalties and a reversal to tie the match going into the third. In the final period, Shupe turned Grover and earned the pin.

At 215, Trevor Coppin took on Marcus Conway. Conway got the early takedown, but Coppin kept his wits about him and rolled through to take the top spot. Coppin brought the crowd to their feet with the fall, just over a minute into the match.

Ronald “Tazz” Robinson took the mat at heavyweight for the Bucks, but his opponent, Kyle Shumway got the early lead, and put Tazz on his back for a San Juan pin.

David Boyle was up next at 103 against Ty Hostler. The two fought hard, but no points went on the board until the third period, when Hosler turned Boyle for a San Juan pin.

The Bucks picked up forfeits at 112 and 119, before JJ Grover defeated Buckaroo Quanah Lee after a hard fought match.

Adam Martinez for MHS and Kyson Shumway for the Broncos faced off at 130 pounds, where Shumway took an early lead and Martinez, who despite his efforts could not overcome the deficit, lost the match 8-6.

With the team score tied at 24, the Buckaroos took control of the lead with three consecutive wins.

Aaron Butler played a friendly game of cat and mouse with Bronco Randy Bowers at 135 pounds. Butler worked to put seven take downs on the board in the match, and put Bowers on his back twice before winning by technical fall, 21-5.

Buckaroo Chase Randall wasted no time putting Cameron Arthur on his back. Randall worked for the pin and finally got the slap of the mat with 14 seconds left on the clock in the first period.

James Musselman put the last win on the board for the Bucks. Musselman took the early lead, and had Trey McDonald on his back in the first period, when time ran out. In the second, McDonald was able to score a reversal, but it was not enough, as Musselman reversed immediately and put McDonald on his back for the Buckaroo pin.

Nolan Black wrapped things up for the Bucks, taking on San Juan’s Oliver Parker. San Juan got the early takedown, but was unable to hold Black.

After one period, Parker led 4-1. In the second, Parker came from the bottom to score a reversal, but Black picked up a penalty point and a reversal of his own to come within two.

Parker then put Black on his back for five quick points, but Nolan fought hard to avoid the pin. In the third period, down 11-4, Black kept fighting, putting another reversal on the board, but in the end Parker got the 13-6 win in a very hard fought match.

The Bucks are off for the holiday but will be back in action January 5 when they travel to the Pagosa Springs Tournament.

Next dual action will be January 9 when the Bucks travel to Cortez.