San Juan girls wrestling team hits mats for first time in history, both teams strong in opening week

by Art Adair
Contributing Writer
The San Juan High School boys and girls wrestling teams both got off to an excellent start this past week. Both teams were in action on December 11 in Cortez.
This is the first year San Juan High School has offered girls wrestling and seven wrestlers competed in the dual. All the Broncos attained valuable mat time and experience in their young season.
The boys dominated an undersized Panther squad, winning the dual easily 65-11. Winning matches for the Broncos are Chad Yellow by technical fall, and Staley Dandy, Miken Kieth, Chance Laws, Trai Bass, Koyer Johnson and Cameron Adair, all by fall.
Other wrestlers seeing action were Liam Lacy and Jack Kartchner. Receiving forfeits for the Broncos were Jack Kartchner, Rigley La Giglia, Kai Fox, JD Palmer, Thomas Hardin, and Stan Jones.
On December 6-7, both squads attended the tough Panguitch Invitational, which draws teams from Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.
Bronco wrestlers from both teams participated in the JV, and varsity tournaments. The girls team saw tremendous improvements throughout the tournament and placed 17th of 25 teams.
Individually Saylor Dandy brought home the first medal in the history of San Juan girls wrestling, with a fourth place finish. Kheirra Keith earned the first win in program’s history and brought home a sixth-place finish.
Other wrestling at the tournament include Lyric Williams, Morgan Kaytso, Daylight Blackhorse, Saraeya  Mills, and Lucelia Benally.
The boys Bronco grapplers came away with a solid fourth-place finish of 30 teams. Chad Yellow led the way with a championship at 120 pounds, winning six by fall, one by tech fall, and one by major decision in the finals.
JD Palmer secured second place at 175 pounds, picking up six wins by fall. Liam Lacy was fourth at 106 pounds winning four matches by fall. Logan Keith was third at 157 pounds, winning seven matches by fall.
The final medalist, Porter Keith, won a thrilling third-place medal at heavyweight picking up six falls on the way.
Other Broncos finishing in the top ten in their weight classes are Grady Lacy, ninth at 126, Hunter Kieth, tenth at 150, Cameron Adair, seventh at 150, Taren Bayles, eighth at 150, and Trai Bass, ninth at 215.
Other San Juan wrestlers picking up quality wins are Koyer Johnson, Kai Fox, Staley Dandy, Miken Keith, and Chance Laws.
Among the junior varsity wrestlers, Gauge Palmer and Jayce Raisor were first, Pearce Holliday was second, Zach Long and Ryus Blackhorse were third, Cian Mark was fourth, Stan Jones and Wyatt Keith were sixth, and Malaki Dayzie and Teyano Tahy were eighth,
Marshall Gurley won one, but he was injured.
The Broncos continued a busy start to the season with a dual at Grand County on December 10. The home opener is Wednesday, December 11 against Aztec, NM and Dolores, CO at 6 p.m.
San Juan will finish off the week with the boys at the Dave Smith Memorial Tournament at Carbon High School in Price, UT on Friday and Saturday, December 13-14.
The girls team will be in Bloomfield, NM on Saturday.