Varsity wrestlers dominate Idaho tourney

Green River High School’s grapplers took on some of the best teams Idaho has to offer last weekend, with the varsity squad coming out on top.

The Wolves wrestling team traveled to Idaho Falls, Idaho, for the Tiger-Grizz tournament, hosted by Skyline High School. The varsity wrestlers dominated their division, taking first with 243.5 points. Columbia High School, also based in Idaho, took second in the tournament with 229 points.

The tournament also ended with three Wolves becoming champions in their weight divisions. Kade Knezovich earned the championship in the 98-pound division, while Cyro Montoya earned the title at 106 pounds and Gage Byers at 120 pounds. Byers was also voted outstanding wrestler by the other coaches.

Other varsity wrestlers performed well at the tournament. Justin Flores took third in the 113-pound division while teammates Kaycee Cochrane, Eric Clingenpeel, Blake Waite and Jorden Tucker took fourth in their respective weight classes. Ira Dickinson took sixth in the 132-pound division and Payton Tucker ended the weekend in sixth place in the 170-pound division. Also competing were Gabe Bunderman, Zach Orr and Nick Froats.

In the junior varsity division, the team took ninth in the tournament. Two Wolves would earn championships in the competition, Cody Price at 98 pounds and Tanner Adam at 138 pounds.

Jacob Weipert and Garrett Harris took third in their divisions, while Nathan Campos took fifth in his. Others competing were Trevor Scicluna, Bronson LaFontaine, Tavean Montoya, Anthony Wood, Tayler Jensen, Brett McKeehan, Russell Ferrell, Dallas Wadsworth, Seddon Sanders and John Makie.

“This was a good weekend so if we can keep improving and moving forward we should be in pretty good shape in a month,” head coach Marshall Rhodes said.

Rhodes said they have worked on the team’s toughness during the past few weeks to prepare the wrestlers for the more physically-demanding competitions coming up.

“It was great to see someone like Justin Flores lose the opening match to the number one seed and come all the way back and beat the same kid for third, getting seven pins along the way, “Rhodes said. “That is a great effort we have been looking for.”

The wrestling team will have another chance to compete at home, taking on Star Valley High School Thursday and competing in Rock Springs Saturday. The Thursday night action starts at 6 p.m. while competition in Rock Springs starts at 9 a.m.

 

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