CHEYENNE – The Torrington Trailblazers took fifth at the Bison Bonanza Friday after going 3-2 in team duals at Cheyenne Central, after the event was moved from Cheyenne South due to power issues.
“Having this tournament is a huge advantage,” coach Doyle Meyer said of the event during winter break. “We’ve got only eight teams here. It just keeps the competitiveness there. Some teams don’t compete and those kids lose that one week of not doing anything. We are working and working and we stress to the kids you’re doing more than most.”
Cheyenne Central 40, Torrington 24
Starting at 220 pounds to open the bonanza, Sebastian Doucette was pinned at the 1:58 mark against Tanner Martin. Heavyweight Brandon Bennick lost to Casey Pushchak via pin in the first period. The Blazers were open at 106 so Cheyenne East’s Landon Trujillo found himself in the Blazer lineup, although Torrington automatically received a loss at the weight. D.J. Mackey was the next Blazer to take the mat, losing to 113-pounder Adam Roberts via an 8-4 decision.
After a double forfeit at 120 pounds, Quentin Meyer (126) picked up a win with Cheyenne South’s Uriah Huff taking the mat for Central. Rock Spring’s Trevor Allred took the mat for Torrington at 132 pounds.
A trio of Blazers rattled off back-to-back-to-back wrestlers. Starting at 138 pounds, Austin Fox picked up a pin over Jordan Ennis at the 2:46 mark. Tristen Kingsley (145) and Jacob Polkowske (152) both went the distance in their matches. Kingsley won 6-4 over Kyle Hardee and Polkowske posted an 8-3 decision win against Brian Nicholson.
“Outstanding performers were by far Jacob Polkowske and Austin Fox,” Meyer said. “They both went 5-0 on the day. Tristen Kingsley also went 4-1. They’re progressing very, very well.”
At 160 pounds, Casey Britton was close to going the distance, suffering a loss via pin against Nathan Lundberg with eight seconds left on the clock. Chase Dominguez (170) lasted all six minutes, losing 7-6 against Andrew Gauthier. Josh Kingsley (182) fell via a 13-4 major decision against Decker Mattimoe, before Jakob Brott pinned Val Herd 40 seconds into the match to close out the 40-24 dual.
Rock Springs 55, Torrington 21
Bennick racked up early points for the Blazers, as he wrestled Cheyenne East’s Jacob Fernandez, an honorary member for Rock Springs. Trujillo and Allred both wrestled for Torrington again.
Mackey suffered a pin in the first period against Zach Vasquez, before the Blazers suffered a forfeit loss at 120 pounds. Meyer lost by a 12-3 major decision against Cole Seymour.
Fox recorded a win for the Blazers, pinning Chase Peppers at the 1:43 mark. Tristen Kingsley went the distance, but lost by a 6-4 decision. Polkowske had the final win for Torrington, defeating Tristan Profaizer by a 7-2 decision.
To close out the dual, Dominguez, against William Petrovich, and Josh Kingsley, against Dalton Black, were pinned in the third period. Britton was pinned against Wyatt Yenney and Brott suffered the same fate against Adam Forbush, both in the second period.
In exhibition matches, Pake Haun and Brett Posten picked up wins over Sebastian Jordan and Waylon Martinez. Torrington’s Gabe Mitchell and Cody Pierce both lost their exhibition matches.
Torrington 42, Burns/Pine Bluffs 24
The Blazers got on the winning track in their final match of pool play, besting Burns/Pine Bluffs. Mackey picked up the first win by forfeit at 113 pounds, with a double-forfeit at both 106 and 120 pounds. Meyer, Fox and Tristen Kingsley all picked up wins by wrestling East’s Bryson Vasquez (126), Central’s Zach Sullivan (138) and Rock Springs’ Wyatt Fletcher (145).
Britton won by forfeit, with Dominguez going the distance against Burns/Pine Bluffs’ Lash Branigan, winning 9-4. Brott was pinned at the 4:16 mark against Boe Glayson, before the Blazers suffered a forfeit at 195 pounds.
In the heavier weights, Doucette was pinned in the first period against Izaak Rohde. Bennick went the distance, winning 7-2 over Wade Pollock.
Mitchell won his exhibition match over Ross Brown (Rock Springs), who was wrestling for Burns/Pine Bluffs.
Torrington 54, Wheatland 24
Torrington’s 1-2 record in Pool B put it at third in the pool. The Blazers went to the consolation bracket to take on Wheatland, the fourth team from Pool A.
Mackey started off the dual, suffering a pin against Keegan Meyer at the 4:23 mark. After a double-forfeit at 120, Meyer won by forfeit at 126. Allred again wrestled at 132 pounds for the Blazers, even though they still suffered a loss at the weight.
Fox got the winning started, pinning Ethan Reed in the second period. Tristen Kingsley, against Seth DeWitt, and Jacob Polkowske, against Cross Hernandez, both picked up wins by pin in the first period. Britton won by forfeit at 160 pounds.
Dominguez, Brott and Josh Kingsley all wrestled opponents from other schools that were honorary members for Wheatland. Trujillo from East again wrestled at 106 pounds for the Blazers.
Returning to Blazer Bulldog matchups, Doucette was pinned in the first period against Wyatt Crane. Bennick picked up a pin over Keedan Boling at the 3:01 mark.
Torrington vs. Cheyenne South
The Blazers took on Cheyenne South in the fifth-place match. Torrington picked up the win over the Bison to finish the day 3-2 in team duals. Results against Cheyenne South were unavailable at press time.
The Blazers return to competitive action this weekend, heading to the Shane Shatto Memorial Invitational in Douglas. Action starts at 12 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.
“We’re progressing right where we need to be. We’re not taking steps back and we are progressing but it’s going to be a process to get there,” Meyer said.
