Cowboy wrestlers fall to Glenwood

MEEKER — The Cowboy wrestling team won half of the varsity matches wrestled against the Glenwood Springs Demons last Friday. But 36 points in forfeits left the Cowboys on the short end of the 21-58 final score.
“The kids’ conditioning looked better than the week before and they wrestled more aggressively,” Meeker High School wrestling coach Joe Gutierrez said.
Meeker won four of eight varsity matches wrestled against the Demons and also split the two JV matches wrestled.
The dual started with the 189-pound match featuring Cowboy senior Aaron Webster, who pinned his opponent in the first period after taking him down and scoring back points twice.
Sophomore William Begaye was pinned in the 215-pound match and Meeker gave up forfeits at heavyweight and 103. Senior Matt Moody won Meeker’s second match 10-4 in the 112-pound bout. Freshman Ean Barrow was pinned at 119 and Meeker gave up two more forfeits at 125 and 135 before senior Jared Doll lost a close one (2-3) at 135.
“It was a little mistake that cost us the match with Jared,” Gutierrez said. “It could have went either way.”
Meeker gave up two more forfeits at 140 and 145, before junior Pat Love got revenge for a loss earlier in the season by his Glenwood Springs opponent. Love put his opponent in a Sanders’ cradle and pinned McCallum, with eight seconds left in the first period.
Freshman Christopher Ruckman was pinned in the 160-pound bout but senior Andrew Lawrence excited the hometown crowd by picking up his opponent and taking him to his back. Lawrence pinned his opponent as the buzzer for the first period sounded.
“Andrew is looking good,” Gutierrez said.
Freshman Justin Hardy pinned his opponent in the first period in a JV match at 152 and classmate Collin Cochran made it to the third period before being pinned.
Gutierrez said Meeker will have a full week, with a dual against Moffat County in Craig tonight and then host Rifle Friday before competing in the league tournament this Saturday in Kremmling.
“It’s going to be a tough week and it’s not going to get any easier,” Gutierrez said. “The league tournament will be a good opportunity for us to see some kids we’ll see at regionals and haven’t wrestled yet.”
Meeker will wrestle in a triangular in Rangely next Tuesday against the host Panthers and Altmont, Utah.