The Rio Blanco County Cheerleading squad, pictured during the Parade of Champions. The cheerleaders, who perform tirelessly at every game, meet and the “Big Show” are coached by Becky Ridings.
Meeker head coach J.C. Watt pictured with his assistants Tyrell Turner and Carl Padilla said “We have formed a pretty good team.”
Pelloni, the only senior from Rio Blanco County to qualify for the state tournament, gets pats on the back from his coaches for his stellar high school wrestling career.
Sophomore Jake Shelton won a match in the 152-pound bracket in his first “Big Show.”
Amick guaranteed himself a place on the podium by advancing to the championship semifinals. Amick, a junior, placed sixth in his first state tournament.
Down 14-3 in the third period, in the quarterfinal round of the state wrestling tournament, Meeker’s James Amick surprised the crowd with a pin, advancing him to the semifinals and guaranteeing himself a state medal.
Meeker’s Kai Turner and Todd Morris called the matches for western slope teams on KRAI radio.
bobby gutierrez photos
The Cowboys qualified five wrestlers for the state tournament; Tannen Kennedy, Jacob Pelloni and Ridge Williams, in front. Assistant coach Tyrell Turner, James Amick and Jake Shelton, pictured with head coach J.C. Watt and assistant coach Carl Padilla.
Pelloni used a bar arm to turn his Wray opponent upside down and pin him in the first round. Pelloni won more than 100 matches in his high school varsity career, qualified for the state tournament three times and placed twice.
Meeker’s only four-time state champion T.J. Shelton attended the state tournament. Shelton will wrestle in the a national qualifying, NCAA regional tourney this weekend for the Colorado School of Mines.
The lights are turned down in the Pepsi Center during the Parade of Champions, which featured Meeker Cowboys Jacob Pelloni and Tannen Kennedy, along with their coaches J.C. Watt and Tyrell Turner.
Pelloni qualified for the state tournament three times in his career, placing fourth last year and second this year at 120.
Rangely coaches Logan Osborne and J.C. Chumacero.
First-year Panther head coach J.C. Chumacero and his assistant Logan Osborne (right) coached first-time qualifier Tytus Coombs, a sophomore in the “Big Show.”
Sophomore Big Ridge Williams won two matches in the 195-pound division, including a takedown in overtime win his first match, in the first round, of his first state tournament, celebrated by his coaches.
Two-time Olympian and 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman gold medalist, Rulan Garner was introduced before the state finals Saturday.
Kennedy has had his arm raised 109 times during his three-year varsity career, which includes, a regional championship, three trips to the state tournament, where he has placed twice.
Kennedy moved up two places on the podium this year, finishing as the runner-up at 138.
Rangely sophomore Tytus Coombs won 25 matches this year and qualified for the state tournament as a regional consolation champ.
