Wrestlers spit week's dual matches

The Mountain Home Tigers wrestling team excited the hometown fans with dual match wins over Bishop Kelly and Boise last Thursday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium.

Two nights earlier, the Tigers lost close matches to 5A squads Eagle and Meridian.

Eagle 38

Mountain Home 32

The Tigers went down to the wire with the defending 5A champion Eagle Mustangs last Tuesday night at Meridian.

The match started at the 125-pound weight class, where Daniel Doronio won by pin to put the Tigers up 6-0. A

fter Nick Hoffer lost by pin at 130 pounds, A.J. Hutchison won a major decision at 135 pounds to put the Tigers up 10-6.

Tanner Carpenter, Kori Andrews and Chris Knudson followed with wins, Carpenter, a 7-6 decision at 140 pounds, Andrews, a 4-1 decision at 145, and Knudson, a 16-8 major decision at 152, which increased Mountain Home's lead to 20-6.

After Matt Ward lost by a 23-8 technical fall at 160 pounds, Kole Spaulding won by a second-round pin at 171 pounds to put the Tigers up 26-11.

The Mustangs then scored 21 unanswered points starting with the 189-pound weight class, where Tyson Sessions lost a 3-0 decision, and 215 and 275, where Charles Davidson and Luke Greer lost by pins.

The Tigers forfeited at 103 pounds, and they suddenly trailed, 32-26.

Nico Pinque came back to win the 112-pound weight class by pin to tie the match at 32-32, with one match left.

Then at 119 pounds, Kyle Hickerson lost in the third round by pin, and Eagle won the match, 38-32.

Meridian 36

Mountain Home 26

In the Tigers' final match of the night at Meridian, which again, started at 125 pounds, Daniel Doronio lost a 12-4 major decision and Calvin Vivier lost by pin at 130 pounds, and the Tigers trailed 10-0 early.

A.J. Hutchison won an 8-7 decision at 135 pounds to give the Tigers their first points.

At 140 pounds, Tanner Carpenter lost a 14-8 decision and it was 13-3 Meridian.

Kori Andrews won by forfeit at 145 pounds. Chris Knudson lost a close 3-2 decision at 152 pounds, and Matt Ward lost 7-1 at 160 pounds, as the Mustangs led 19-9.

The Tigers cut the lead in half with Kole Spaulding's 18-1 technical fall at 171 pounds, but Tyson Sessions came up short in a 9-7 decision at 189 pounds, and it was 22-14 Meridian.

Charles Davidson won by forfeit at 215 and Luke Greer won by pin at 275, and the Tigers led for the first time, 26-22.

It would be Mountain Home's last lead, as they forfeited at 103 pounds, and Nico Pinque and Kyle Hickerson both lost major decisions, Pinque, 14-3, at 112 pounds, and Hickerson, 11-2 at 119 pounds, as Meridian won the match, 36-26.

Tiger wrestling coach Lynn Knudson continues to see progress from his young wrestling squad.

"We've been saying all along that we're just going to stick it out and keep getting better, and that's what's happening to us, and getting a few guys in the right spots, and good things are going to happen to this group of kids."

Mountain Home 48

Bishop Kelly 22

The Tigers won nine of 14 matches against S.C 4A conference foe Bishop Kelly Thursday night, including six pins.

Picking up wins by pin were Amanda McAlpin at 103 pounds, Kyle Hickerson at 119, Daniel Doronio at 125, Calvin Vivier at 130, A.J. Hutchison at 135, and Kole Spaulding at 171 pounds.

Colby Lord won by forfeit at 152 pounds, and Nico Pinque won a 7-5 decision at 112 pounds, and Matt Ward won an 8-4 decision at 160 pounds.

Mountain Home 64

Boise Braves 18

Mountain Home made short work of the Boise Braves last Thursday night at home, winning 11 of 14 matches, eight of them by pins, and seven of the pins coming in the first round. Picking up pins for the Tigers were Kyle Hickerson at 119 pounds, Nick Hofer at 130, A.J. Hutchison at 135, James Greenfield at 140, Kori Andrews at 145, Colby Lord at 152, Tyson Sessions at 189, and Charles Davidson at 215.

Daniel Doronio and Matt Ward both won by forfeit, Doronio at 125, and Ward at 160 pounds.

Nico Pinque won a 13-5 major decision for Mountain Home's other points.

"The kids came out and did what we've been wanting them to do all year long, and we just kind of improved a lot since other there at Eagle and Meridian, wrestling those two.

"We came out fired up, being at home, and they did an excellent job -- an outstanding job!"

The Tigers head to Vallivue tomorrow (Thursday) night for a conference dual match, and will be at Weiser Friday and Saturday for the Weiser Invitational.

"It'll give us another look at how much more competitive we're getting as we're going along trying to get ready for district, so we're looking forward to a good tournament there at Weiser."

TIGERS FINISH 6TH AT BURLEY JV TOURNAMENT

The Mountain Home Tigers took a number of wrestlers to the Burley Bobcat JV Tournament Saturday and came home with a sixth-place effort out of 18 teams that wrestled there.

Daniel Doronio won the 119-pound weight class, beating teammate Kameron Spaulding for first. Calvin Vivier finished second at 130 pounds and Tim Whitmarsh finished second at 171 pounds.