DENVER — Heading into retirement after 13 years at the helm, Meeker head coach J.C. Watt received a proper sendoff at the Class 2A state finals on Saturday.
His Cowboys, that finished runner-up to Wray each of the past two years, earned their first team title since 2016 and the ninth in program history. Meeker scored 150 points, surpassing second-place Cedaredge’s 145 and Wray’s 129 at Ball Arena in Denver.
“We have a group of great kids, a group of great coaches,” Watt said. “The culture in our community is great. It's a bunch of wrestling fans, a bunch of wrestling families and I'm just the benefactor of that.”
After trailing Cedaredge in the team standings for most of the evening, Meeker took control late thanks to first-place finishes in three heavyweight divisions. Junior Cade Blunt won by fall (4:10) in the 175-pound title match, senior Brendan Clatterbaugh took the 190-pound division by a 4-2 decision and 215-pound senior Judd Harvey became a three-time title winner by pinning Buena Vista’s Eli Flowers (2:35).
Harvey, who pinned his way through the entire 215-pound bracket en route to completing an undefeated season, said it was special to win a team title in Watt’s final year.
“He's like a father figure to me,” Harvey said of Watt. “He's been a big part of my life, same thing with my brother. He's been there for us. He's a good person, not just good coach, but a great soul. I love him.”
Meeker’s team title was also the product of a connected group of Cowboy wrestlers.
“I've wrestled with these kids since I was eight years old, if not younger,” Harvey said. “We all have these bonds that are just completely different compared to these kids that may have grown up in a bigger environment. Coming from a school of only 300 kids, we have these bonds that are just unbreakable. I'm just so grateful.”
Other Cowboys who helped the cause include Reed Goedert (sixth place, 113), Clay Crawford (fifth, 132) and Noah Leblanc (third, 285).
“This week, all our kids stepped up and wrestled well,” Watt said.
Meeker finished the tournament with 22 pins, the most across all classes. Blunt, like Harvey, won by fall in all four of his matches.
Watt also gave credit to his six assistant coaches for giving his wrestlers “college-level competition” each day at practice.
Trinidad’s Eddie Bowman stays undefeated, knocks off three-time champ
In arguably the premiere match of Class 2A, Trinidad’s Eddie Bowman, the reigning 132-pound champ, prevented Buena Vista’s Caleb Camp from becoming a four-time state title winner. Bowman had been wrestling at 138 for most of his senior season but opted to move down for his state title run.
With the win, Bowman completed his final high school season with an undefeated record of 36-0.
“I just wrestle knowing I feel like no one can beat me,” said Bowman, who also went undefeated as a junior. “I told myself, 'If I don't win this, I can't be No. 1 in the country.’ If I can't be the best in the state, I can't be No. 1 in the country yet. This is a stepping stone and I'd like to pursue more.”
Bowman will continue his wrestling career at Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Fowler’s Sharon brothers remain champions
For the second straight year, Fowler brothers Traven and Waitley Sharon were crowned in consecutive matches. Waitley, a senior who won his first career title last year at 106, took home the 113-pound crown, setting the stage for his junior brother, Traven, to secure the 120-pound ring.
Traven’s state title, his third straight (106 in 2022 and 113 in 2023), came via a 6-0 decision over Akron’s Merek Charney.
“It’s awesome,” Traven said of winning another title alongside his brother. “It’s what dreams are made of and I’m just so blessed to get this opportunity.”
Waitley’s championship match ended dramatically as he and Cedaredge junior Cash Martinez were tied at seven entering the third period's final seconds. There, Waitley snagged Martinez’s wrist to finish off a 9-7 decision.
“I was just thinking to heck with overtime, let's finish it right here,” Waitley said. “I was super glad to be able to get that wrist.”
Slew of first-timers crowned
Of the 14 champions crowned on Saturday evening, 10 were first-timers.
Those who earned their first crown include Dolores Huerta Preperatory’s Miguel Franco (106), Wray’s Austin Collins (126), Cedaredge’s Landon Martin (138), Wray’s Samuel Misner (144), Holly’s Tripp DuVall (150), Sedgwick County/Fleming’s Grant Statz (157), Lyons’ Jaden Gardner (165) and Wiggins’ Americano Lorenzini (285).
The aforementioned Blunt and Clatterbough of Meeker were also first-timers.