In head coach JC Watt and assistant coach Carl Padilla’s last year at the Warrior Classic the Cowboys tied for first in small schools with Center.
“This is one of the hardest tournaments that we will attend this year,” commented Watt.
In fact, not competing in the Warrior is detrimental to seeding at the state tournament as the Warrior is a seeding tournament for the final big show of the year.
The Cowboys are still not a full team, missing a 106-pound wrestler, 113, and 157. There is still a lot of time in the season for the team to move around and optimally fill the open slots to be competitive for the state title.
Reed Goedert, Tanner Goodwin, Coy Richardson, Clay Crawford, Jake Blazon and Trevor Keys didn’t make it out of the first day.
“We had a handful of boys that won some matches, but it is a tough tournament,” Watt said.
Crawford at 138 had one of the toughest brackets of the tournament with a two-time state champion from Uintah and another from Fort Lupton who is one of four kids in the state of Colorado going for their fourth title.
“We take them to these types of tournaments as you improve only by wrestling tough competition,” commented Watt. “Some of them are still getting experience but these types of matches prepare us for the post-season.”
Four Cowboys remained to see another day of wrestling: freshman Koy Weber at 126, Brendan Clatterbaugh at 190, Judd Harvey at 215 and Noah LeBlanc at 285.
Weber won two close matches and was just one match from placing.
“Koy is improving every week, he lost to a two-time state champ from Uintah and then wrestled four more matches and continued to improve with each one,” Watt said.
The Cowboys have not seen a champion since 2018 and Clatterbaugh was the first of two Warrior champions for the Cowboys.
“Buzz still has not been scored on all year and has pinned everyone,” commented Watt. “I do not know that we have had a kid that has had that happen yet.”
Harvey, who took second place in 2022, was able to get it done this year and was the second champion for the Cowboys. Harvey pinned his way through the tournament dominating each of his opponents.
“Judd has been better than everyone he has wrestled,” said Watt, “and he is dominating.”
“Judd and Buzz used to not cooperate with one another in the wrestling room when they were younger, and they are now excellent partners for each other,” commented Watt. “They both push each other in the room but it is not competitive, it is truly making each of them better.”
Clatterbaugh and Harvey’s final pins were highly unconventional and effective.
LeBlanc competed for his first time at the Warrior. As a freshman and sophomore injuries kept him out of the room and then a senior wrestler competed last year while he got some mat time at another tournament. LeBlanc lost in the semifinals to a highly rated Fruita wrestler, then worked his way back pinning in his finals match and taking fifth place.
“Noah is still gathering experience and he missed years because of injury, although he is a senior he is improving each week,” said Watt. “He doesn’t have as much experience as our other seniors.”
The JV tournament was just across town at Fruita High School. Padilla led the team in the two-day event.
“We have some young kids that need some mat time and with each of them we are seeing improvement each day,” commented Padilla. “Many of them are starting to see the winning side of the matches and becoming more aggressive, which will make them more competitive.
The JV team includes Wyatt Powers, Hayden Shultz, Tristan Rollins, Nathan McLaughlin, Aiden Buckler, Konnor Fichter, Johnny Rust, Wyatt Ross, Drake Jones, Orion Musser, Brycen Peña and Remy Broussard.
Senior Powers took second after being away from wrestling for nearly a decade and Hayden Shults pinned his way handily to first place.
“It is still early in the season and we have room and time for a lot of growth,” said Watt. “From here on out the JV and varsity will compete in the same location.”
The Cowboys head back to the Grand Junction Valley to dual Palisade Thursday before a brief break for Christmas. Then before returning to school, they will compete in a Friday/Saturday tournament in Vernal, Utah.
Koy Weber, Judd Harvey, Brendan Clatterbaugh, and Noah LeBlanc made it to the second day of competition at the Warrior Classic. Clatterbaugh and Harvey both wrestled their way to the first Cowboy Classic championships since 2018. Tiffany Jehorek photos
