Collier shows grit at Pomeroy tourney

POMEROY––Dayton Bulldog wrestler Byron Collier finished back-to-back tournaments last week, competing in Royal City's Christmas Tournament Friday, December 29, and then wrestling the next day at Pomeroy's Christmas Tournament, where he finished fourth in spite of sustaining an injury.

"Byron was injured in the first twenty seconds of the match," said Head Coach Carlos Norris, "but he still wrestled the match out with 100% of what he's got. I'm really proud of him for showing what the sport was about."

Collier competed in the 175-lb. class, drawing a bye in the opening round before facing Graycen Teal of Waitsburg. Collier won by fall at 4:29 to advance in the winner's bracket.

Next the freshman Bulldog battled Ritzville Bronco Travis Redburn, who would go on to finish second, Collier losing by fall at 1:22.

In the consolation bracket, he went up against Steven Campbell of Colfax, taking the match with a pin at :27. The victory put him in the 3-4 championship match against Koyen Fortune of Waitsburg, who had been bumped to the consolation side after a first-round bye and a second-round win over Colfax Bulldog Campbell.

In the match against Fortune, Collier's injury occurred, but he finished, eventually being pinned at 5:17.

"He held himself really high," Coach Norris commented. "It was bad enough that he couldn't put pressure on his knee. He shook hands with the winner, the referee, then got to the edge of the mat and had to be helped off from there."

Collier's poise under the circumstances were commendable, coaches and spectators mentioned to Norris, who was unsure of the athlete's prognosis as of press time.

At the Royal Christmas Boys Tournament a day earlier, Collier moved ahead in the bracket with a 7-3 decision over Pavel Lopez of Wahluke.

Next he faced Simon Jones of Kittitas, who pinned Collier at 1:30, dropping the Dawg wrestler into the consolation bracket.

Justin Hilberg of Columbia-Burbank was his next foe and Hilberg advanced, winning by fall at 1:59.

Collier finished in sixth place and shy of the medal podium.