Photo by Wayne Crick

Delta 126-pounder Shane Anderson maneuvers to get free of his Rifle opponent in a dual match earlier in the season. Anderson lost his third-place match to Palisade’s Justin Ray last week in the 4A regionals in Gypsum but still qualified for state.

McCracken's second-place finish in the 145-pound division marked the highest finish for a Panther in this year's regional tournament, which was held in Gypsum at Eagle Valley High School.

The Panthers finished sixth overall with 113.5 points. Roosevelt placed first with 204.5 points and was followed by Palisade with 168 points.

In the 145-pound title match, McCracken was shutout by a 15-0 score by Montrose's Geordan Hudson.

At 138, Hernandez gave the Panthers a third-place finish after he defeated Moffat County's Garrett Stewart on a 4-3 decision.

Anderson battled Palisade's Justin Ray for third place in the 126-pound class. Ray took third with a 5-1 decision.

The pairings for this week's state wrestling tournament are out with Anderson (25-11) drawing Windsor's Seth Villa (21-6) in his 126-pound opener.

At 138, Hernandez (29-10) takes on Niwot's Nick Stager and McCracken will take his 30-5 slate into his first match against Discovery Canyon's Tyler Oberg (23-10).