DENVER – The dream didn’t become a reality for Buena Vista’s Caleb Camp – Eddie Bowman made sure of that.

Camp, who was attempting to etch his name in Colorado’s prep history books as a four-time state champion, denied by Bowman.

In the most-anticipated state finals match in Class 2A, Bowman claimed a dominating 7-2 decision.

“This feels great,” said Bowman, a senior. “All my hard work is paying off.”

Bowman, who competed at 138 pounds most of the season, dropped down to 132 pounds with an eye on Camp.

Bowman won state at 132 pounds a year ago, finishing with a 42-0 record, but that didn’t satisfy him.

“I won state last year, but no one knew my name,” Bowman said. “When I won state last year people told me I didn’t have any competition. So, you know what I did, I went to the Top of the Rockies tournament (at Centaurus High School in January), and I beat (Fort Lupton’s) D’mitri (Garza-Alarcon, a four-time state champ) and beat (Ponderosa’s) Tommy Verrette. I told myself there’s another guy I want to chase and that’s Camp, so I dropped down.”

Bowman didn’t waste any time setting the tone against Camp on Saturday night. He took a 2-0 lead with a takedown with 33 seconds left in the first period and then early in the second period he added an escape to stretch his lead to 3-0. Moments later he had another takedown to go up 5-0.

(Dan Mohrmann/ColoradoPreps.com)

Camp finally scored with an escape at 1:14 of the third period and did get within 5-2 with 27 seconds left but Bowman delivered a takedown with time winding down to clinch the win.

“I was in (Camp’s) head, he knew who I was before I even got on that mat,” said Bowman is headed to Colorado State University-Pueblo to wrestle. “The work I put in, (this what I expected). No one works as hard as me.”

Bowman finished the season with a 40-0 record and the heels of winning state at 132 pounds a year ago with a 42-0 mark.

The 2A team race had plenty of drama on Saturday night – thanks to Meeker. The Cowboys won three individual state titles to claim the team crown. This was Meeker’s ninth 2A state wrestling title and first since 2016.

The Meeker championship winner consisted of Cade Blunt (175 pounds), Brendan Clatterbaugh (190), and Judd Harvey (215 pounds).

When Harvey stepped on the mat against Buena Vista’s Eli Flowers, Buena Vista, (34-10), the stakes couldn’t been higher. He wins – the team wins as Cedaredge was leading the team standings 145-144 over Meeker.

Harvey delivered the goods – pinning Flowers at the 2:35 mark to set off the celebration as the Cowboys won top team honors 150-145 over Cedaredge.

“Where’s that state (championship) trophy at?,” yelled Harvey as he walked off the mat after finishing his season with a 53-0 record.

It was also what fitting farewell to Meeker’s coach the past 13 years, J.C. Watt.

“This feels great,” Watt said. “That was awesome. We had three wins in a row there and (Blunt) and (Harvey) pinned their way through the tournament. We had a ton of pins as a team. Everybody contributed and we have a great coaching staff.”

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Class 2A wrestling champions

  • 106: Miguel Franco (Dolores Huerta Prep)
  • 113: Waitley Sharon (Fowler)
  • 120: Traven Sharon (Fowler)
  • 126: Austin Collins (Wray)
  • 132: Eddie Bowman (Trinidad)
  • 138: Landon Martin (Cedaredge)
  • 144: Samuel Meisner (Wray)
  • 150: Tripp DuVall (Holly)
  • 157: Grant Statz (Sedgwick County/Fleming)
  • 165: Jaden Gardner (Lyons)
  • 175: Cade Blunt (Meeker)
  • 190: Brendan Clatterbaugh (Meeker)
  • 215: Judd Harvey (Meeker)
  • 285: Americo Lorenzini (Wiggins)