Pete Morgan, Gilpin County.   Twenty seven Gilpin County Youth Wrestlers competed last Saturday at Bennett High School in the Metro League Region 1 Tournament for a chance to finish top 8 and take home a large medal, as well as to compete for the championship at UNC in Greeley. Last year GCYW managed to put 4 into the championships, this year 24 of the 27 kids entered brought home hardware and are moving on!

The kids from all 11 teams in Region 1 were buzzing about “going to state” and the atmosphere was contagious. The level of competition was elevated with the added motivation of medals and making it to the next level. Many Gilpin Wrestlers found a new gear in this environment and pushed on, despite all odds.

This was a blind draw, straight line, double elimination tournament, which is unfamiliar to many of the wrestlers who are competing for their first year. What that means is if you lose 2, you’re out, and if you lose early you will have a very long way to go in the consolations to place.  Blake Weichel found himself losing in the first round of a 32-man bracket, Joey Morgan in the second round, both ended up wrestling through 7 matches to fight their way back and move on.

Other Gilpin Wrestlers had a shorter more direct route to the championships. Cooley Murdock annihilated every young man who dared step out on the mat to oppose him.  Joey Airola dominated all of his matches, winning straight through to first place. Kaleb Oliver had to battle for first, catching his opponent in the closing seconds of his finals match.

If there was an award for heart, Mason Sechler would have taken that home. First year competitor Mason found himself unbeaten in the finals in overtime against an overwhelmingly superior opponent from Erie.  This kid had years of experience, great muscle and technique, and an unbelievably intimidating winning record, all of which did not phase Mason Sechler, who won the scramble for the takedown through sheer determination. When Mason ended up on top in overtime, it might have been the loudest and proudest moment of the day for Gilpin County.

Gilpin Champions

U6 38 - Cooley Murdock 1st

U8 68 - Mason Sechler 1st

U12 83 - Joseph Airola 1st

U12 97 - Kaleb Oliver 1st

U14 160 - Mateo Maldonado 1st

2nd Place

U12 62 - Keggin Murdock 2nd

3rd Place

U6 58 - Jett Hanssen 3rd

U8 73 - Ryan Hanssen 3rd

U10 110 - Zacharia Gebhart 3rd

4th Place

U10 56 - Roland Keller 4th

U10 98 - Benjamin Gebhart 4th

U12 111 - Nathan Frye 4th

U12 118 - William Siegrist 4th

5th Place

U12 69 - Kamron Brewer 5th

6th Place

U10 56 - Matt Nelson 6th

U12 69 - Brandon Robinson 6th

7th Place

U6 42 - Blake Weichel 7th

U8 63 - Michael DePintos-Jones 7th

U10 56 - Xander Taylor 7th

U14 105 - Michael Wenholz 7th

8th Place

U6 50 - Toby Scott 8th

U10 68 - Penn Keller 8th

U10 74 - Joseph Morgan 8th

U12 69 - Shii Maldonado 8th

On Sunday, the 550 best wrestlers of the Metro League will be competing for trophies.  The championships are held at the Butler Hancock Arena at UNC in Greeley. Gilpin County Youth Wrestling is looking forward to the experience that this environment will build in our youth athletes!  It’s been an amazing year and the Gilpin County Youth Wrestlers continue to demonstrate that they can rise to the level of competition, no matter how high it is.