Durango Girls Wrestling Triumphs Despite Loss in Home Dual

The Durango High School girls wrestling team showcased their potential during their home dual against North Fork on January 26, 2024, even though the scoreboard reflected a 48-27 loss. Most of North Fork’s points came from forfeits in weight classes where Durango did not have competitors. The Demons excelled in the matches they participated in, securing victories in five out of the six contested bouts, reinforcing their momentum from a strong performance at the Clash of the Coliseum held in Farmington on January 17.

Sophomore Sydney McAllister opened the dual with a decisive 8-3 win at 105 pounds over North Fork’s Audrina Sanchez. Junior Marie Baker made a successful return to the mat after recovering from injuries, pinning Avery Flores at 120 pounds. Head coach Ryan McGrath praised Baker’s performance, noting that “she didn’t miss a beat” and her conditioning and technique were impressive. Junior Aleia Fenburg and junior Lillian Fenburg also contributed significantly, with Lillian pinning Danika Queen in under 30 seconds at 140 pounds.

Freshman Timber Zink capped off the competitive matches with a pin against Khloe Holden at 155 pounds, demonstrating the depth of talent on the team. Following the official bouts, Durango continued to shine in five exhibition matches, all of which they won. This event marked an excellent opportunity for local fans, including middle school wrestlers and newcomers, to witness high school wrestling in action.

The team’s recent outing at the Clash of the Coliseum was a notable success, with all six competing wrestlers placing among the top competitors. Farmington secured first place with 205.5 points, while Durango finished fifth with 105 points, emerging as the top Colorado school. Ignacio and Bayfield finished in 11th and 19th places, respectively.

At the Clash, Lillian Fenburg led the way for Durango, winning first place at 140 pounds after pinning all four of her opponents, including a dominant performance against Aztec’s Kayci Phillips in the final. Aleia Fenburg took second place at 130 pounds, having initially taken the lead in her final match against Aztec’s Cheyenne Yellow before being pinned.

McAllister achieved a commendable fourth place at 105 pounds. After a strong start in her opening match, she was pinned by Piedra Vista’s Brooklyn Jacquez in the quarterfinals but bounced back to secure three wins in the consolation bracket. “I was really excited,” McAllister stated. “That’s the highest I’ve ever placed at a tournament. It’s my second year wrestling, and until this year, I’d never won a bout.”

Zink also made her mark, finishing fifth at 155 pounds. After a strong start with a pin of her first opponent, she faced the top-seeded Ioanna Ueanimatang from Farmington in the quarterfinals and lost, but regrouped to win her fifth-place match against Octaviana John from Piedra Vista.

Both freshman Haidyn Albrecht and junior Keelyn Reynolds finished sixth. Reynolds, competing at 120 pounds, won her first two matches before suffering an injury that hindered her performance in subsequent rounds. Albrecht, wrestling at 135 pounds, rebounded from an early loss to win three matches in the consolation bracket before concluding her tournament with two defeats.

Reflecting on her experience, Albrecht remarked, “I did fairly well. I’ve definitely seen some improvement with not only my technique and conditioning, but also just my mental game.”

Following the home dual, the Demons were slated to participate in the Butch Melton Classic at Ignacio High School on January 27, 2024. Weather conditions necessitated a change from their original plan to compete in Olathe. After this event, the team is set to travel to Canon City for their next competition on February 2, 2024. The ongoing season continues to build excitement and aspirations for the upcoming state championships.