Tiger wrestlers prepping for district

The District III 4A Wrestling Tournament begins Thursday at Bishop Kelly.

The Tigers head to district with 15 of the 25 wrestlers they are taking being seeded in the top six in their weight classes, including three number one seeds.

Pierce Mederios (98 pounds), Josh Deal (195) and Solomon Chung-Hee (220) are seeded first in their weights. Jordan Pendleton (138) and Jose Ortiz (285) are seeded second. Tanner Sessions is seeded third at 145 pounds.

Charlie Shoemaker (160), Jacob Ryan (170) and Taylor Ogaard (182) are all seeded fourth. Hunter Mccluskey (98) and Tyler Heath (132) are seeded fifth and Jacob Lucas (106), Tyler McCall (160), Blake Spagnolo (182), and Dallin Dearing (220) are seeded sixth in their weights.

Action gets under way at 3 p.m. on Thursday, and 1 p.m. on Friday at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise.

Nationally ranked, Kuna and Columbia appear the heavy favorites to finish at the top of the team standings at the two-day district meet. The Tigers hope to qualify as many on to next week's state meet as they can.

Mountain Home closed out its regular season schedule with matches against Kuna and Timberline last week, losing at Kuna, but celebrating Senior night with a dual win over Timberline.

Kuna 63, Mountain Home 18

The Mountain Home Tigers dropped their first dual in nearly two months Thursday night, when they lost to the nationally ranked Kuna Kavemen 63-18 at Kuna.

Mountain Home's wins came by Jacob Ryan by pin at 170 pounds, Josh Deal by decision (10-7) at 195 pounds and Solomon Chung-Hee by decision (6-2) at 220 pounds.

Pierce Mederios also kept his record unblemished, winning by forfeit at 98 pounds.

The Tigers lost nine matches -- eight by pins -- and forfeited two weights.

Tanner Sessions dropped a tough 5-4 decision at 145 pounds.

Losing by pin were Seth Dolan (106 pounds), Jacob Lucas (113), Tyler Heath (132), Jordan Pendleton (138), Levi Abrahamson (152), Charlie Shoemaker (160), Taylor Ogaard (182), and Jose Ortiz (285).

The Tigers forfeited at 120 and 126 pounds.

"Our guys went out and competed against one of the best teams this state has ever seen," said Tigers wrestling coach Lynn Knudson. "We battled at every weight class and the coaching staff is extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish."

Mountain Home 68,

Timberline 12

Mountain Home capped off Senior Night and its regular season with a 68-12 win over the Timberline Wolves Friday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in Mountain Home.

Mountain Home picked up 12 wins -- five by pins and five by forfeit -- in racking up the lopsided win over the 5A Wolves from Timberline.

Winning by pins were Dillon Park (126 pounds), Tyler Heath (132), Levi Abrahamson (152), Charlie Shoemaker (160) and Solomon Chung-Hee (220).

Tanner Sessions won by a technical fall (17-2) at 145 pounds and Josh Deal won by decision (2-1) at 195 pounds.

Jordan Pendleton dropped a 17-11 decision at 138 pounds and Taylor Ogaard lost a 6-2 decision at 182 pounds. Jose Ortiz lost by pin at 285 pounds.

The Tigers take a 17-3 overall dual record and 6-2 conference mark into the District III 4A Tournament, which begins Thursday at Bishop Kelly.

Coach Knudson hopes for a good effort at district. "Now we have to take this momentum that we have built and work towards our goals at district and state."

The State Wrestling Championships are Feb. 27-March 1 at The Idaho Center in Nampa.