Last home dual for the senior Sabercats
February 6, 2018
As every sports’ season comes to a close and the athletes approach the final home game/match, the seniors are recognized for their dedication and passion for the sport. Senior night is an emotional and exciting night, as they say goodbye to playing a high school sport and get closer to moving forward with their sporting careers. On Thursday, February 1 the Fossil Ridge High School wrestling team competed in their final home dual against Greeley West High School.
Five Sabercats were celebrated on senior night: Zach Klingner, Cole Suckow, Justin Durnil, Nathan Meyer, and Nick Sanchez. Klingner and Meyer have wrestled for Fossil all four of their high school years and have both been successful on the mat. Their success and leadership have earned them captain positions for the team. Suckow and Durnil have also competed for Fossil all four years of their high school careers and have both finally made the varsity team this year. Sanchez is new to the mat this year, gaining interest from his football teammate, Meyer.
Following the ceremony for the five seniors, the dual began at the 106 weight class. Marshall Scott returned to the mat after not passing a health inspection prior to the dual against Fort Collins High School. Scott got pinned by Dion Velasquez in a minute and 11 seconds. The 113 weight classed followed where Hunter Geist-Sanchez won a tough match against Ramon Espinoza by Major Decision 16-3. The light weights continued as Brian Foundoulis (120) got pinned by Quinton Avila in a long, drug out 3 minutes and 17 seconds.
The two following weight classes did not hold a match as the Spartans forfeited and the Sabercats gained easy points to put them in the lead 16-12. Kevin Meyer won by forfeit in the 126 weight class and Cade Buffington did as well for the 132 weight class.
Two seniors took the mat following the forfeits. For the 138 weight class Klingner won by pin in 56 seconds against Diego Silva and for the 145 weight class Suckow also won by pin in 3 minutes and 45 seconds against Jovan Salazar.
Moving to the heavy weights, Durnil lost by pin in 2 minutes and 38 seconds to Alonzo Ruiz for the 152 weight class. Jackson Holloway was up next against Eddie Ramirez for the 160 weight class and also lost by pin in an intense 3 minutes and 57 seconds.
Greeley West has a small varsity roster which meant that Fossil gained a lot of points from forfeits. The last five matches of the night were forfeits from the Spartans and secured the win for the Sabercats. The wrestlers that won include: Jason Brockway (170), Nathan Meyer (182), Ian Sampson (195), Nick Sanchez (220), and Dillon Spain (285). The night ended with Fossil on top 58-24 and a successful senior night.
The season is not over for all wrestlers yet. They will go on to compete at the regional tournament on Friday, February 9. It is a two day event that will determine who will compete for the best of the best at the state tournament which will be held Thursday, February 15 through Saturday, February 17. Wish a wrestler luck as they prepare for the second biggest tournament of the season.
