THS grapplers 26th at Ron Thon

Erick Starkey
Posted 1/31/18

Eleven Torrington Trailblazer wrestlers competed in the prestigious Ron Thon in Riverton over the weekend, combining for 32 points to tie for 26th as a team.

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THS grapplers 26th at Ron Thon

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RIVERTON – Eleven Torrington Trailblazer wrestlers competed in the prestigious Ron Thon in Riverton over the weekend, combining for 32 points to tie for 26th as a team.

“We didn’t perform up to expectations,” coach Doyle Meyer said. “It’s a tough tournament and it really showed us what we need to do to get better.”

Jacob Polkowske was the only Blazer to reach the quarterfinals. At 145 pounds, he started the weekend with two wins, pinning Luke Brown (Cheyenne South) late in the first period and Seth Horton (Powell) in the third period. Star Valley’s Trevor Clark got the better of Polkowske in the quarterfinals in a 5-3 decision. The Blazer lost his next match by pin in the second period against Themopolis’ Koy Myers.

Chase Dominguez (160) posted three wins over the weekend after losing his next match in a 4-2 decision against Big Piney’s Tyler Long. He went on to rattle off three-straight wins in the consolation bracket, all by decision. He beat Rawlins’ Tristan Mikesell (3-2), Worland’s Lane McBee (4-2) and Green River’s Jon Ty Leininger (7-6). In the fourth round of the consolation bracket, Dominguez lost by a 10-2 major decision against Wyatt Yenney (Rock Springs).

Casey Britton, a 152-pounder for the Blazers, reached the fourth round of the consolation bracket as well. After a bye, he lost in a 6-2 decision against Sheridan’s Quin Heyneman. In the lower bracket, he pinned Lowell Ellis (Kemmerer) in the second period and beat Kye Hicks (Wheatland) in an 18-14 decision. Britton was beat by a 6-4 decision against Jake Waterson (Buffalo).

Heavyweight Jacob Wamboldt was the final Blazer to reach the fourth round of the lower bracket. After an opening round bye, he lost a 6-3 decision against Star Valley’s Hunter Cranney. In the lower bracket, the Blazer senior pinned Evanston’s Eric Orozio in the second period and Cheyenne Central’s Casey Pushchak in 35 seconds. Against Dalton McInerney (Thunder Basin), Wamboldt was pinned in the first period, ending his weekend.

Several Blazers recorded a win in Riverton. Starting with the lower weight, 106-pounder Nycholas Melchor had a bye to start the weekend, before losing by a 4-3 sudden victory against Lander’s Brady Carey. He besting Worland’s Kein Anderson by a 5-0 decision, before falling to Wheatland’s Keegan Meyer in a 5-1 decision.

Quentin Meyer (120) started the Ron Thon with a 13-4 major decision loss against Cyruss Meeks (Natrona County), followed by a bye in the lower bracket. Meyer snagged his win in an 8-4 decision against Isaac Saavadra (Evanston), before falling in a 7-2 decision against South’s Anthony Rosati.

Josh Kingsley (170) started his weekend with a 12-6 decision loss against Thunder Basin’s Riley Mitchell, followed by a bye in the lower bracket. Kingsley went on to pin Central’s Scott McKee at the 3:00-mark. Dylon Case (Douglas) ended Kingsley’s weekend with a pin in the first period.

At 182 pounds, Jakob Brott went the distance in his opening match, falling in a 7-3 decision against Rawlins’ Weston Bezold. A bye greeted Brott in the consolation bracket, before he pinned Moorcroft’s Logan Husted at the 3:20-mark. In the third-round of the lower bracket, Brott lost a 12-9 decision against Thunder Basin’s Dayton Porter.

Torrington senior Nathan Davis took the mat at 152 pounds, suffering an opening loss by pin in the first against Tristan Profaizer (Rock Springs). After a bye, Davis won via medical forfeit over Cullen Becher (Thermopolis). Kelly Walsh’s Kevin Anderson ended Davis’ weekend by a 17-3 major decision.

Pake Haun took the mat at 126 pounds, falling against Glenrock’s Joe Taylor by pin in the first period. In the lower bracket, he went the distance but lost by a 4-1 decision against Kendell Cummings (Evanston). Brandon Bennick (220) also took the mats at the Ron Thon, receiving a first-round bye. He was then beaten in a 1-0 decision against Pinedale’s Ethan Carson, before being pinned in the second period by Kelly Walsh’s Jared Warden.

Torrington tallied 32 points to tie for 26th with Big Piney. The Blazers finished just behind Lyman (38), Cheyenne Central (37), Wheatland (37) and Thermopolis (36). Thunder Basin took the top spot with 170 points, followed by Star Valley (156) and Kelly Walsh (146.5). Cheyenne East just missed the top-three with 145.5 points.

“We will be there at the end (at regionals and state),” Meyer said. “I don’t have any doubt about that. This was a little set back, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Mitchell, Neb. Invite

The JV Blazers hit the road to compete in the Mitchell Invite on Saturday, taking eighth with 25 points. Cody Pierce was the top finisher for Torrington, taking fourth at 138 pounds. Nicholas Sherbeyn (0-2), Carlos Fitzwater (0-2), Brett Posten (2-2), Tyler Juma (1-2), Gabe Mitchell (1-2) Riley Grubbs (1-2) and Sebastian Doucette (0-2) rounded out the Torrington JV competitors.

“It is huge and it makes the competition in our wrestling room that much better,” Meyer said of his JV wrestlers competing in varsity action.

Torrington took on Alliance, Neb. in a home dual Tuesday after press time. The Blazers hit the road Thursday to compete in a dual against Gering, Neb. They also return to the mat Saturday to compete in an invitational in Rawlins.