Matmen fall to Jerome, Kuna

The Mountain Home Tigers closed out their regular season wrestling schedule with dual match losses to Jerome and Kuna last week.

Jerome 36

Mountain Home 29

The Mountain Home Tigers came up a bit short in their non-conference dual wrestling match at Jerome last Tuesday. Mountain Home won just six of the 14 matches, with three of the wins by pins.

Picking up pins for Mountain Home were Kyle Hickerson at 119 pounds, Calvin Vivier at 130, and A.J. Hutchison at 135 pounds.

Daniel Doronio and Kole Spaulding won major decisions, Doronio, 18-9, at 125 pounds, and Spaulding, 11-0, at 171.

Chris Knudson picked up the other win for Mountain Home, winning a 12-5 decision at 152 pounds.

Tiger wrestling coach Lynn Knudson was disappointed with his team's effort against Jerome.

"Nobody likes to lose, but it didn't go like I expected it to, and it should never have been that close.

"That was not a good match for us. We came out very flat, partially probably some of my fault. but it was not a good night for us."

Kuna 52

Mountain Home 21

Mountain Home gave up six pins to the Kavemen from Kuna on Senior Night last Thursday in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in their final dual of the regular season.

Mountain Home built up an early 15-5 lead, getting a technical fall (18-1) from Kole Spaulding at 171 pounds, a pin from Tyson Sessions at 189, and a major decision (11-2) from Charles Davidson at 215 pounds, but the Tigers only other points on the night was a pin by A.J. Hutchison at 135 pounds.

"It was a lot of fun to watch," said Coach Knudson of the Kuna match. "They're going to be one of the tougher teams at district, them and Nampa and Skyview, but I felt good about some of the matches and not so good about giving up the pins, that's something we have done constantly, and we've got to get over that, giving up a pin and giving up on a match, because as long as you go three rounds, you never know what might happen, and if we can stay in those matches, I know that we can improve on our skills and look forward to some good things happening. I think it's going to happen, but I'm still waiting."

The Tigers go to the District III 4A Tournament at Bishop Kelly this Friday and Saturday, where Knudson hopes for a good effort from his wrestlers.

"There will be eight teams competing in there and we only get to bring a few kids to state, so we've got to go there to wrestle, and hopefully, we can have them up and going by then."