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Grand Valley advances six at Warrior Classic

Staff Report
Post Independent
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado ” Grand Valley put itself in position to contend for a host of individual championship medals by having six wrestlers advance to today’s quarterfinal round of the 32nd annual Warrior Classic at Grand Junction Central High School on Friday.

Quarterfinal matches, followed by the consolation rounds start at 9 a.m.

Championship, Third-Sixth Place matches begin at 7 p.m.



James Drinkhouse will be the first Cardinals grappler to hit the circle when the 32-team, double-elimination tournament resumes this morning. Drinkhouse moved to the 135 pound quarterfinals on a 8-1 second round decision over Logan McNulty of Fruita Monument.

Depending on the outcome of this morning’s 140 pound bracket, Grand Valley’s Jared Tonder, who pinned Moffat County’s Matt Linsacum, could face the weight division’s No. 1 seed James Conrardy of Rifle.



Conrardy ripped through his first two opponents to move on to the quarters, polishing off Farmington’s (N.M.) Chad Sanders in 36 seconds, then taking a 9-1 decision over Matt Kottensette from Eagle Valley.

Teammate Ryan Gallegos continues in the 145-pound championship bracket after fashioning a 2-0 tournament record by earning wins against Dallas Bernal of Fruita and Green River, Utah wrestler Scott Verner.

Seeded No. 1 at 152 pounds, the Cardinals’ Tyler Miles zipped through both his Friday matches downing Chauch Fredlund of Farmington and Rangely’s Ryan Cramer.

Grand Valley heavyweight Joe Joyner is one of two area athletes scheduled for a quarterfinal match. Both he and Rifle’s Tad Davis concluded a short day, created from first-round byes, with commanding decisions.

Joyner pinned Casey Childs of Montrose in 3 minutes, 35 seconds for his win. Davis earned a 17-2 major decision over Delta’s Andrew Poe.

Two more Rifle wrestlers also remain unbeaten and have advanced to a quarterfinal match. The Bears Dano Fugita pinned Grand Valley opponent Kelcey Satterfield in 1:37. Satterfield moved back to the consolation bracket on the loss. Rifle’s Brian Key remains in the hunt for a 215 pound medal after defeating Matt Remy from Fruita, 7-2.

As a team, Grand Valley is 11th overall with 40 points, two points up on 13th place Rifle, who enters Saturday with 38 points. 2007 Tournament team champ Roosevelt leads with 75 points followed by Grand Junction Central and Broomfield.


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