Hardy wins West Grand

MEEKER I “It was a good week for Hardy,” Meeker wrestling coach J.C. Watt said of senior Justin Hardy who won the 170-pound bracket last Saturday in Kremmling. Hayden won the team title, which featured 13 teams.
Hardy avenged a loss to Ryan Dawson of Hayden by pinning him in the championship match. Hardy lost to Dawson the previous week in the finals but evened the score in the West Grand tournament.
“Hardy was ready for him and was in better shape,” Watt said. Hardy pinned all five of his opponents.
J.C. Henderson also made it to the championship match but lost for a second time this year to T-Lane Mazzola of Hayden. Mazzola was a state runner-up as a freshman and fell ill as a sophomore before the state-qualifying regional tournament last year.
“J.C. lost 5-3 but it was a close 5-3 match,” Watt said of his 126-pounder.
Watt said Willis Begaye (145) “looked good” and Lathrop Hughes (160) won three matches. Both Cowboys finished third in their respective weights.
Sebastian Clarke won four matches in the 138-pound bracket and lost won to finish fourth. Wrestlers are not allowed to wrestle more than five matches in a day and Clarke lost the coin flip for the consolation championship.
Meeker freshman Tristin Pelloni also finished fourth, winning three matches at 106 but losing the coin flip in the consolation match, where his opponent already had five matches.
Calvin Shepherd (106), Kylloe Goedert (113), Isaac Robertson (120), Aaron Cochran (132), Austin Purcell (138), Matt Frantz (138), Anthony Watt (138) and Ethan Overton all wrestled but did not place.
Cochran, Purcell, Watt and Overton all won matches.
“We’re improving,” Watt said. The Cowboys finished fifth as a team in Kremmling.