Cowboys head for regional tournament

MEEKER I After the Grand Valley Cardinals canceled their dual meet against the Cowboys, the Meeker wrestling team scrambled to get more competition before the state-qualifying regional tournament and found it in Hayden.
Eight Cowboys wrestled matches against kids from Hayden, Soroco and Moffat County, in preparation for the regional tournament this weekend in Palisade.
“It was good to get more mat time and no one got hurt,” coach Joe Gutierrez said of the matches last Thursday.
Sophomore Justin Hardy pinned both of his opponents, while senior Pat Love pinned one and won another by points.
“Justin is looking good,” Gutierrez said of the 160-pounder.
Cody Pfau (103) and Logan Piper (145) also won matches in Hayden.
“JR (Crawford) had another barn burner against the Hayden kid, but we came up short again,” Gutierrez said of Crawford’s 7-6 loss to the wrestler he lost to in triple overtime the week before. “I told JR, this coming weekend is the one we want to win,” Gutierrez said referring to the regional tournament, where he hopes to qualify wrestlers for the state tournament.
“If we get bracketed right, we could take some kids,” Gutierrez said. “It’s all about them stepping up and making this happen, because this is the time they need to shine. If they don’t place in the top four, they stay home.”
Gutierrez hopes to get senior Tony Bartucco (140) back into the lineup, which includes Ethan Overton (189), Collin Cochran (215) and Caleb Dodds at heavyweight.
• The regional tournament will be held at Palisade High School, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Things pick back up Saturday starting at 10 a.m.