ALAMOSA – The score may have indicated that the eighth-ranked Alamosa High School wrestling team won by a score of 48-22 over sixth-ranked Centauri. However, both head coaches agree that the dual meet was a lot closer than the score indicates.

“We had some close matches,” said Alamosa coach Rusty Johnson. “Centauri always has tough wrestlers. The score wasn’t reflective of the dual. We won some close ones and there were a couple of matches that were pins that were close and I thought would be toss-up matches that we did well in.”

“We had some tough matches and we moved some people around,” said Centauri coach Micah Keys. “We had some people out. But the matches that were wrestled were highly contested.”

The Falcons took the early lead as Erik Mestas pinned Tanner Quintana in 1:25 at 190 pounds.

That would be Centauri’s only lead. Mikey Trujillo tied the team score at 6-6 as he pinned Skylar Montague in the 215-pound match. James Sanchez then took a forfeit win at 285 pounds to give the Mean Moose a 12-6 lead.

Centauri got another win at 106 pounds as Matthew Salazar scored a 9-6 decision over Jeremiah DeLaCerda. Salazar recorded a takedown and a two-point near-fall in the first period, but DeLaCerda came back to close within 7-6 at the end of the second. DeLaCerda was in the top position for much of the third, but was unable to score. Salazar scored a late reversal to wrap up the scoring.

At 113 pounds, Anthony Griego won by a 10-2 major decision over Aundre Chavez. Griego led 5-0 at the end of the first, and he had a 10-2 lead after the second. Neither wrestler scored in the third.

The Mean Moose increased the lead to 19-9 at 120 pounds as Dempsey Gibbs won by a 10-3 decision over Riley Valdez. Gibbs took a 5-0 lead after the first period, and he increased the lead to 8-2 after the second.

Alamosa scored another win by fall at 126 pounds as Dario Valdez put Nathaniel Garcia on his back in just 51 seconds.

Dyson Woodward gave the Mean Moose their fourth consecutive win as he took a 15-0 technical fall over Diego Hernandez at 132. Woodward finished the match in 3:19.

The Falcons got back into the win column at 138 pounds as Parker Buhr won by a 12-0 major decision over Sage Rockcastle.

The Mean Moose won the next two matches by fall. First Donovan Valdez pinned Ivan Lopez in 3:07 at 144, then Xavier Ramierez scored a 38-second fall over Mason Moore at 150.

Kyler Liddell got Alamosa’s final win of the meet as he took a forfeit victory at 157.

Centauri would win the final two matches.

At 165 pounds, Spencer Smith won by an 8-6 decision over Jaxon Morgan. Smith took a 4-1 lead after the first period, but Morgan rallied to tie the score at 6-6 after the second. Smith won the match on a late takedown.

Josh Polkowske wrapped up the meet as he pinned Aaron Ramirez in 2:28 at 175 pounds.

Alamosa will travel to Berthoud for a tournament on Saturday.

“It’s up north and we’ll meet some of those guys up there,” Johnson said. “It will be tough.”

Centauri will host a tri-meet on Saturday against Buena Vista and Pagosa Springs.

“Buena Vista and Pagosa are pretty good,” Keys said. “Pagosa is in our league, but the way we worked out the league, we don’t always get to see them. But we make sure we see them because they’re always a good opponent.”

Alamosa 48, Centauri 22

190 – Mestas (C) pinned Quintana, 1:25; 215 – Trujillo (A) pinned Montague, 2:49; 285 – Sanchez (A) by forfeir; 106 – Salazar (C) dec. DeLaCerda, 9-6; 113 – Griego (A) maj. dec. Chavez, 10-2; 120 – Gibbs (A) dec. Valdez, 10-3; 126 – Da. Valdez (A) pinned Garcia, 0:51; 132 – Woodward (A) tech. fall Hernandez, 15-0, 3:19; 138 – Buhr (C) maj. dec. Rockcastle, 12-0; 144 – Do. Valdez (A) pinned Lopez, 3:07; 150 – X. Ramirez (A) pinned Moore, 0:38; 157 – Liddell (A) by forfeit; 165 – Smith (C) dec. Morgan, 8-6; 175 – Polkowske (C) pinned A. Ramirez, 2:28.