Dayton High’s Colby Brunjes works atop an opponent from Lowry High at the Douglas High wrestling Invitational Saturday in Minden. Brunjes won the 152-pound weight class with three wins by pin.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Dayton High wrestling head coach Bryan Parsons says the Dust Devils are no longer an easy out when it comes to performances on the mat.
Saturday at the Douglas Invitational in Minden, Dayton took eighth place out of 17 teams.
“I am loving this team’s performance. Two years ago, when I started with this team, we were pretty much the league doormat,” said Parsons. “Now we are finishing in higher places. The biggest thing going against us is we have a small team. Individual efforts, I am beyond ecstatic for these boys.”
Colby Brunjes led the way for the Dust Devils, taking home 26 team points after a first place finish in the 152-pound weight class.
Brunjes won three of his matches by fall and one by decision en route to his top-of-the-podium finish.
“This last one, I started off really bad. I got thrown in the first period,” said Brunjes. “There’s always a little bit of panic when you’re on your back.”
Brunjes worked his way back from a 6-2 deficit in the first period to picking up a win by pin in 3:48.
At 16-2 this season, Brunjes says he’s determined to make it to the state tournament this season.
“I’m 12-0 at this weight class. I’m just looking forward to regionals and state and stuff,” said Brunjes.
At 145 pounds, Jay Parsons was third for the Dust Devils, putting together another nice comeback in the third place match.
Parsons got a little turnaround early, but was able to work his way back in the opening period with a win by fall.
“That’s almost becoming Jay’s trademark. He puts himself in these positions and I’m sitting here going, ‘what are you doing?’” Parsons said. “But he pulls himself out of it. He gets these pins. I don’t understand why he does it, but it’s working for him.”
Parsons is now 12-6 this season while his teammate, Diego Ibarra Lopez, has put together an 8-6 record at 160 pounds.
Ibarra Lopez took fourth for Dayton on Saturday, earning three wins in a row by pin after falling in the quarterfinals.
“Diego had some solid wins to get into the medal rounds,” said Parsons.
At about the midpoint of the season, Dayton’s head coach wants his team to keep stringing together results.
“If I think back to our first tournament of the year, there improvement is just through the roof,” said Parsons. “The Dayton High wrestling team is no longer the league doormat. We are coming.”
