Dolores wrestling gets new coach, returns state qualifier, eyes regionals

Dolores High School entered the winter season with a new head coach and a roster that reflected growing participation, as construction of the school at 14th Street and Central Avenue continued nearby. DHS alumnus Ben Doss, a 1992 graduate who wrestled in college and worked as a volunteer assistant and with the peewee program, stepped into the head coaching role and immediately emphasized effort and continuity.

A few meets into the season the Bears showed signs of competitiveness in the San Juan Basin League, anchored by senior Nathan Hill, the program’s lone returning state qualifier. Junior Kenji Edwards provided additional experience as the coaching staff looked to upperclassmen to lead a team that included many first year high school wrestlers filling smaller weight classes. Doss said, "I like the attitude of this team," and noted the commitment he has seen over several seasons working with younger athletes.

Doss’s ties to Dolores go beyond his graduation year. He returned after serving as a volunteer assistant and working with the community peewee program, creating a pipeline from youth mat time to the high school roster. "It’s cool to come back to where I started my wrestling career," he said. He added that long term contact with this cohort mattered, saying, "After I’ve worked with them over the last four years as middle schoolers, stepping into the head coaching role wasn’t a big change." On the mat he pointed to sustained off season work, saying, "Many of the kids have been wrestling since the summer, there’s a lot of dedication."

The Bears will test themselves in several January tournaments, beginning with Pagosa Springs on January 10, followed by the Clash at the Coliseum in Farmington the next weekend and the Butch Melton tournament in Ignacio. Those competitions lead into the SJBL Duals on February 5 and the Class 2A regionals on February 13 and 14 at Ball Arena level competition in February.

For Dolores County the season represents both athletic and civic continuity. A deeper youth pipeline promises steady rosters in coming years, while the presence of a local alumnus as coach strengthens ties between school construction, community programs, and student achievement on a visible winter stage.