Three varsity Panthers take first place honors

The Powell High School wrestling team started its season the way it plans on ending it — on top.

Three varsity Panthers claimed first place in their weight classes, and PHS rolled to a team victory among 18 squads at the Powell Invite on Friday and Saturday at PHS.

“I thought we wrestled overall pretty well,” said coach Nate Urbach, whose team scored 290 points to outlast Lander Valley (226). “We were rusty but that’s to be expected at the first meet of the year. We’ve got some things to work on.”

If there was any rust, returning state champions Chance Karst and Nate Urbach, both juniors, didn’t show it.

Karst went undefeated in pool play at 132 pounds on Friday, earning three victories with pins. He continued that trend Saturday with three more triumphs, including a 3-0 decision in the title match. Karst was happy with the fast start as he is building toward a second straight state championship.

“It was a good start to the season. There wasn’t a better way to start,” Karst said. “Hopefully I can finish the season out the same way I’ve started it.”

Nate Urbach, coach Urbach’s son, has been affectionately labeled a crossface machine by his father and teammates. The young wrestler certainly lived up to that moniker during the invite, winning his first six matches with a crossface cradle pinning maneuver.

He backed away from his favorite pinning move in Saturday’s title bout, earning a 15-5 major decision.

“I expected it to work, but I didn’t think it’d work that well,” Urbach said of the cradle. “A couple years ago, I tried using it and I haven’t stopped since. It’s always worked for me I guess because of my long arms .... once I started using it I never stopped. I’ve never had a reason to.”

Urbach also commented on the wrestling of some of his teammates, noting that the inspired performances stemmed from the team’s chances at a fourth straight Class 3A state title.

“Our team I thought did very well this weekend, and I think it’s because we know we have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done in Powell’s history,” Urbach said. “I think this weekend we showed why we’re one of the top teams in the state.”

Senior Jake Davis, who will be vying for a state championship after back-to-back runner-up finishes, started with a bang at 160 pounds. He earned falls in his first four matches, including a 40-second pin in the opening round of Saturday’s bracket wrestling. Davis secured the title with a 2-0 decision over Lander Valley’s Andrew Von Rein.

“I think it was a pretty good weekend overall. A good way to start off the year,” Davis said. “My last two matches were a little closer than the rest, but those guys are some of the top-ranked guys I’ll be wrestling all season long. They’re just a piece of what I’ll be facing this year.”

In other weights, senior Colton Parham placed second at 138 pounds, while sophomore Ty Dearcorn defeated teammate Eli Briggs for third place at 182 pounds. Senior Bailey Atkinson (152) and sophomore Zach Easum (195) placed fourth. Junior Tucker Darrah took fifth at 170 pounds while sophomore Marshal Wittick did the same at 120. Junior Justin Theriault collected seven wins, including three by pinfall, to take the junior varsity title at 152 pounds.

Coach Urbach was optimistic after the invite, especially with the performances of some of his younger grapplers. Urbach expects to shake up the roster after the new year, and is hopeful his younger guys will contribute to the Panthers’ push for a state championship.

“Those young guys on the varsity right now are going to be keys I think when it comes to competing for another state championship,” Urbach said. “The veteran guys, the returning state champs, you want those guys to set the pace for your team, and they did that ... and we're going to need them to do that all year.

“Now, if the young guys can learn and continue to make improvements all year long, we’ll be in great shape,” he added. “It’s all practice until state anyways.”

PHS senior Riley Stringer, who won state at 220 pounds last season, was absent this weekend as he was competing in the Blue-Grey High School All-American Bowl football game in Dallas. Two-time state champion Kye Catlin, a junior, was limited to a mentoring role this weekend as he continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery. His return is expected after the Christmas break.