BMS Wrestling, Meeker, Meeker Sports, Sports

Small town makes a big impression at state tourney

Things are looking up for the Barone Middle School wrestling program with more kids out for the team this year than in the past, which helped produce a successful season. The season concluded with 11 wrestlers competing in the Middle School State tournament held last weekend in Denver and bringing home a third place team trophy. T.J. Shelton won a state title, Devon Pontine finished second, Dillon Frantz was a consolation champion and Sheridan Harvey placed fifth. Wrestling on the young Cowboys team this season were (Front row) Josh Cochran, Brett McGruder, Tell Blanke, Conner Pfister, Jake Nielsen, Cole Purcell, Tyler Ilgen, Nick Burri, Sheridan Harvey, Casey Turner, Sam Nieslanik and Sam Lange. Back row; Caleb Bradford, Hunter Garcia, Dillon Frantz, Devon Pontine, Cody Purcell, Cody Nielsen, Ty Dunham, Jake Smith, T.J. Shelton, Robby Jensen, Noah Overton, Tommy Chitwood, Jacob Henderson and Tyler Pollock. Not pictured; Garrett Frantz, Jacob Pelloni, Chase Rule and coaches Lee Overton and J.C. Watt.
The middle school state wrestling championships (in affiliation with the Rocky Mountain Nationals) was held last Friday and Saturday in Denver. The event featured athletes from all over the state and from schools of all sizes.
Each weight class began with a 64-person bracket made up of qualifiers from the previous weekend’s regional tournaments. There are six regions in the state with no limitations on the number of wrestlers one team could bring. The tournament was divided into two sections for team scoring, club teams and middle school teams. All athletes competed against each other with team points only awarded for individual placings 1-6. Meeker had an outstanding regional tournament, placing second behind 4A Craig and qualifying several wrestlers for the state competition. With spring break in the middle of the two tournaments, Meeker competed with 11 wrestlers.
Jake Pelloni was the only sixth-grader competing from Meeker after an exciting regional win the week before. Sheridan Harvey placed fifth overall in the tournament, pinning four of his seven opponents and beating another to end 5-2 in the tournament. Cole Purcell, Robbie Jensen, Chase Rule, Jake Nielsen, Brett McGruder, and Caleb Bradfield all had extremely difficult brackets but did a great job competing in the tournament.
The Meeker team was led by three eighth graders. Dylan Frantz finished an impressive third place overall, winning all but one match in the tournament. Devon Pontine proved he was a force to reckon with, winning his way to the championship match. He wrestled with tremendous heart to finish second overall. TJ Shelton pinned his way into the championship match, then won a match that was arguably the best match of the tournament. He was up against a similarly ranked opponent and the two battled until the very end of the third period when TJ, down three, caught his opponent in a five point throw.
The entire Meeker team made a huge impression for a small school competing against the elite clubs and larger schools. When the tournament concluded and the scores were tallied, Meeker was third overall in the middle school division behind 4A Windsor by 16 points (4A high school champions in 2012), and 4A Fort Morgan by only two points (4A high school 10th place finishers). Meeker beat a large number of schools, nearly all bigger then the 2A team, including Craig, Valley (third in high school 3A tournament), Sheridan, Pomona, Sterling, La Junta, and John Mall among others.
Meeker coaches Lee Overton and J.C. Watt did an outstanding job of preparing their team for this event and were very pleased with the outcome.
“The kids did a good job, they were competing against kids from 2A to 5A,” Overton said. “I like being the small school and competing with the bigger schools.”
All parent and fan support was appreciated but a special acknowledgment goes to Shelton Welding for providing a team meal Friday before the wrestling and money for the hotel and food at regionals. Also helping support the team was TJ Shelton’s grandparents’ business, Cole Trucking with donations for rooms in Grand Junction. Doug Overton from Northwest Auto provided a team meal for the entire team before the regional competition began. The support and involvement in this team was phenomenal and the results speak for themselves. Congratulations to the coaches and athletes.

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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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2 days ago
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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