Wrestlers on dual streak

MEEKER I The Cowboy wrestling team ended the regular season with a four-dual winning streak, all in front of their hometown fans, the week before the state-qualifying regional tournament.
“The kids did really well,” head coach J.C. Watt said of his team’s wins against Hayden, Moffat County, West Grand and Soroco. “I was glad we looked decent in front or our home fans.”
The Cowboys beat Hayden 36-29 in a dual Feb. 1, then beat Moffat County 34-33 Saturday last, when Meeker also wrestled and defeated West Grand (48-6) and Soroco (41-12).
Freshman Tristin Pelloni and junior Lathrop Hughes both pinned their Hayden opponents to help the Cowboys beat the Tigers on Parents’ Night in Meeker’s first home match of the season last Thursday.
Sophomore J.C. Henderson won by technical fall (15 points) against Moffat County and senior Justin Hardy currently ranked No. 1 in 2A at 170 pinned his Bulldog in the first period and he pinned another from Glenwood Springs, who brought some wrestlers to Meeker for matches.
Isaac Robertson and J.R. Crawford both pinned opponents from Soroco and Aaron Cochran won by technical fall at 138.
“I was glad to see Isaac get a pin in front of his home crowd,” Watt said of his 120-pounder.
Senior Ethan Overton also pinned one of his opponents Saturday and Kylloe Goedert moved up from 106 to fill the varsity spot at 112.
The Cowboys will fill 11 of the 14 varsity weights in the regional tournament, which will be held at Grand Junction Central High School, starting this Friday at 6 p.m. The regional tournament will feature 11 teams, including the No. 1 ranked Paonia Eagles and No. 10 Dove Creek, along with Norwood, Nucla, Dolores, North Park, West Grand, Rangely and the Cowboys.
“We’ve seen all the teams, including Paonia and Dove Creek, and if we wrestle well we should be in the top five,” Watt said. “We have 11 going to try and make it, they’ll give it their best try.”
Representing the Cowboys at the regional tournament will be Tristin Pelloni (106), Kylloe Goedert (112), Isaac Robertson (120), J.C. Henderson (125), Anthony Watt (132), Sebastian Clarke (138), Willis Begaye (145), Lathrop Hughes (160), Justin Hardy (171), J.R. Crawford (182) and Ethan Overton at 195.