A 49-21 loss in Meeker started the week out on the wrong foot for the wrestlers of Moffat County High School, but they hope to learn from their mistakes and apply their knowledge heading into this weekend.

The Tuesday dual against the Cowboys had a promising beginning for the Bulldogs, as the lower weight grapplers each took charge in their matchups, winning by fall, 106-pound Jay Carrico late in the third round and 113-pound John T. Peroulis gaining a pin less than one minute into the action.

As things progressed, MCHS gave up 19 points to Meeker, one by fall and one by forfeit, until Elias Peroulis won his bout, 4-1, in the 145 bracket.

However, Tanner Gilliland (220) was the only other Moffat County competitor to claim a win that night, pinning his opponent midway through the second round.

Coach Tanner Linsacum said his entire roster fought tough though not without mistakes that opened them up to defeat.

“Meeker’s a tough little team, and I was proud of how they wrestled,” he said. “We can’t expect to win every dual, but they were some good, close matches.”

There’s still room for improvement, he added.

“There’s a lot of situations where we’re getting pinned where we shouldn’t, and that swings everything,” he said. “We can drill, but you can’t ever get a live match scenario in the practice room. They’ve got to learn it when they’re under the lights wrestling.”

The only way to get better is to keep competing, and Friday and Saturday, the team will face another test of its merit in Green River, Wyoming, during the Bill Thoman Jr. Memorial tournament.

A series of duals will be in store for Moffat Count against teams that include Lander, Cheyenne and the host school on the first day alone, with other pools also going simultaneously. While Linsacum believes his wrestlers can correct their past mistakes, there’s no denying it will be a long, difficult event for them.

“It’s gonna be a dogfight,” Linsacum said.

Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.