craigdailypress.com

A measly two points.

Entering Friday's season-opening Survivor Series high school wrestling tournament, Bulldogs coach Roman Gutierrez predicted his team would win eight of the 10 dual meets they were scheduled to compete in.

He was wrong.

The Bulldogs won nine of its duals, losing one - by two points - to finish second overall in the 11-team tournament.

"I felt they did pretty well," Gutierrez said. "The kids wrestled where I thought their capabilities were, and we can see where some improvement is going to need to take place.

"I was really pleased with their performance."

Moffat County swept through Castle View (57-9), Douglas County (47-31), Doherty (40-34), Columbine (64-16) and Bennett (45-32) on Friday, with little resistance from the opposition.

Kye Adams (125), Ethan Kinner (130), Charlie Griffiths (135) and Jesse Breslin (160) each won all five of their matches, helping the Bulldogs to a first-day total of 267 points.

The Bulldogs began Saturday's round in first-place, but a two-point loss to eventual Survivor Series winner - and host - Mountain View High School, proved costly.

The Bulldogs rolled over Widefield (47-29), Thomas Jefferson (53-30) and Mitchell (60-15) leading up to the dual with the Mountain Lions featuring the only two remaining undefeated programs.

Moffat County led by four points heading into the final match - Cody Adams vs. Breen Martin.

Martin earned a pin - and the subsequent six points that comes along with it - boosting Mountain View to a 40-38 dual meet win.

"We were right there," Gutierrez said. "It was just a few small things here and there."

The Bulldogs rebounded to defeat Arrupe Jesuit, 48-27, in their tournament finale, to finish the event with a 9-1 record.

Matt Linsacum (140) and Nathan Tomlin (145) breezed through Saturday's competition unscathed, finishing at 5-0.

Kinner, Griffiths, Linsacum, Tomlin and Breslin each finished the two-day event with 9-1 individual records.

Cody Nelson and Kye Adams finished 8-2, Halen Raymond ended at 7-2, and Asay Crofts and Lyle Schaffner, 7-3.

Todd Stewart and Cody Adams finished 4-6, while Ben Winslow tallied a 2-7 record.

The Bulldogs tallied 92 individual wins, 58 by pin.

Griffiths claimed the 130-pound title, while Moffat County also racked up five second-place finishes (Crofts, Kinner, Linsacum, Tomlin and Breslin) and two thirds (Nelson and K. Adams).

"Now we have to keep building off of this," Gutierrez said. "I'm really pleased, though, with all the little steps they've taken.

"We had a really good weekend."

Moffat County looks to continue its early season success Friday at Union High School. The Bulldogs are scheduled to compete in five dual meets.

Notes:

Raymond injured his shoulder during the event, but Gutierrez said the Bulldogs' heavyweight will be ready to go Friday. : Senior Troy Vernon missed the meet because of a dislocated shoulder. Vernon expects to return for the Warrior Classic beginning Dec. 19 in Grand Junction. : Kinner - a transfer from Hilltop Baptist High School in Colorado Springs - has 98 career wins. A decent showing Friday could give the senior 100 in his high school career.

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793 or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com