Durango Wrestlers Shine at Canon City and Littleton Tournaments

The Durango High School wrestling teams showcased impressive performances at recent tournaments held in Canon City and Littleton, with multiple athletes earning top placements. Competing against a strong field, the girls’ wrestling squad finished ninth at the Ladies Canon City Classic, while the boys’ team placed sixteenth.

At the Canon City tournament, which featured participation from 42 schools, the Demons faced tough competitors. Junior Aleia Fenberg emerged as a standout performer, securing second place in the 125-pound weight class. This marked a strategic shift for Aleia, who had been wrestling at 130 pounds for most of the season. In her journey to the finals, she pinned her first two opponents and won decisively against Valeri Wolf from Fountain-Fort Carson, with a score of 22-10 in the quarterfinals. Aleia advanced to the semifinals, where she defeated Mia Mendoza from La Junta 13-0, setting up a challenging finals bout against Breezey Johnston of Holy Family. Despite leading 8-3 after the first two periods, Aleia ultimately lost 14-12.

Lillian Fenberg, Aleia’s teammate, also made her mark at Canon City. Competing in the 135-pound category, she finished third after a series of strong performances. Lillian, seeded fifth, pinned her first three opponents, including a victory over Willow Ashby of Pueblo Central in the quarterfinals. Although she faced the number one seed, Addy Krug from Lamar, in the semifinals and lost via pin, Lillian rebounded by winning two additional matches in the consolation bracket.

Junior Marie Baker rounded out the girls’ success, finishing fourth in the 120-pound weight class. After pinning her first two opponents, she lost to Chloe Kendall from Palmer Ridge in the quarterfinals. Baker fought back to win two matches in the consolation bracket but was ultimately defeated by Kendall again in the third-place match. Coach Ryan McGrath noted that Baker has been managing a shoulder issue, emphasizing the need for careful management as they approach the postseason.

The following day, the Demons traveled to the Chatfield Lady War Horse Invitational in Littleton, where they faced 29 other schools. The competition was intense, with both Aleia and Lillian again leading the team. Aleia finished third at 125 pounds, winning her initial two matches before losing in the quarterfinals to Lexie Amendt from Sedgwick County/Fleming Girls. She bounced back to secure her third-place finish in the consolation bracket.

Similarly, Lillian maintained her momentum, also finishing third after winning two matches before being pinned by Makena Heston from Columbine. Lillian’s resilience paid off as she won her next two matches in the consolation rounds. Baker, grappling with her shoulder issues, managed to secure sixth place in her weight class.

Looking ahead, the Durango wrestling teams will have a brief break before competing at the regional championships scheduled for February 13-14, 2024. This upcoming event will be crucial as they aim to qualify for the state tournament.

On the boys’ side, the team also faced a competitive field in Canon City, finishing sixteenth out of 40 schools. Sophomore Ryder Martyn captured third place in the 138-pound category, showcasing his skills by pinning his first two opponents and winning a quarterfinal match 15-0 against Vinny D’amico from Doherty. Although Martyn was pinned in the semifinals, he secured his third-place position by defeating D’amico once again.

Another sophomore, Cash Silva, finished fourth in the 132-pound class. After pinning his first two opponents, he claimed a 10-6 victory over Fountain-Fort Carson’s Nathaniel Santos in the quarterfinals. Silva faced a setback in the semifinals against Aadin Gonzales from Montrose but managed to win a consolation match before losing in the third-place match.

The Durango wrestling teams are set to compete next at a tri-meet against Fruita and Chatfield this Saturday, further preparing for the challenges of the upcoming regional tournament.