Emotions swayed from joy to sadness involving separate athletic happenings at Grand Junction High School on Tuesday.

On a positive note, Robert Tucker, the Tigers’ two-time, Class 5A, 215-pound state wrestling champion, officially signed a scholarship pact with Colorado Mines.

“I didn’t want to go out of state, and I wanted to get a degree from a college I can actually do something after the next four years of my life,” Tucker said of the decision. “I looked at the long term besides the next four years.”

Mines fit.

Tucker, according to Grand Junction head wrestling coach Bud Glover, is the third
Tiger wrestler to sign with the Golden-based, Division II Orediggers in 15 years.

“I know a lot of the people they’ve recruited. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.

The mood is darker on the football front.

In an unrelated event, head football coach Sean Marsh turned in his letter of resignation to GJHS Athletic Director Greg King.

According to a press release from the high school, March is stepping down after six years at the helm to spend more time with his family and pursue new opportunities.
In his final season as head coach, the Tigers concluded the 2007 season with a 5-5 overall record and finished second in the Southwestern Conference. The Tigers were excluded from the Class 4A state playoffs, despite going 3-1 in conference play.

Marsh led Grand Junction to the 2005 state 4A championship game on playoff wins over Adams City, Montrose and Ralston Valley. Grand Junction lost the title game 51-21 to ThunderRidge.