Wrestlers sweep tri-match, win at Parma

It was a good week for the Mountain Home Tigers wrestling team as they picked up dual wrestling match victories over Buhl and Twin Falls last Tuesday in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in Mountain Home before they captured the Parma Invitational Tourney over the weekend.

Tigers 78, Buhl 10

Mountain Home won 13 of its 15 matches against Buhl as they rolled to a 78-10 win over the Indians last Tuesday. The Tigers picked up seven pins and six forfeits in the win.

Winning by pins for the Tigers were Josh Deal in the 220-pound weight class, Seth Dolan (106), Pierce Mederios (113), Jacob Lucas (120) Tyler Heath (132), Brad Keierleber (152) and Tyler McCall (170). Picking up wins by forfeit were Hunter McCluskey (98 pounds), Tyler Hardin (138), Tanner Sessions (145), Taylor Ogaard (182), Jacob Ryan (195) and Jose Ortiz (285).

The only losses by the Tigers against Buhl were Jeremy Essl by major decision (11-1) at 160 pounds, and David Welle by pin at 126.

"They're young and we knew that they would be young, and so did they," said Tigers wrestling coach Lynn Knudson. "That's how we started off a long time ago that way, so it's neat that they come up and they want to wrestle us, and that's how you do get better."

Knowing his wrestlers will face Twin Falls again next year, the coach was glad to see his team meet the challenge.

"I felt really good about how a couple of the kids came out and wrestled that needed to, like Brad Keierleber -- he's been struggling -- but the rest of the guys that I expect to win did a great job, so it was a good win," he said

Tigers 64, Bruins 19

After Twin Falls polished off Buhl in the middle match, Mountain Home faced Twin Falls in the night cap, winning 11 of its 15 matches, including 10 by pins, to beat the Bruins, 64-19.

Winnings by pins for the Tigers were Josh Deal in the 220-pound weight class, Hunter McCluskey (98), Seth Dolan (106), Pierce Mederios (113), Jacob Lucas (120), Tyler Heath (132), Tyler Hardin (138), Tanner Sessions (145), Tyler McCall (170) and Jacob Ryan (195). Brad Keierleber won a major decision (12-3) at 152 pounds.

In other tournament results, Jose Ortiz lost a tough 2-1 decision at 285 pounds, David Welle lost major decision (14-6) at 126, and Jeremy Essl (160) and Taylor Ogaard (182) both lost by pins.

"I like how we can wrestle a match and then go out and wrestle a second match, and I think we came out a lot better," Coach Knudson said. "I don't know if it's because we're winded and ready -- I don't know -- it's also nice to be at home every once in a while, and I think we can get up for that a lot better. But again, I think our quality kids went out and wrestled well, and we had a couple other kids that stepped up and did a great job for us, so it was a good win."

The Tigers went to Parma over the weekend to compete at the Parma Invitational. They came back as champions with 14 wrestlers placing in the top four as they brought home the championship trophy.

The Tigers ended with 219.5 points in the tourney, well ahead of second place Caldwell's 175. Weiser was third with 144.5, Vale had 114, and Nyssa with 108.5. There were 16 teams in the two-day tourney.

Tyler Heath won the 132-pound weight class. Second-place efforts went to Pierce Mederios in the 106-pounds, who lost to the Oregon state champ and marked his first loss as a high school wrestler.

Others finishing second at the tournament included Tanner Sessions at 145 and Jose Ortiz at 285. Third-place efforts went to Hunter McCluskey (98 pounds), Kanoa Doronio (113), Jacob Lucas (120), Brad Keierleber (152), Tyler McCall (170), Jacob Ryan (195), and Josh Deal (220). Finishing fourth were Seth Dolan (106 pounds), Tyler Ogaard (182) and Jonathan Keiser (285).

"I'm very proud of our team... and how they prepared themselves for this tournament," the coach said. "Although we only had one champion, we had a number of kids who came back and placed third on the back side. I still feel we have room for improvement and can still wrestle better than what we did."