Photo by Tamie Meck

Eagles take flight at state

The Paonia Eagles claimed their second consecutive 2A state wrestling title Saturday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Eagles sent 13 wrestlers to state and placed 11. Head coach Andy Pipher (front row, second from right) was named the state and Class 2A Coach of the Year. See complete coverage of Paonia, Cedaredge, Delta and Hotchkiss on pages B5-8.

Photo by Tamie Meck Chelsy Reed defends against Hotchkiss point guard Natalie Anderson in Paonia’s Feb. 19 conference win at Hotchkiss. Paonia’s defense held Hotchkiss to six field goals. The game was the last on the schedule before the district tournament. Hotchkiss hosted a pigtail game against Hayden Tuesday night. A win gives them the No. 3 seed at the tournament, which opens Friday at Paonia High School.Under head coach Eric Hollembeak, the Lady Bulldogs are making a big impression in their first year in the 2A Western Slope League. Hotchkiss wrapped up the season on Feb. 19 with a 55-39 loss to Paonia, but its 12-7, 6-3 overall record put it in third place in the WSL heading into this week's District 5 tournament.

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Photo by Tamie Meck Paonia post Lane Clawson (25) blocks Bulldog Mason Oxford in Paonia’s 67-66 conference win over Hotchkiss. The two teams met again last night, Feb. 26, to determine which team advanced to the District 5 tournament in Paonia.The long-standing rivalry between Hotchkiss and Paonia has been at a fevered pitch the last two weeks. On Feb. 19, the two teams faced off on the basketball court for the third time this season, and for the first time, Paonia claimed the win, defeating Hotchkiss, 67-66.

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Photo by Rich Meck Paonia’s Jesse Reed looks for an opening at the start of the state 2A championship round against Stetson Loader of Baca County. Reed, a sophomore, defeated Loader to claim his second state title for the Eagles.The oldest sport known to man, wrestling, has come of age. Or at least the way scores are kept has.

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