MEEKER — Cowboy senior Jared Doll finished second last Saturday in the Delta Invitational wrestling tournament. Five other Meeker wrestlers won matches and placed in the top six.
“It was a tougher tournament,” Coach Joe Gutierrez said of the competition, which included ranked teams, like Grand Valley, which is third in 3A, and Rifle currently ranked seventh in 4A.
Doll pinned his first opponent in the 135 pound bracket and won 7-6 in the semifinals. Doll was pinned by James Drinkhouse of Grand Valley, who is currently ranked third in 3A.
“Jared wrestled well,” Gutierrez said.
Senior Andrew Lawrence, junior Patrick Love and freshmen Christopher Ruckman and William Begaye all won their last matches of the tournament to finish fifth in their respective brackets.
Lawrence, Love and Ruckman all won three matches at 171, 152 and 160, respectively, and each pinned two opponents. Begaye also recorded two pins at 215, as did senior Aaron Webster at 189. Webster finished sixth.
Freshmen Justin Hardy (152) and Ethan Overton (171) both wrestled but did not place. Senior Matt Moody and freshman Ean Barrow did not wrestle but should be well enough to wrestle in the West Grand tournament this weekend in Kremmling.
“Our conditioning is getting better,” Gutierrez said. “We still have some simple things we need to correct to get us through close matches, so we start winning more of them.”
Cejudo clinic
MEEKER — Santa Claus will be dropping off an angel to area wrestlers Dec. 22, for the Cradle the Claus wrestling clinic, sponsored by the ERBM Recreation and Parks District.
Angel Cejudo, who finished his high school career undefeated in 150 matches and won four state titles, will be the main clinician Dec. 22, starting at 10 a.m.
Instruction will be given from 10 a.m. until noon with a three-hour break before another one-hour session, starting at 3 p.m. A takedown challenge will follow from 5-6 p.m.
The clinic is for all area wrestlers kindergarten through eighth-grade at a cost of $20, with all proceeds benefiting the Meeker Wrestling Club. Those attending the clinic will be allowed to play in the aquatics center for just $1 more, the day of the clinic.