Harvey wins tourney in Delta, Cowboys take fourth

MEEKER | The defending 2A state champion Meeker Cowboys still do not have a full team but they did fill 11 of 14 weight divisions in the Delta Invitational last Saturday and placed eight of them in the top four, including one champion.
Many of the varsity wrestlers played in the recent state football championship game, then wrestled after only four days of practice. Meeker finished fourth as a team behind champions Cedaredge, Hotchkiss and Delta.
The Cowboys will close out the 2016 part of the season by competing in the annual Warrior Classic this weekend in Grand Junction.
“We are not in wrestling shape yet,” Meeker head coach J.C. Watt said. “The kids wrestled well though, we just ran out of gas.”
Meeker senior Sheridan Harvey won the 145-pound bracket, winning three matches, a 12-0 major decision and two pins, including one in the championship match against Cole Roberts of Delta.
Meeker sophomore Tannen Kennedy (126), along with seniors Caleb Bradford (220) and Tyler Ilgen (heavyweight), also advanced to the championship match of their respective brackets and all three finished as runners-up.
Freshman Colton Wille (106), sophomore Jacob Pelloni, senior Garrett Frantz (138), and Hunter Garcia (160) all placed fourth in their respective weight classes.
Freshman Tevin Pelloni (132) and senior Cody Nielsen (152) both won a match but did not place and freshman Ridge Williams wrestled two matches in the 195-pound bracket.
“The Warrior is also a tough, early-season tournament, again, we are not in shape yet but hopefully we continue to get better,” Coach Watt said.