RANGELY | The Rangely Middle School wrestling team hosted the Meeker Cowboys last Thursday in a dual and then wrestled in Kremmling Saturday. The young Panthers will wrestle in Oak Creek Saturday.
“Meeker pretty much took it to us,” Rangely coach Jeff LeBleu said. “I think our younger wrestlers are wrestling timid and in time, I hope we can get them over that bump. There were some good matches and it was good to get everyone on both squads matches.”
Winning matches for the Panthers were Anthony Dorris, Dontea Pearce and Zane Varner.
The Panthers traveled to Kremmling for the West Grand tournament and coach LeBleu said, “We wrestled a little better but still a little intimidated. We have eight sixth-graders on the squad and it’s a big step up from the pee wee league. They are improving but there’s a lot of work ahead of us.”
Rangely crowned two champions: eighth-graders AJ Garner at 125 pounds and Zane Varner at 130 pounds. Varner is Rangely’s only undefeated wrestler.
Placing second were Colton Stevens at 70 and Anthony Dorris at 75. Third place finishers Braxton Hall (85), Dontea Pearce (125), Austin Davis (155) and Byron Mackay at heavyweight. Fourth place finishers were Curtis Reeves (75), Kevin Wren (80), Miriah Hensen (80), Tykir Bateman (135) and Brent Cantrell at 155.
Wrestling but not placing this week were JJ Mount (105), Kasen LeBleu (115) and Aaron Mendoza (180).
“This week the team would like to thank Kyle and JLynn Wren, Brenda Ahrens, along with Kevin and Tami Williams for supplying the fruit and meat trays to the team and to the parents and grandparents who made the trip to support the team,” coach LeBleu said. “And a very special thanks to Cheryl Peed for all the awesome pictures she takes of all the wrestlers every week.”