The Durango High School girls wrestling team showcased their skills during a home dual against North Fork on January 19, 2024, despite losing 48-27. Most of North Fork’s points came from forfeits in weight classes where Durango did not have competitors. The Demons excelled in the matches they participated in, winning five out of six contests and building on their recent success at the Clash of the Coliseum, where they finished fifth out of 24 schools on January 17.
Sophomore Sydney McAllister set a positive tone for the evening with an 8-3 victory at 105 pounds against North Fork’s Audrina Sanchez. Junior Marie Baker made a strong comeback after dealing with injuries, pinning North Fork’s Avery Flores at 120 pounds. “She didn’t miss a beat,” said Ryan McGrath, head coach of the Durango girls wrestling team. “The conditioning looked good, and her technique was on point. It was good.”
The winning streak continued as junior Aleia Fenburg pinned Sunshine Deherrera at 130 pounds, followed by her twin sister, Lillian Fenburg, who achieved a pin in under 30 seconds against Danika Queen at 140 pounds. Freshman Timber Zink concluded the competitive matches with a pin over Khloe Holden at 155 pounds in less than a minute. Following these matchups, the Demons also won five exhibition matches, further demonstrating their prowess.
This home event provided an excellent opportunity for the team to perform in front of friends and family, as well as for younger or inexperienced wrestlers to witness high school competition. Reflecting on their recent tournament success, McGrath commented on the importance of performance structure. “What we talked about was for state, the top four at regionals qualify,” he explained. “At Clash, everybody’s goal was to make the top four… you have to be decisive, be intentional, be aware of what’s going on, work through those matches, and know where you are. They all did a great job.”
At the Clash of the Coliseum, Farmington took first place with a total of 205.5 points, while Durango secured fifth with 105 points, marking them as the top Colorado school in the competition. Ignacio finished in 11th place, and Bayfield came in 19th. The Fenburg twins were standout performers, with Lillian clinching first at 140 pounds and Aleia taking second at 130 pounds. Lillian dominated her matches, pinning all four opponents, including Kayci Phillips from Aztec in the finals, where she led 16-4. Aleia showcased her talent as well, winning her first two matches before being pinned in the final against Aztec’s Cheyenne Yellow.
McAllister finished fourth in her weight class, achieving her highest placement at a tournament so far. She won her opening match but faced a setback in the quarterfinals against Piedra Vista’s Brooklyn Jacquez. Bouncing back, she won three consolation matches before facing Jacquez again in the third-place match, narrowly losing 9-7. “I was really excited,” McAllister shared. “That’s the highest I’ve ever placed at a tournament. I had some really good matches there; I had some matches where it was so close.”
Zink also had a strong showing, finishing fifth at 155 pounds. After pinning her first opponent, she lost to top-seeded Ioanna Ueanimatang from Farmington but rebounded to win her fifth-place match against Octaviana John from Piedra Vista. Freshman Haidyn Albrecht and junior Keelyn Reynolds both placed sixth in their weight classes. Reynolds, competing at 120 pounds, won her first two matches before sustaining an injury that led to three consecutive losses. Albrecht, at 135 pounds, faced an initial defeat but rallied to win her first three consolation matches before ultimately losing her last two.
Looking ahead, the Demons were initially scheduled to compete in Olathe, but due to weather conditions, they redirected their focus to the Butch Melton Classic at Ignacio High School. Following this event, the team is set to head to Canon City on January 26, 2024, as they continue to build momentum with the state competition approaching.
