Yuma High School’s boys wrestling team will give its best shot this weekend.
The Outlaws will be in the Akron High School fieldhouse, where their season began in early December, for the Class 2A Region 1 Tournament, Friday and Saturday. The top four placers in each weight will advance to next week’s state tournament in Ball Arena.
It will be a serious challenge for the Outlaws as 2A Region 1 is stacked with quality teams. Joining Yuma in Akron will be the host team, Wray, Fowler, Sedgwick County/Fleming, Burlington, Byers, Clear Creek, Dayspring Christian, Gilpin County, Highland, Holyoke, Limon, Lyons, Stratton and Wiggins.
“Anytime Wray is in your region you know it’a going to be a grind at nearly every weight, there are a lot of tough kids that want to be in that top four to be able to go downtown,” coach Presley Papachek said. “I think our guys are as ready as ever to make a good run at getting there.”
First rounds will be held Friday beginning at 4 p.m. and will resume Saturday at 9 a.m.
Cooper Blach will be competing at 106 pounds, Esteban Gonzalez 113, Augi Montes de Oca 120, Blake Stivers 126, Ethan Nadow 132, Dallas Brunk 138, Trey Stegman 157, Tyson Hansen 165, Daden Beauprez 175, Deacon Brown 216 and Garret Patterson 285.
The Outlaws closed out the regular season last Saturday by hosting the Big O Memorials Dual in The Pit.
They enjoyed some highlights, such as Stegman earning his 100th win and Patterson finally making weight and getting his first win, but overall it was a tough day for the Outlaws. Beauprez did go 4-1 on the day, and the Outlaws did win one dual.
It began with a 51-18 loss to Dayspring Christian. Montes de Oca won by fall in 1 minute, 4 seconds over Josiah Mullett at 120 pounds. Stegman earned a 9-4 decision over Joseph Noce at 157, and Beauprez earned a 9-3 decision over Jackson Polk at 175. Brown got a forfeit win at 215. Also on the mat for Yuma were Blach at 106, Gonzalez at 113, Stivers at 126, Nadow at 132, Brunk at 138, Hanson at 165, and Patterson at 285.
The Outlaws lost 57-18 to Sedgwick County/Fleming. Beauprez won by fall in 1:34 over Bryce Kinnie, Brown won by fall in 4:57 over Kale Volkman, and Gonzalez got a forfeit win.
Yuma scored a day-high in a 47-22 decision to University. Stivers got a win by fall in 5:17 over Caleb Tippetts at 126, Nadow won by fall in 1:52 over Will Kirtley at 132, Stegman got a 16-6 major decision over Allen Mix at 157, and Beauprez won by fall in 5:55 at 175.
Gonzalez won an 8-6 decision over Barrett Eagar in the dual with Chatfield, which ended 60-3.
The day ended on a high note for the Outlaws as they beat Holyoke 66-12. Stegman won by fall over Brody Garrett at 157, Tyson Hanson won by fall at 165, Beauprez got a 28-second pin at 175, and Patterson got his first win on the mat with a 47-second pin of Hudson Koellner at 285. Getting forfeit wins were Nadow at 132, Brunk at 138, Brown at 215, Blach at 106, Gonzalez at 113, Montes de oca at 120 and Stivers at 126.