MEEKER | Twenty Barone Middle School wrestlers competed in Oak Creek last Saturday and three-quarters of them came back with medals, including four gold. The young Cowboys will end the regular season Saturday in Rangely in the Northwest League Championships, yet some wrestlers will continue on in the middle school regional tournament in Grand Junction, which will qualify them for the Middle School State tournament in Denver.
Kaden Franklin (100), Connor Blunt (115), Kelton Turner (145) and Parker Pontine (185) all won gold medals in their respective brackets. Trae Kennedy (85), Zach Eskelson (155) and Tanner Musser (165) were all runners-up, while Ty Goedert (90), Elijah LeBlanc (120) and Zagar Brown (125) were all consolation champs. Kaleb Nielsen (95), Hampton Hightower (110), Dagen Dade (120), Trinden Powell (125) and Dalton Portwood (140), all placed fourth. Chakwah Brink (80), Robert Foster (105), Damen Dade (110), Porter Hossack (120) and Tyson Portwood (125) all wrestled but did not place.
“Kaden and Connor were the stars of the day,” coach Morris said of the two wrestlers who beat opponents who had beaten them before.
Morris said Franklin was losing to an opponent who had beaten him the week before and with 12 seconds left in the match, Franklin threw a headlock and won by pin. Franklin also came back from a 1-5 deficit to win 6-5 in the championship match.
Blunt pinned two wrestlers who had beaten him before, including Duzik from Craig, as well as Hermosillo from Gypsum, who was undefeated before Blunt ended his winning streak.
The Northwest League Championships will start at 9 a.m., Saturday in Rangely.
