Evans and Burrage lead NHS wrestling

The 2023-2024 season for the Niwot Cougars wrestling team has faced many challenges. With a young roster, inexperience has proven to be hard to overcome. Nonetheless, the team has remained positive for the entire season.

In the dual against Riverdale Ridge High School on Jan. 25, the Cougars fell 54–24. Riverdale Ridge accumulated seven pins, automatically giving the Ravens a 42-point advantage. However, the Niwot roster still found success at the 144, 150, 165, 175, and 190 weight classes.

Captain Ryder Evans contributed three points to Niwot's score, winning an 11–4 decision. Gavin Burrage returned to the team for the first time since winter break due to injury and posted a win with an 8–3 decision.

"Gavin came back tonight," Head Coach Bobby Matthews said. "He hasn't wrestled since the first weekend back from Christmas break, since the fifth. So he's been out injured, and he looks good tonight. So that's good to see. And I expect some other kids like Jonathan (Lopez) and some other kids to really kind of push to the end of the season."

Lucas Menza pinned his opponent 1:57 into the match, picking up six points. Martin Rutherford and Pavi Soni both won by forfeit, resulting in an additional 12 points.

Niwot had a chance for redemption at the Bear Creek Tournament on Jan. 27, where several Niwot wrestlers triumphed. Jacobi Alton placed sixth at the 126 weight, making it to the sixth round and brought in seven points for the squad. Alton won his first two matches by pin before losing in the third round.

Sergio Rodriguez at 132 pounds brought in three points. Rodriguez lost in the first round, and in the first consolation round before winning by major decision (8-0) and fall in the next two rounds.

Menza, at 157 pounds, scored four team points on the strength of two victories in four matches, both by pin. Martin Rutherford picked up two points at 165 pounds, winning his first match by pin. At the 190 weight, Soni placed fifth and added nine team points by winning his last three matches after losing the first two. Each of his matches ended with a pin. Jonathan Lopez, wrestling at heavyweight, picked up two points by winning his first consolation match as well as the seventh-place match, both by pin.

Two Niwot wrestlers placed first at the tournament. Evans, wrestling at 144 pounds, dominated his opponents in every match, winning all five matches by fall, scoring 26 points for the Cougars. He was joined by Burrage, who brought in 25 points at 175 pounds on the strength of four wins, three by pin, as well as a win by forfeit in the championship match.

The Cougars only have two weeks until the regional tournament. Between now and then, there is a lot of work to be done, and Evans is prepared to help lead the way.

"We're getting better and everyone's improving and doing stuff," he said. "Just being a leader and helping other people, I like that."

Matthews has big plans to condition the team to ensure the lineup is in shape to be successful.

"It's gonna be a lot more intense," he said. "There's not going to be much teaching going on as far as moves because they know enough. It's gonna be very much live. Live drills, live wrestling, and going hard as we can to get them in shape...going into regionals."