TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School wrestling team wrapped up the regular season with an emotional 54-19 victory over the Cheyenne Central Indians Friday evening.
The win sent head coach Doyle Meyer out a winner in his final home dual as THS made it official that Meyer will be retiring from coaching at the conclusion of the season.
“It’s not so much about the win,” Meyer said. “It’s more about the administration. It’s about the parents. It’s about the wrestlers when it comes right down to it. To watch over the years that many individuals come through the program and do such a great job. The support this program has had is just amazing.”
When the final hand is raised in victory at the Casper Events Center in two weeks, Meyer will have completed his 17th season at the helm of Blazer wrestling.
“The state championships are highlights of course, but I think, looking back, it’s more about seeing former wrestlers come back,” Meyer said. “It’s more about watching parents come and support and knowing it’s something special here in Torrington. To be a part of that for nearly two decades is, I’m privileged to have the honor.”
Once the wrestling got underway, Central spotted Torrington a 12-point lead with open weights at 285 and 106, handing Brandon Bennick and Josh Stitt wins.
Both teams were open at 113, and the first bout of the night went to Central at 120 pounds.
Over the next two matches, the teams traded wins with senior Quentin Meyer getting the win at 126 pounds.
At 138 pounds, senior Austin Fox picked up the win by fall, and it was the start of five straight wins by the Blazers.
During that stretch, seniors Tristin Kingsley, Casey Britton, Jacob Polkowske and Josh Kingsley all picked up wins by pin, giving the Blazers a 48-9 lead.
In the final three bouts, Central won two of the three with Rhiley Grubbs getting the final win of the evening for the Blazers at 195 pounds.
“It was surreal. You couldn’t have asked for any better performance from the wrestlers,” Meyer said. “Watching them go from sixth grade on up. It was just fantastic.”
The Blazers travel to Rawlins for the 3A East Regional Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16. Friday’s action gets underway at 2 p.m., while Saturday’s action is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
“Talking with my assistant coaches, we can go as bad as fourth place and as high as first, Meyer said. “We are in the hunt as far as regionals. From there, state is for anybody. You start looking at the eight seniors I have on the team in the various weight brackets and anyone of them could be in the finals at Regionals, and anyone of them could be in the finals at state. I’m excited to see if we are peaking at the right time and see where we can go from there.”
