Lady Broncos tune up at road duals

by Art Adair
Contributing Writer
The San Juan High School girls wrestling team competed in two events this past week as they prepare for the upcoming divisional tournament.
The Lady Broncos opened the week on January 20 with a road dual at Kayenta, AZ against the Lady Mustangs. Seven head-to-head matches were contested, with San Juan earning four victories and dropping three.
Kheirra Keith set the tone early with a third-period fall to get San Juan on the board.
Saraeya Mills followed with a quick first-period pin, and Khatira Keith added another first-period fall of her own.
Caydence Joe capped the wins with an exciting match that went into the third period before she secured the fall.
Also competing for San Juan were Lydia Hawks, Kadie Palmer, and Hannah Todachinnie.
On January 22, the Lady Broncos made the long trip to Beaver, UT to duel the Beaver Beavers and the Enterprise Wolves.
Due to injuries across all three teams, head-to-head matchups were limited but still valuable.
In exhibition matches, Saylor Dandy earned a second-period fall over Beaver’s opponent, while Jyel George also saw action.
San Juan first faced Beaver in team competition. With multiple injuries on both sides only four head-to-head matches were wrestled along with four forfeits by each team.
The Lady Broncos split the contested matches 2-2, with Kheirra Keith and Morgan Kaytso each winning by fall, Kaytso’s coming quickly in the first period.
The dual ended in a tie. Lydia Hawks and Hannah Todachinnie also saw action. 
Next, San Juan took on Enterprise and dominated the head-to-head competition, winning four of five matches.
Kheirra Keith delivered the most exciting bout of the night, battling back from an early deficit before hitting a big throw to secure a fall.
Saraeya Mills, Saylor Dandy, and Morgan Kaytso also recorded falls. Lydia Hawks wrestled hard in the dual.
San Juan surrendered four forfeits while receiving two forfeits from Khatira Keith and Hannah Todachinnie, but still earned a 36-30 victory over the Lady Wolves.
The Lady Broncos now turn their focus to the divisional tournament this Saturday, January 31 at Enterprise High School, with the individual tournament beginning at 9:45 a.m.
San Juan hopes to have most of the roster back healthy, although they will be without Lyric Williams and Inez Tsosie, whose seasons ended early due to injury.
Despite entering the tournament with four empty weight classes, the Lady Broncos are looking to make a strong push for a divisional championship.
The Girls Utah State Wrestling Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, February 14 at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield.