Pete Morgan, Gilpin County.   Last Sunday Gilpin County Youth Wrestling athletes attended the Metro League Championships held at UNC in Greeley. Gilpin brought 22 wrestlers who had earned the right to participate in the event, which included 550 of the state’s best young wrestlers from the biggest programs. Ages 4-14 competed in 16 man brackets with the top six earning a huge trophy.  Thousands of people packed the arena. Coaches and parents screamed and cheered, the level of competition was phenomenal, it was not your typical youth athlete’s experience.

Many Gilpin wrestlers just barely qualified and had first matches against other regions’ champs. For them it was a day of building experience, for our wrestlers who have already competed at high level competitions in large arenas, it was just another day at the office.

Cooley Murdock, 6, won his second consecutive league championship but had to earn it this time. His finals match began with being tossed, in a headlock, and thrown on his back, but he fought his way back and won the decision.

Kaleb Oliver dominated his first three opponents but came up short in the closing seconds of his finals match.  Region 1 champ Joey Airola was upset early but fought his way back through the consolations to 4th place.  Kameron Brewer defied all odds and had several upset victories on the way to taking 6thplace.

Gilpin Champions

U6 38 - Cooley Murdock 1st

U14 160 - Mateo Maldonado 1st

U12 97 - Kaleb Oliver 2nd

U10 110 - Zacharia Gebhart 3rd

U12 83 - Joseph Airola 4th

U12 62 - Keggin Murdock 5th

U14 105 - Michael Wenholz 5th

U12 69 - Kamron Brewer 6th

Cooley Murdock, Kaleb Oliver, Joey Airola and Michael Wenholz will be representing GCYW in Gillette, Wyoming this weekend at a national level competition, Rocky Mountain Nationals Wild West Showdown.  Ten of our first year competitors will be competing at the JV Championships at Stanley Lake High School.  Be sure to congratulate and wish them all luck!