MHS Cowboys finish fourth in Delta

MEEKER I “We’re improving,” is what Meeker High School wrestling coach J.C. Watt wants his patented answer to be when asked how his team performed.
“Improvement” is Watt’s weekly team goal and, according to the coach, it was accomplished again Saturday in Delta, where the Cowboys finished fourth as a team with 153 points, five behind Cedaredge. The Paonia Eagles, currently ranked No. 1 in 2A and arguably one of the best teams in the state in any class, continue to dominate the field, winning the tournament with 281.5 points, 50 ahead of runner-up and 4A host Delta. The Cowboys are currently ranked No. 2, behind the Eagles in 2A, by On The Mat Rankings.
The Cowboys filled 11 of 14 weights, wrestled 42 matches, won 26, of which 14 were by pin, and all of Meeker’s varsity wrestlers contributed to the team score by winning at least one match.
“This is the second week in a row, where all of our kids won a match,” Watt stated.
Meeker’s defending state champion, T.J. Shelton, made his debut this season and was the only Cowboy to win an individual title at 170. Shelton’s sophomore classmate, Devon Pontine, also wrestled in the championship match and finished as the runner-up at 160.
Meeker freshman Sheridan Harvey continues to wrestle well. Harvey was a consolation champ at 106, going 4-1 in the tournament, and he led the Cowboys with four pins. Harvey’s classmate and cousin, Casey Turner, also placed third at 145. Meeker junior Tristin Pelloni (120) and sophomore Dillon Frantz (152) finished as consolation champs in their respective weights.
Senior Calvin Shepherd went 2-2 in the tournament and finished fourth at 113. Freshmen Hunter Garcia (138) and Tyler Ilgen (285) both won two matches and placed fifth in their respective weights. Kylloe Goedert (125) and Sam Lange (132) each won a match and finished sixth in their brackets.
Coach Watt said Jake Henderson, Chase Rule, Josh Cochran, Cody Nielsen and Nick Burri all won matches in the JV tournament they wrestled in Rifle. Henderson finished second, Rule third and Cochran placed fourth.
Coach Watt hopes to get varsity wrestlers J.C. Henderson, Willis Begaye (both seniors) and junior Anthony Watt back in the lineup for Saturday’s tournament in Kremmling. The three were taking ACT tests Saturday.