Tigers drop Kuna conference dual, place at Minico wrestling tourney

The Mountain Home Tigers dropped an 81-3 conference dual to the Kuna Kavemen during an away event last Wednesday.

The Kavemen dominated the mats, winning 14 of 15 matches, including 11 of them by pins.

Jaime Ibarra picked up Mountain Home's only win with an 8-2 decision over his 113-pound opponent.

In other results, Ryan Goldsby lost a 9-1 major decision in the 145-pound weight class. Aerial Groene lost by tech-fall, 20-2, in the 106-pound class.

The Tigers forfeited the 98-pound match while and Mara Vasquez (120), Jordan Pendleton (126), Tanner Sessions (132), Nick Cruz (138), Charlie Shoemaker (152), Austin Clark (160), Josh Deal (170), Jeff Checketts (182), Jon Ryan (195), Solomon Chung-Hee (220) and Mike Gordon (285) all lost by pins.

Following their Kuna loss, the Tigers traveled to Minico High School to compete in the Red Halverson Wrestling Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers finished 14th out of the 20 competing teams with three of the Mountain Home mat men placing at the tournament. Ryan Goldsby made the semi-finals and finished fourth in the 145-pound weight class. Jon Ryan also made the 195-pound semi-finals to finish fifth while Mike Gordon came in sixth in the 285-pound class.

Mountain Home Tigers wrestling coach Lynn Knudson considered the tournament very competitive.

"A lot of the kids had wins down there. There were some tough kids down there," the coach said. "There were 14 4A schools and three 5A schools. It was probably as tough as the state tournament's going to be."

Knudson remained happy with the performances turned in my Goldsby, Ryan and Gordon.

"We did all right, but we're going to have to improve to be able to get kids through the district tournament, but it's all coming," the coach said.

While the Tiger varsity was at Minico, the Tigers junior varsity squad took on their counterparts during a tournament at Burley High School. Mountain Home finished 10th overall with Solomon Chung-Hee winning the 220-pound weight class. Meanwhile, Colt Lohmier finished fourth in 160-pound class.