The Powell Panther wrestling team headed into Big Horn County last week,  defeating Lovell 54-29 in a dual Thursday before competing in the Greybull Memorial on Saturday.

POWELL 54, LOVELL 29

Open weights and a host of pins were a common theme among the short-handed Panthers and Bulldogs on Thursday with the two teams going head-to-head on the mat in Lovell.

Wyatt Nicholson earned a forfeit at 106 pounds but the Panthers gave up an open weight at 113 pounds and the match was tied 6-6 before the first bout started.

Powell fell short at 120 pounds, as Braxton Batt was pinned in 1:21 to give Lovell the lead. Those were the final points for the hosts over the next seven weights.

Tyler Wenzel received a forfeit at 126 pounds, before Broc Frank earned a pin in 2:40 at 132 pounds to give Powell back the lead.

“I was really proud of Broc,” coach Nick Fulton said. “He’s a freshman that has been filling in some varsity lineups for us, especially post Christmas. Proud of him going out there and getting a win over that Lovell kid. He’s committed and dedicated, good to see him experience some success.”

Wyatt Heffington continued with a pin in 1:22 at 138 pounds, Patrick Haney got a pin in 3:44 at 144 pounds, Reese Lowe got a pin in 1:51 at 150 pounds, Mitchel Wainscott got a pin in 55 seconds at 157 pounds and McKale Foley capped off Powell’s run of pins with a 48 second fall at 165 pounds and make it 48-12.

Lovell got back on the board with a 16-0 tech fall of Ricky Gonzalez in the second period before Denton Wainscott got the last win of the night for Powell at 190 pounds with a 1:25 pin.

Lovell got a pin of Sam Rasmussen at 215 pounds before Doug Bettger fell at 285 pounds to James Love, who was the winner of the Ron Thon Memorial the weekend prior.

“Lovell is pretty strong in their upperweights,” Fulton said. “We went out and competed, tried some new things especially at heavyweight — worked a couple different techniques with Doug.”

GREYBULL MEMORIAL INVITE

Powell was meant to dual in Lander on Friday but sickness led to the dual being canceled. That meant the Panthers were heading on the road to Greybull on Saturday, taking a variety of wrestlers to compete in the Greybull Memorial.

The lone winner on the weekend came from Caydee Eden for the girls, who went 2-0 with two pins and won the combined 100-105 pound weight class.

“She had a good win that first match — that second match she was down and came back in the third period for the win,” Fulton said. “Super proud of her.”

Each Panther girl placed in the tournament, with Allison LeBlanc placing second at 110 pounds after going 3-1, and Eleasah Horsley second at 115 pounds going 1-1. Nalani Jordan placed third and went 3-1 at 130 pounds, while Kaprina Haney went 0-2 at 135 pounds to place third and Abigail LeBlanc went 0-2 at 115 pounds and placed third.

For the boys, a host of Panthers who were on the second line, returning from injury or had missed a tournament early in the year made the trip to Greybull.

Leading the way was Patrick Haney who went 4-1 and placed third at 144 pounds and Wainscott who went 3-1 and placed third at 157 pounds.

“It’s good getting Mitchel and Patrick back from injury. Coming off of that you worry about them those first couple of matches,” Fulton said. “We wanted to get a tournament under their belt before regionals.”

Chase Visocky went 3-2 and placed fourth at 144 pounds, Wainscott went 2-2 and placed fourth at 190 pounds, Rasmussen went 2-2 and placed fourth at 215 pounds and Jonathan Harms went 1-2 and placed fourth at 285 pounds.

Gonzalez went 0-4 and placed fifth at 165 pounds.

Lowe went 2-2 at 150 pounds; Frank went 1-2 at 132 pounds, Kash Brazelton went 1-2 at 138 pounds, Zain Younas went 1-2 at 285 pounds, Batt went 0-2 at 120 pounds, Troy Cheatham went 0-2 at 126, Michael Legerski went 0-2 at 150 pounds and James Emmett went 0-2 at 215 pounds.

FINAL DUAL THURSDAY

Capping off the regular season the Panthers will return home on Thursday to take on the rival Cody Broncs in a dual.

“Cody has talent up and down the lineup,” Fulton said. “My guys are scrappy and we are finding ways to win matches in a lot of situations right now. I think both teams are wrestling really well right now and it should be a showdown. It will be a fun one.”

That dual will start at 6 p.m. after the junior varsity matchup at 5 p.m. which will be the final action of the regular season.

Powell will then head to Riverton next weekend, taking part in the 3A West Regional Tournament for the boys and the West Qualifiers for the girls on Friday and Saturday.