As the evening wore on, Mesa Ridge wore down its host. 

The Grizzlies dominated Cheyenne Mountain in the upper weights, winning the final four matches and five of the last six – three by fall — in earning a 49-15 dual victory. Senior Devante Johnson started the march toward victory with a pin at 160 pounds in what was a relatively close dual up to that point. Juniors James Garrett and Andrew Stewart closed it out with pins at 195 and 220 respectively, followed by an Indians forfeit in the heavyweight bout.

The decisive win over their league rival should help the Grizzlies gain some momentum entering the critical final month of the season. 

“It feels great,” Johnson said. “Now we know that we’ve got a good team. We’ve got to fix up some little things to be solid for the rest of the season. You always want to win, so we want to keep it going, keep it going and stay strong with it.” 

Johnson, ranked fourth in 4A in Tim Yount’s On the Mat Rankings, survived an early scare from the Indians’ Jordan Holmes, rallying in the the third period for register a fall at 5 minutes, 24 seconds. Holmes caught Johnson off balance and scored a first-period takedown after Johnson overextended on his own takedown attempt, and kept Johnson on the mat for the remainder of the period. 

Johnson scored an escape in the second period and struggled early in the third period after starting on top. Then, with 73 seconds remaining the he finally got Holmes to his back and stuck him shortly thereafter.

Afterward Johnson, who is 19-1 on the season, was thankful to get a tough match from an opponent he was unfamiliar with.  

“I’m glad I met up with somebody like him,” he said. “I know I have to work harder and practice harder because I know there is going to be someone like him that wrestles me harder. It helps prepare me for regionals and state.” 

The six-point victory extended the Grizzlies’ lead to 28-12 with five matches to go. 

Junior Sheldon Berg, ranked No. 13, squared off against No. 14 senior Ben Kishinevsky in the 182 bout and came away with a 9-2 decision that was more dominant than the score suggests. Berg scored four takedowns and never was in any danger in the match. Garrett and Stewart seized on that momentum to put the final stamp on the Girzzlies victory. 

While the upper weights garnered most of the attention on the night by polishing off the victory, Berg was quick to credit the lower weights as well. In all, the Grizzlies showed off a balanced roster with 10 wins in 14 bouts. Sophomores Ruben Valdez (113) and Dominique Hughes (138) each won by fall for the Grizzlies. 

“Most of the upper weights are really sound,” Berg said. “But I think the team as a whole this year is pretty good, even the lower weights. Every time we come out for a dual we learn something we need to work on. Every time we are getting better and better.”     

The night started out positive for the Indians with an upset win in the 106 bout. Freshman Nick Cimino scored a 13-8 decision over No. 12 junior Brandon Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who was favoring a bandaged left wrist throughout the match, scored four reversals for his points, but was nearly pinned pinned twice in the first two periods and gave up two reversals. 

Fifth-ranked junior Bobby Amond had a dominating victory for Cheyenne Mountain, taking down senior Zack Garcia and sticking him in a minute, 45 seconds in the 125 bout.  

Indians senior Garrett Dullin scored a late reversal and held on to sophomore Wyatt Becwar’s foot just long enough to prevent an escape and preserve a 3-2 decision, cutting the deficit to 10 and keeping Indians hopes for a dual win alive at that point. Senior Jeremy Grooms, No. 5 at 170, fought back from an early 4-0 deficit with six points in the third period to secure a 10-5 decision over sophomore Tremell Stanley, but those would the last points scored for the Indians. 

A handful of Indians were wrestling for just the second time after dealing with some injuries and the rust and lack of conditioning took its toll, but Indians coach Nick Gagliardi was not making any excuses afterward. 

“Mark Walker (the Mesa Ridge coach) had his boys ready to wrestle and we weren’t on tonight, definitely,” Gagiliardi said. “I was discouraged by the way they wrestled and I’ll take ownership for the way (the Grizzlies) looked like they were in better shape than us. We’re a much better team than they way we wrestled tonight.” 

Devante Johnson of Mesa Ridge, top, grapples with Cheyenne Mountain’s Jordan Holmes on his way to pinning him during their 160-pound match Thursday at Cheyenne Mountain High School. Mesa Ridge won the meet 49-15. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

MARK REIS

Mesa Ridge’s Dominique Hughes reacts after pinning Cheyenne Mountain’s Matt McFadden in their 138-pound match Thursday at Cheyenne Mountain High School. Mesa Ridge won the meet 49-15. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

MARK REIS

Mesa Ridge’s James Garrrett, top, on his way to pinning Cheyenne Mountain’s Martin McCarthy in their 195-pound match Thursday at Cheyenne Mountain High School. Mesa Ridge won the meet 49-15. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

MARK REIS