Yuma High School’s boys wrestlers will put their state hopes on the line Friday and Saturday.
The Outlaws will be at the 2A Region 2 Tournament in Akron. Preliminary rounds on Friday begin at 4 p.m. The wrestling resumes Saturday at 9 a.m.
“We’re just trying to stay healthy,” coach Presley Papachek said earlier this week. “We’ll find out in about three days.”
Yuma has four wrestlers who qualified for state last year, Cooper Blach, David Gaytan, Daden Beauprez and Bryan Montes. Beauprez placed third at 175 last year.
The Outlaws will fill 12 of the 14 weights. Also competing for Yuma will be Anderson Habana, Augi Montes de Oca, Jorge Ramos, Esteban Gonzalez, Blake Stivers, Ethan Nadow, Dallas Brunk and Tyson Hansen.
“So obviously 12 (state qualifiers) is what we’re hoping for,” Papacheck said, “but realistically we’ll be happy to get the majority of our guys (to Denver).”
Six of the Yuma wrestlers are ranked in the top 14 in 2A of the respective weight classes.
The Region 2 includes 2A No. 2 Highland. That is the only 2A Top 10 team in the regional as other local powerhouses such as Wray and Sedgwick County/Fleming are in other regionals. Wrestlers from Liberty are in Region 2. Also in Region 2 are Center, Akron, Byers, Dayspring Christian Academy, Forge Christian, Gilpin County, Golden View Classical, Holyoke, Kiowa, Limon, Lyons, Merino, North Park and Wiggins.
“I think overall it’s a favorable region,” Papachek said. “Some weights are really tough and some look like they have an easier path for our wrestler.”
The top four placers in each weight will qualify for the 2A tournament next Thursday through Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver.