The Cinderella story almost had a different ending. The small Norwood Mavericks wrestling team, competing with just nine of the 14 weight classes, left the San Juan Basin League Championship thinking they had secured second place. On the way home, aboard the bus, they realized that the judges had made a scoring error.
They turned the bus around.
“For the first time in 30 years we won the San Juan Basin League Championship,” beamed Coach Denny Johnson. “It’s been a long time. Our nine (wrestlers) had to be solid enough to come through, and they did.”
Norwood’s wrestling team is having a terrific season, and all of the athletes have been performing at their peak. Two of the wrestlers, Hugh Hardman ad Stryker Lane, are ranked first in the state. At Saturday’s tournament, with just nine wrestlers competing, Johnson said every match was pivotal.
“For me, the outstanding wrestler of the event was Billy Fourney,” said Johnson. “He deserves recognition. He pinned a really good kid, and so we were able to win (the championship).”
Along with Fourney’s win in the 145-lb. weight class, Seth Gabardi took first in the 119-lb. weight class, Hugh Hardman took first in the 140-lb. weight class and Stryker Lane took first in the 215-lb. weight class.
Several wrestlers finished in second place among all of the other wrestlers in the league: Dustin Winner, Trevor Ragsdale, Clay Grammer and Ethan Alexander. Darrel Jensen came up with a third place finish to seal the team’s victory.
“They wrestled really well,” said Coach Dirk Hardman.
The Mavericks head to the regional competition this weekend at Grand Junction.

Basketball teams split games at Dove Creek

Norwood Mavericks boys basketball team served up more buckets than a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant on Saturday night against Dove Creek. The Mavs beat the Bears, 60-21.
Coach Doc Williams said that one of the Dove Creek players was ineligible, and that one had a separated shoulder, so the Mavs were able to capitalize on the opportunity to play against some of the Bears’ second string.
“It was a very good game for us,” said Williams. “Dove Creek was a little shorthanded.”
Williams said that the offensive highlight of the game was senior Jesse Efurd’s four three-point shots in the first quarter. Efurd was also able to draw a foul in the second quarter to add two more points. He finished the game with 19 points, and Williams was proud that Efurd did his best to pass the ball to his teammates after that to give them scoring opportunities.
“Jesse made a consummate effort after those buckets to get the ball to his teammates,” said Williams.
Eric McKinney scored 12 points against Dove Creek; Gabriel Torres had 10, Nate Johsnon had 8, Zach Andrews, 7, and Austin Johnson and Tye Johnson each had 2.
The Junior Varsity boys also fared well against Dove Creek, winning 34-11.
“It was a good game,” said Williams.
Nate Johnson was the high scorer with 10 points, and he scored those points in the second quarter, the only quarter in which he played.
Austin Johnson had 9 points, Talon Thompson had 4, Taylor Sutherlin had 4, Ty Smith had 3, and Jesus Salinas and Brian Hanner each had 2.
“Brian Hanner made an effort to get the ball to his teammates, and he had a lot of assists,” said Williams.
The teams travel to Nucla on Friday, and on Saturday, they play Mancos at home, the first of three home games.
“We’ve been on the road for a long time,” said Williams. “It’s nice to be home again.”
The Lady Mavericks basketball team lost on Saturday against Dove Creek, by 53-43. Coach Jan Gillen said that the game was close during all four quarters.
“We were right there throughout the game,” said Gillen. “What hurt us were a few turnovers … but we were playing as good as ever.”
Sam Oliver was the high scorer against Dove Creek, with 21 points in the game.
Like the boys, the girls’ team will play their league rivals, the Nucla Mustangs, on Friday, and Mancos on Saturday at home. The girls beat Nucla the last time they played the Mustangs, and lost to Mancos by just two baskets.
“It’s coming down to the end of the year, so we should start to peak,” said Gillen. “We need to play really well this weekend,”