After crowning five regional champions and smashing a program record, the Cowboy wrestling teams soared into the state championship at Ball Arena from Feb. 13-15. Roxie Uhrig led GHS from the podium. The sophomore star came up narrowly short in the championship bout and earned a team-leading, second-place title.
Seniors Brock Fry and Damyon Funk concluded their high school wrestling careers from the podium. After missing out on a podium finish last year, Fry earned redemption and placed fifth in the 132-lbs bracket. Funk battled through the 113-lbs consolation rounds and finished sixth. Future captain Cody Casebolt led the boys team with a third-place finish, while star-in-the-making sophomore Zach Benson took fourth.
Despite taking 14th as a team, and not claiming a coveted first-place title, Head Coach Mike Seijo said the season finale will motivate the grapplers during the offseason.
“I’m proud of the way we finished,” Seijo said. “Now it’s time to hit the offseason running, get in the weight room, find opportunities to wrestle and get bigger, faster and stronger.”
Following the regional championship, eight Cowboys qualified for the big dance. Although stacking up with smaller rosters than other squads, GHS lived up to its pound-for-pound reputation. Lincoln Hemmert opened up the show for the Cowboys, and despite falling in his opening round, the freshman earned a hard-fought victory in the first round of the consolation bracket.
Casebolt charged past the first two rounds of the 126-lbs bracket with back-to-back pins, and Funk joined him with a technical fall and decision in the 113-lbs tournament. Fry and Benson each fell in their respective second rounds. However, the early defeats triggered electric runs in the consolation brackets. Benson finished fourth in the 138-lbs bracket, while Fry took the 132-lbs fifth-place medal.
“Last season put a fire in me, to finish my senior year the way I wanted to,” Fry said. “I’m proud of finishing the season with a win, because I know a lot of guys don’t get that chance.”
Casebolt’s early run was stunted by Jordan Romero of Abraham Lincoln in the 126-lbs tournament. Still, the junior bounced back with two consecutive wins to finish third. After falling to Anthony Eugene Meder of Alamosa in the semifinal, Funk fell in back-to-back bouts to take sixth overall.
Once the dust had settled, Uhrig was the single Cowboy left standing in the championship bout. The sophomore earned two pins and a major decision in her opening bouts, and faced off against Vivienne Gitke of Strasburg, who boasted an intimidating 47-2 season record. Gitke earned an early takedown, and while Uhrig fought off a pin, she struggled to escape. The Strasburg grappler racked up near-fall and escape points, securing the championship with a 16-0 technical fall.
“I’m happy with my performance, and it was a really great experience to compete,” Uhrig said. “Next year I’m hoping to make it back, and compete with Romie. But I’m pretty hungry for another chance at state.”
Next season, the Cowboys will turn to incoming-senior Casebolt to lead the boys, and an exciting group of underclassmen and juniors.
“There’s a lot of state titles in the future for this program,” Fry said. “We’ve had four of five of the top ranked guys in the state in our wrestling room. Practicing with those guys has made all of us so much better — and we may even have some team titles to look forward to.”
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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