Rangely’s Harleigh Prater finishes fourth in girls’ wrestling tournament
Although she wrestles for Grand Junction Central, Harleigh Prater is a true Panther. She led the way for the Rangely wrestlers at a very good first state tournament.
Prater won her first two matches which guaranteed her a spot on the podium. She had a very solid semifinal match where she was defeated by a senior wrestler. In the consolation side, Prater defeated a senior 6-0, then pinned her next opponent, and the match to get her into the third/fourth place match she won 8-3. In her last tournament match, she was defeated by the number two seed to place fourth. Prater wrestled very well, and she has a very bright wrestling future ahead of her.
Aydan Christian competed in his second state tournament. He had a tough draw his first match, and didn’t wrestle like he could wrestle. On day two, he wrestled with enthusiasm and determination. Christian came out with fire in his first match and quickly pinned his opponent. In his second match of the day was against Koy Weber of Meeker. Weber was dominating the match early, but Christian reversed Weber and threw in a tight cradle and was able to get the fall. Christian’s last match of the tournament was against Martinez from Cedaredge, after a 0-0 first period Martinez opted down. Christian threw in the legs and Martinez hit with a roll and caught Christian on his back. We believe this 120-pounder will be on the podium next year. Senior Jaxon Torsell started his first state tournament with a very exciting pin. In match two Torsell lost, this set up the hard way to place. He pinned his opponent from Limon and with this win needed one more to place. Torsell wrestled Gargus from Cedaredge in a very close match. With time running out, Torsell was down by one point, scored a reversal and caught Gargus on his back for the pin. That win secured him a medal. He lost his next two matches and ended his high school career with a sixth place medal. We want to congratulate these three wrestlers for a job well done. Also congratulations to the Meeker Cowboys on being 2024 state champions, what a way to send JC Watts and Carl Padilla into retirement.
