MEEKER | After a successful weekend of regional wrestling, the Cowboys will be sending 10 to the state tournament Feb. 16-18 at Ball Arena in Denver.
Meeker finished the tournament in second place with six champions, a runner up, a third, and two fourth place finishes.
Dillon Hobbs, Bow Muxlow and Tristan Rollins wrestled hard but came up short of qualifying.
At 113 pounds Reed Goedert placed fourth. He will enter the state tournament unseeded.
At 126 pounds Clay Crawford placed third and will also be entering the state tournament unseeded.
Trae Kennedy placed second at 132, losing a tough match to a former state champion in the finals. He will be the five seed.
Abe Maupin won the 144 pound weight class, pinning three opponents in the process. Abe will hold the number two seed at state.
Connor Blunt (157), in a dominant performance, pinned all of his opponents in the first period. He is seeded second.
At 165 pounds, Cade Blunt, returning from an injury, defeated the third and fifth ranked wrestlers “in vintage Cade style,” commented assistant coach Stryker Lane. He is seeded first this weekend.
Trevor Keys placed fourth at 175 pounds; he will enter the state tournament unseeded.
Brendan Clatterbaugh pinned two opponents on his way to the 190 pound championship, earning the two seed.
Meeker’s defending state champion, Judd Harvey, continued his run of dominance over Colorado opponents as he pinned his way through the regional tournament. He holds the number one seed at 215 pounds.
Tanner Musser picked up two pins and a solid decision over his fourth ranked opponent in the finals. He will be the second seed at state.
The Cowboys will head to Denver on Wednesday.
“It is a short week of practice, the perfect amount of time to refocus and get ready to put everything on the line for the last time in the 2023 season,” commented Lane. Meeker has the chance to make a serious run at the state title this year. It will be an exciting tournament that you do not want to miss.”
NOTES ON TEAM SCORING FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT
Placement points:
16-12-9-7-5-3
If a wrestler places first they score 16 points for their team, 12 for second, nine for third, etc. Placements points are added to the team score the moment they are secured. For example, when a wrestler wins in the quarterfinals, he is guaranteed sixth place, so three points are added to the team’s score. If that same wrestler wins his semifinal match, he can no longer place lower than second, so nine points are added to the team score for a total of 12 placing points. If he wins his finals match, the final four points of the 16 for first are added to the team score.
Advancement points:
Two team points are scored for each match won in the championship bracket. One team point is scored for each match won in the consolation bracket. Advancement points are not awarded for the final, third or fifth place matches.
Quality (bonus) points:
● Two additional points are added for each match won by default, disqualification, fall, or forfeit.
● One and a half points for each match won by technical superiority, winning by 15 or more points. A match ends when technical superiority is achieved.
● One additional point for each match won by major decision, scoring at least eight more points than your opponent.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
