MEEKER I In the second week of the season, the Cowboy wrestling team won its first tournament in several years last Saturday in Oak Creek.
“It was good to see some success for all the hard work they have been putting in,” head coach J.C. Watt said of his team’s title.
Thirteen Cowboys wrestled in the tournament. Nine placed in the top four, six made it to the championship match and Meeker won four individual titles.
Freshman Tristin Pelloni was Meeker’s first champion of the day, pinning two of his three opponents in the 106-pound bracket.
“It was a great tournament for Tristin,” Watt said.
Pelloni’s classmate Anthony Watt won his second tournament of the season by winning five matches, including four by pin.
Cowboy sophomore Willis Begaye won three matches and the title at 160 and junior J.R. Crawford won the title in the 182-pound bracket by pinning all four of his opponents.
“This was a good confidence builder for J.R.,” Watt said.
Sophomore J.C. Henderson finished second at 126 and senior Justin Hardy was the runner-up at 170. Sophomores Aaron Cochran and Sebastian Clarke both finished third at 132 and 145 respectively. Clarke recorded two pins on his way to the consolation championship. Meeker’s final top four placer was Lathrop Hughes at 160.
Kylloe Goedert won a match at 106 but did not place, nor did Calvin Shepherd in the same weight.
Isaac Robertson (120) and Matt Frantz (138) wrestled but did not place.
“We saw improvement, taking better shots and wrestled better on bottom,” Watt said of his team’s progress.
The Cowboys will wrestle another tournament this Saturday in Kremmling before Christmas break.