Young Battle Mountain wrestling team hopes to extend state-qualifying streak in 2025
Perla Chavez and Clara Traylor both won matches for the Huskies in their dual against Evergreen on Thursday night in Edwards
Rex Keep/Courtesy photo
Battle Mountain has sent a wrestler to the Colorado state meet every year since 2014.
“We’re hoping to keep the streak alive,” said head coach Angelo Vasquez.
The Huskies are off to a good start. The girls started the year ranked 18th in the state and return state qualifier Ayla Hampton. Hampton advanced to the finals of the Warrior Classic on Dec. 21. Meanwhile, Clara Traylor took the win and is currently ranked No. 2 in 4A at 115 pounds.
“They’re really scrappy,” Vasquez said of his six-member squad, which also features top-15 ranked Hillary Gutierrez. “We grew from last year, which we’re really excited about. We’re really glad the girls are really interested in the sport.”
The Huskies battled Evergreen on Thursday in a dual meet in Edwards. While the Cougars technically claimed the girls team title 36-12, the Huskies actually won the only two contested matches, with the rest of the points coming from forfeits.
Support Local Journalism
Perla Chavez and Traylor both wrestled up a weight class and locked up six points apiece for the hosts. Chavez pinned Camilla Luna 3:17 in to win the 115-pound match and Traylor took down Alyssa Diflumeri at the 1:20 mark.
“Moving the girls around a little bit yesterday to try to pick up a couple tougher matches than they’re used to getting was more of the play,” Vasquez said regarding the lineup. “It’s just cool to watch the girls progress everyday. We’re growing every year.”
The coach believes a wave of upcoming middle school talent will bolster the program’s numbers — in both genders — next year. The Huskies are young in general: just two of the 11 boys are seniors and nobody on either team has more than three years of wrestling experience.
“So, our number one goal is teaching these kids to compete the right way. Winning or losing is just part of what we do,” Vasquez stated. “(We’re) just making sure they’re willing to give everything they’ve got every time they’ve got a shot in front of them.”
Alexandros Matthews is leading the charge for the boys. The senior was second in the 165-pound field at the West Grand Invite on Jan. 4 and won his dual match on Thursday by pinning Hank Halboth.
“It’s pretty cool to see a first-year wrestler come out after pretty much playing basketball his whole life and really flourish in this physical sport,” Vasquez said of Matthews, who joined partially to help prepare for future military service.
“It’s just a mindset that you’ve got to go after it; nothing is going to be handed to you,” Vasquez continued. “You’ve got to earn everything on the wrestling mat. So I think that’s one of the biggest things that draws these kids in.”
Evergreen wound up taking the win on the boys side as well, outscoring the home team 36-30. Evergreen’s Colton Beiriger defeated Robert Young in the 138-pound match and Isaiha Ramirez and Hayes Swartz fell in the 157 and 175-pound matches, respectively for the Huskies. Alexis Medina Solono won his exhibition match at 215-pounds.
Battle Mountain’s season continues Saturday with the Longhorn Invitational in Basalt. The Huskies host the Queen of the Mountain tournament on Jan. 18 before heading to the Front Range for the Les Mattock’s Invitational in Denver on Jan. 25. Vasquez said a match against Eagle Valley is in the works, but not officially on the schedule yet.
“I love what Eagle Valley does. I have nothing but respect for their coaching staff — from the PeeWee level all the way up to the high school program — they know how to build it,” Vasquez said. “I’ve been trying to do the same thing up-valley.”
Vasquez has done a pretty good job, too. He even has a few wrestlers who’ve continued their careers beyond the walls of Battle Mountain. 2024 graduate Grady Devins is currently wrestling for Cal Poly Humboldt and Tyson Vasquez competed two years at Trinidad State. The confidence to compete collegiately often comes courtesy of a trip to the big dance in high school, Vasquez said.
“That’s been our thing,” the coach said. “We get kids into the state tournament and the next thing you know they’re going off to wrestle in college.”
Was Jeff Bezos to blame for major delays at the Eagle County airport over the holidays?
The Eagle County Regional Airport saw quite a few extended delays last weekend during its busiest week of the year. During the holidays, the airport is often…
