Wrestlers claim more wins during recent tournaments

The Mountain Home Tigers wrestling team continued their winning ways into the new year as they dominated the mats during a tri-meet in Twin Falls on Jan. 5 with strong performances at two other tournaments over the weekend.

The Tigers started off the Twin Falls meet with a 42-36 win over Buhl that included seven wins for the varsity team.

Those picking up wins by fall were Pierce Mederios in the 113-pound weight class, Tyler Hardin in the 145 division, Alex Castro at 152, Andrew Thornburg in the 160, Taylor Ogaard at 220 and Jose Ortiz in the 285. Meanwhile, Kanoa Doronio won by forfeit at the 120 class.

In other varsity results, Zack Slack fell in the 132 division while Dillon Park lost in the 138, both by falls. Those losing by decision were Dallas Mayhew in the 126-pound weight class, Jayden Sexton at 170 and Daniel Cruz and Tim Goodell in the 195.

Four of the team's junior varsity wrestlers picked up wins against Buhl, including Hunter Thornburg, who won by decision in the 126-pound by weight class. Those winning by fall were Ryan Grindle in the 145 and Austin Tetrault and Camerin Kindle at 152.

Troy Elliot lost by decision in the 126-pound division. Others losing by falls were Henry Bergstol at 145, Henry Bergstol at 152 and Jacob Pruit in the 170.

During action against Twin Falls, the Tigers continued to dominate the competition as they grappled their way to a 43-39 victory.

Mederios picked up his second win of the tournament by major decision while Benny Vogl, Tyler Hardin, Thornburg, Ogaard, Ortiz and Doronio all won by falls. Park picked up a win by decision.

Slack lost by decision against his Twin Falls rival while Brad Keierleber, Sexton and Cruz lost by falls.

In junior varsity action, Hayden Keierleber led the team with a win by fall in the 220-pound weight class. Brandon Wussow lost by decision in the 113 division while Jonathan Sprain and Tyler Durham both lost by falls in the 170.

The varsity team went on to tie for first place with the wrestlers from Spring Creek at the Buhl Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Mountain Home's varsity wrestlers were among 33 teams attending the event.

In individual results, Ogaard finished second overall in the 220-pound weight class while Hunter McCluskey and Mederios finished third in their respective divisions. Meanwhile, Gavin Hazell, Doronio and Ortiz took home fourth-place honors

Over the weekend, the junior varsity team headed to the Canyon Ridge Tournament and finished second out of 33 teams. Jonathan Kaiser finished first in the 285-pound division to lead the team's list of winners.

David Welle, Grindle, Hardin and Goodell finished second overall while Mayhew took third-place honors after two days of wrestling. Gage Wilson and Thornburg finished fifth in their weight classes while Tetrault was sixth.

"We have not wrestled well since the Christmas and New Year's break, but the kids are working hard at getting it back," said coach Lynn Knudson. "With that being said, we still came out with a first place at varsity and second place at the junior varsity."