Hillary Gutierrez becomes first female state wrestling qualifier from Battle Mountain High School
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Hillary Gutierrez placed second at the 4A Region 2 wrestling tournament last weekend, becoming the first Battle Mountain student to qualify for the Colorado girls state wrestling tournament.
Gutierrez pinned her way past Paislee Mestas and Audrina Velasquez in the quarterfinals and semifinals before losing to Moffat County’s Sydney Preston in the 120-pound final. The Husky senior joined Kim Gardea as one of the original two athletes on the first Battle Mountain girls team formed three years ago. She returned from a recent concussion to win an exhibition match in her last home regular season meet before punching her ticket to state, which begins on Thursday at Ball Arena.
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Ayla Hampton also qualified for state after winning the 130-pound weight class. Hampton — who attends Summit High School but competes for the Huskies — pinned her way through the bracket, defeating Gunnison’s Evelyne Cope in the final.
Renata Alba placed fifth at 170 pounds and Clara Traylor and Christina Vasquez were both sixth at 110 and 105 pounds, respectively, as well for Battle Mountain. The Huskies finished seventh out of 17 teams.
The Battle Mountain boys had two athletes place at regions, with Mitchell Skarupa and Robert Young both finishing sixth at 113 and 138 pounds, respectively.
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Gutierrez (11-9) will Manitou Spring’s Alex Traenkle (27-10) in the first round of the 4A state tournament. Hampton (23-3) faces off against Fort Morgan’s Amarae Venegas (16-8). The of the tournament runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will be.