Buckaroos open wrestling season winning two tournaments

by Anna Fredericks
Contributing Writer
The Monticello High School wrestling team kicked off the 2024-25 season with a strong showing and two tournament wins. On Friday, December 6 they opened the year at the Red Rocks Invitational in Moab where they earned the top spot at the six-team tournament.
The following day, Saturday, December 7 the Buckaroos traveled to Bayfield, CO for the Wolverine Classic, where they finished at the top of an 11-team field at that event, edging out Farmington by seven points.
Leading the way for the Buckaroos in Moab were Arturo Gutierrez, John Leber, Tavon Black, Tyson Wheeler, and Camren Carpenter who were all undefeated with first-place medals.
Leber, at 132 pounds, and Wheeler, at 215, each had a solid day, earning four wins apiece for Monticello. Wheeler earned four falls and Leber had two wins by fall and two technical falls.
Carpenter started the season strong with three wins by fall at 285 pounds. Black earned two wins by fall on the day at 175 pounds, and Gutierrez earned a win by fall and a major decision at 120 pounds.
Landon Shumway and Ronnie Harris each earned a second-place medal with Harris earning two wins by fall at 144 pounds and Shumway adding a technical fall win at 138 pounds.
Buckaroo Miles Coleman finished with a third-place medal earning two wins by fall at 132 pounds. Jarum Robison earned a fourth-place medal with a win by fall at 215 pounds. Also wrestling for the Buckaroos were Diego Cortez, Noah Dilts, and Zamian Lopez.
In Bayfield Monticello was again led by John Leber, Tyson Wheeler, and Camren Carpenter who each earned championship medals on the day. Leber was 5-0 with two wins by fall, two technical falls, and a 20-15 win. Wheeler was also 5-0 and Carpenter went 4-0 with all of their wins by fall.
Jarum Robison had a strong day with three wins by fall and an exciting 15-14 win to earn a second-place medal. Landon Shumway earned a third-place medal with three wins including a fall and a technical fall.
Ronnie Harris came home third for the Buckaroos with three wins, including one by fall and a major decision. Tavon Black was also third with two wins by fall. Arturo Gutierrez finished fifth with wins by fall and technical fall.
In the JV tournament, Noah Dilts finished in second place with two wins by fall and Diego Cortez earned a third-place finish with two wins by fall. Mile Coleman and Zamian Lopez also wrestled hard for the Buckaroos.
The Monticello matmen will host their first home meet of the season on Wednesday, December 11 before a trip to Price for the Dave Smith Memorial Tournament Friday and Saturday, December 13-14.