MEEKER | The Cowboys started their week at home against Palisade on Thursday.
“Jake Blazon kicked off the evening with an impressive come-from-behind win in sudden victory at 157 pounds,” commented assistant coach Stryker Lane.
This kicked off a series of five consecutive pins from Connor Blunt (165), Trevor Keys (175), Brendan Clatterbaugh (190), Hayden Shults (215), and Tanner Musser at heavyweight.
Dillon Hobbs (106) came out on the short end of an exciting 12-9 decision against the eighth ranked 4A wrestler.
Hobb’s match was followed by pins from Reed Goedert (113) and Bow Muxlow (120).
“At 126 Clay Crawford won a solid 6-1 decision over a ranked opponent,” said Lane. “Tristan Rollins wrestled hard at 138, but was unable to win his match against the second ranked Palisade opponent.”
In the final bout of the night Abe Maupin (144) pinned his opponent in the first period, making the final team score 60-9 in favor of the Cowboys.
After a relatively short trip on Saturday to Parachute for the Grand Valley Great 8 Dual Tournament, Meeker looked just as dominant. The first dual against Hayden was the closest contest of the day, with Meeker winning by a score of 48-27. The victory included five pins from Crawford, Kennedy, Blunt, Shults and Musser. Blazon and Clatterbaugh won their matches by decision.
In round two Meeker defeated Grand Valley by a score of 63-18. Crawford, Maupin, Blunt, Blazon, Keys, Clatterbaugh, Shults and Musser all pinned their opponents.
“Kennedy won by technical superiority with a final score of 19-3, adding to his 237 match points scored this year,” commented Lane.
Meeker wrestled Rangely in round three. Muxlow, Crawford, Kennedy, Maupin, Blunt, Keys, Shults and Musser pinned their opponents. Meeker did not lose a match against Rangely, but did give up one forfeit for a final score of 78-6. This win secured the Cowboys’ victory in the A pool and placed them in the championship bracket.
In the opening round of the championship bracket, Meeker squared off with long time rival Moffat County. The Cowboys would come away with a 52-28 victory that included pins from Kennedy, Maupin, Clatterbaugh, Shults, Musser, Hobbs and Muxlow. Reed Goedert won his match by way of a 9-0 major decision.
“It was an impressive showing by the Cowboys and we are ready for the rematch next week,” commented Lane.
The win over Moffat County placed Meeker in the championship match against Florence
High School. Kennedy kicked the dual off with a 16-1 technical fall. Maupin kept the momentum going with a 19-3 technical fall. Blazon capped off an undefeated weekend with a 12-0 major decision. Blunt and Clatterbaugh each pinned their opponents as did Musser, Hobbs, Muxlow and Crawford. Meeker only lost three matches against Florence for a final team score of 56-22.
“It was a great weekend for the Cowboy wrestling team” said Lane. “We are seeing some of the younger guys who took their lumps through the early on and through the middle part of the season turn a corner and find wins. That will help them position themselves at regionals and give them a better chance to qualify for state. It will be exciting to see how they finish off the season.”
Tuesday evening a rematch of Moffat County took place in a packed Meeker gym. Once again victorious, the Cowboys won 39-33. Getting wins were Hobbs, Kennedy, Maupin, Blunt, Clatterbaugh, Judd Harvey, and Musser.
“The Meeker Duals this weekend will be another great opportunity to shore up regional seeding criteria,” said Lane.
“This week’s top performer was Blazon, who had his first undefeated weekend,” began Lane. Blazon always works hard and has a very consistent attitude. He is seeing the results of all the dedication of the past three years paying off.”
Fun Facts and Stats:
1. Speaking of match points; the Cowboys have scored 1,615 match points this season. Kennedy has scored 15% of those alone.
2. The Cowboys eclipsed 200 pins this weekend, finishing at 201. Clatterbaugh and Musser account for 20% of Meeker’s pins total.
3. The Cowboys outscored their opponents 357-110 this weekend.
BY TIFFANY JEHOREK | Special to the Herald Times
