Monticello Buckaroo wrestlers take second at Nucla Invitational

by Anna Fredericks
Contributing Writer
The Monticello High School wrestling team headed to the Nucla, CO Invitational Saturday, January 13 where they brought home a second-place team finish. The nine-team tournament featured an exciting team race throughout the day.
It was Montrose ending on top with 156 points. The Buckaroos earned the second-place trophy with 154 points. Nucla finished in third with 153.5 points followed by Montezuma-Cortez with 151.
Leading the way for the Buckaroos were seniors Zac Thayn and Thomas Fullmer, each finishing atop the podium with a first-place medal.
Thayn was 4-0 winning each match by fall at 150 pounds. Fullmer was 2-0 at 165 pounds with both wins by fall.
Junior Tavon Black earned a second-place finish at 175 pounds. He was 2-1 with both wins by fall. Third place medals were earned by sophomores Landon Shumway, Ronnie Harris, Chandler Henderson, and Jarum Robison.
Shumway was 3-1 at 132 pounds with three wins by fall and a heartbreaking two-point sudden victory loss. Harris was 3-2 at 138 pounds with all wins by fall.
Henderson went 2-2 at 157 pounds with a win by fall and a big 11-0 major decision win. Robison finished 2-2 at 215 pounds winning two exciting matches by third-period falls.
Caleb Coleman and Arturo Gutierrez each earned fourth-place medals. Coleman had two wins by fall at 144 pounds and Gutierrez put two wins by fall in the books at 113 pounds.
Anson Kendrick rounded out the day for the Buckaroos with a sixth-place finish at 132 pounds, earning two first-period wins by fall.
Earlier in the week the Buckaroos traveled to Kayenta, AZ for a dual against Monument Valley, AZ. Arturo Gutierrez, John Leber, Thomas Fullmer, and Tavon Black all earned wins by fall for the Buckaroos.
Caleb Coleman and Zac Thayn each earned two wins by fall at the dual. The Mustangs defeated Evan Carpenter, Landon Shumway, Anson Kendrick, Candler Henderson, Cruise Shumway, and Jarum Robison.
The Buckaroos host their final home meet of the season this Wednesday, January 17 and the team will also honor their seniors. Wrestling begins at 6 p.m. and you can catch all the action live on StreamUtah.Live.
Monticello travels to Aztec, NM on Saturday, January 20 for the Aztec Duals. The wrestling postseason begins next Saturday, January 27 with the Divisional Tournament at Telos High School.