Eagle Valley High School wrestlers kick off New Year in style

The Eagle Valley wrestling team started 2025 the way it ended 2024: racking up wins and stepping on podiums.

On Jan. 4, Luvlyn Ward took the title at the West Grand Invitational, Josiah Quinn was victorious at the Cedaredge junior varsity meet and the Devils notched multiple podiums at the highly-competitive Torgy Torgerson Memorial in Fort Collins.

“The whole team has been improving, working hard and continuing to emit positive energy,” said assistant coach Tanner Archer. “The vibe of the team has only gotten stronger as the season has progressed.”

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Both Lauryn and Luvlyn Ward traveled to Kremmling for the West Grand Invitational. Lauryn pinned her way to the finals, where Moffat County’s Kayla Deaton won by fall 3:29 in. Her younger sister navigated the rounds with a pin of Sydney Brazeal in the first round, a medical forfeit against Mackenzie Moore in the second and a 3-1 decision over Gunnison’s Isabelle Crown in the final.

“The freshman and youngest in her bracket approached her opponents with a no-nonsense attitude,” coach Bob Good stated. “She’s been hanging just outside the rankings and this should certainly raise some eyebrows.”

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Four Devils traveled to Fort Collins to scope out regional competition at the 23-team Torgy Torgerson Memorial. Cole Good finished second at 138-pounds, while younger brother Alex and Nathan Leeper both picked up third-place finishes in the 132 and 175-pound weight classes. Bode Cobb just missed the 150-pound podium after going 2-2.

“I wrestled too conservative,” Cole Good said after losing to Roosevelt’s Malakii Martin by a 4-2 decision. “I need to force a scramble, my athleticism and physicality are my strengths and I played it too much like a chess match on Saturday.” 

“Sometimes a tough loss is better than a win,” Bob Good added. “Sometimes you can wrestle really well and still don’t get a win against a tough opponent.”  

Cole Good won the 126-pound 4A Region 4 tournament last year and placed fourth at the state wrestling meet, finishing his 2024 campaign with a 33-5 record. Both he and his younger brother were state qualifiers last season.

Coach Good said Leeper’s breakout performance was the big story coming out of Fort Collins. He credited the junior’s first-career varsity podium to his athleticism, work ethic and mature demeanor. Leeper’s route wasn’t easy, either. The Devil went through the No. 2-seeded wrestler in the quarterfinals.

“(He) was able to execute his textbook ‘splash double leg takedown’ early in the match and then proceeded to hand fight his way to victory,” Good said regarding Leeper’s 4-1 decision over Chaparral’s Aiden Luby-Howard. Leeper fell to Windsor’s Santi Fernandez in the semifinals but defeated Roosevelt’s Kason Lopez in the consolation semifinals. He wound up with the bronze after Jackson Wind forfeited the match.

Josiah Quinn led the junior varsity team in Cedaredge, coming away with the 126-pound title. Christian Pena, Dylan Anderson and Bennett Malloley each placed third in their respective weight classes in the 12-team tournament as well.

Good said Pena’s “strength and focus have him headed towards bigger and better competition.” The same can be said of Malloley, who took the bronze in the 215-pound division.

“Malloley is about to move up to higher levels of competition here in the near future,” head coach Travis Ward stated. Assistant coach Brandon Hern also praised Anderson for being coachable, hard-working and having a positive attitude at practice and tournaments.

“The cerebral young wrestler asks for help and is able to take direction,” Hern said.

The Devils will travel to Vernal, Utah this weekend for the 53rd-annual Tournament of Champions, one of the most competitive high school wrestling events in the region.

Eagle Valley High School wrestling coach Bob Good contributed to this report.