The Cowboy wrestling teams found their rhythm at the regional championships on Feb. 7 and 8. For the first time in program history, five GHS grapplers took home a first-place medal. Now, eight Cowboys, fueled with confidence, will charge into the state championships in Denver this weekend.
“It just gives me chills thinking about regionals,” said boys Head Coach Mike Seijo. “We took only six guys, and still finished fifth as a team. That’s remarkable and shows that even though we don’t have a lot of guys, the ones competing are tougher than nails.”
Despite a number of late injuries and declining results at the end of the regular season, the GHS boys found their groove at the right time. Facing off against 12 rival 3A schools in Grand Valley, the Cowboys made their presence known from the beginning.
Damyon Funk kickstarted the team with a pin and technical fall in his opening matches in the 113-lbs bracket. The senior then faced Hunter Mars of Bayfield in the championship, an opponent who defeated Funk earlier this season. Despite the previous defeat and a lingering shoulder injury, the senior won on a 6-3 decision to claim his first regional championship.
“I was so proud of Damyon for avenging that win against his regional opponent, and coming back from his injury,” Seijo said. “Winning a close match like that was huge for his confidence.”
Cody Casebolt also hit the mats in flying form. The junior overpowered his first two opponents in the 126-lbs division, earning back-to-back pins. Casebolt won by forfeit in the quarterfinal, and forced a lengthy break ahead of the championship. After his long wait on the sidelines, the junior faced off against crowd favorite Jaysen Skeen of Grand Valley. Casebolt silenced the home fans with an early takedown, and traded escapes to hold the lead. It ended in a 4-1 decision for the Cowboy — marking his second consecutive regional championship.
Brock Fry earned his first regional title after sweeping through the quarterfinal and semifinal with consecutive early pins. The senior then matched up with Tanner Hoover of Middle Park in the championship, and despite a slow start, won the 132-lbs division on a 13-8 decision. The victory marked Fry’s first regional title after he took fourth in 2024.
Sophomore Zach Benson added a fourth, first-place win to the GHS tally in the 138-lbs bracket. The underclassman, boasting a 39-4 overall record his second year, continued to lead from the top of the podium. Benson coasted through his opening matches, and won by technical fall over Logan Valencia of Bayfield in the final. After taking second place his freshman year, the victory marked his first regional championship.
Freshman Lincoln Hemmert also shined in his debut season, and earned a fourth-place finish and state qualification.
While the boys battled in Grand Valley, the girls enjoyed the luxury of home-mat advantage. Sixteen rival 4A schools piled into the GHS campus over the weekend, yet still, the small but fearsome Cowboy team left its mark.
Sophomore star Roxie Uhrig came, saw and conquered amidst the cheers of her home student section. Uhrig toppled her first two opponents, and then defeated Amanaki George of Moffat County by technical fall in the 140-lbs championship. The victory marked Uhrig’s second consecutive regional title after her freshman win in 2024.
Additionally, Evelyn Cope finished second place for the Cowboys in the 130-lbs division, and scrappy senior Isabelle Crown took third in the 105-lbs bracket. The three girls qualified for state, and will chase glory alongside the boys team at the Ball Arena on Feb. 13-15.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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