Tigers excel at Moscow, tri-meet

The Mountain Home Tigers wrestling team battled multiple teams over the span of several days while bringing home a number of awards during the appearance in tournaments across southern Idaho.

The varsity team found the competition tough as the Tigers battled to a narrow 47-33 win over Lakeland at the Moscow Duals on Jan. 28.

Two Tigers picked up wins by major decision. Pierce Mederios won, 15-2, in the 113-pound weight class while Kanoa Doronio won, 16-7, at 120. Taylor Ogaard won a 3-1 decision in the 220.

Those winning by falls were Dillon Park in the 138 division, Tyler Hardin at 145, Alex Castro in the 152, Andrew Thornburg at 160, Daniel Cruz in the 195 and Jose Ortiz at 285.

Gavin Hazell lost by a 7-12 decision in the 98-pound weight class. Those losing by fall were Gage Wilson in the 106, Dallas Mayhew at 126, David Welle in the 132 and Jayden Sexton at 170.

During the duals competition, the Tigers dominated the mats against Moscow with Mountain Home claiming a 64-15 win. Those winning by technical fall were Mederios, Cruz and Dillon Park.

Castro won by a major decision, 15-3, while Ogaard picked up a 10-5 win by decision. Mayhew, Welle, Ortiz picked up additional wins for the Tigers, all by falls.

Those picking up wins by forfeit were Wilson, Hardin, Thornburg and Sexton. Doronio lost by a sudden victory in a 4-6 match while Hazell lost by a fall.

The varsity Tigers then headed to the North Idaho Rumble with the team finishing fourth overall.

Mederio and Ortiz finished first in their respective weight classes with Hazell, Doronio and Ogaard coming in third. Meanwhile, Hardin finished fourth in his division while Wilson and Dylan Park came in fifth in the 138.

In related news, four members of the Tigers' junior varsity team came away with honors during their appearance at the Kimberly Duals on Jan. 30. Jonathan Kaiser finished first in the 285-pound weight class with Timathy Goodell placing second in the 195. Those finishing fourth overall were Ryan Grindle in the 138 and Troy Elliot at 126.

Mountain Home then played host against Kimberly and Gooding as the school celebrated senior night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium on Feb. 2. The varsity Tigers remained a force to be reckoned with as they made short work of Kimberly during a 13-53 win.

Doronio won by a 13-2 major decision with Castro picking up the team's second major decision during a 12-2 match. Hardin picked up a victory off an 8-6 decision.

Cruz won by fall just 22 seconds into his match with Mederios and Thornburg also winning by falls. Hazell and Wussow won by forfeit.

Sexton fell during an 0-11 major decision while Welle lost by a fall.

The junior varsity team found the competition much tougher against the visiting Bulldogs, losing to Kimberly, 6-25.

Hunter Thornburg won by a 2-1 decision in the 120-pound weight class while Matt Arallano won by a 9-7 decision in the 126.

Troy Elliott lost by a major decision in the 126 division with Benny Vogl falling during a 2-1 decision at 120. Those losing by falls were Brandon Wussow at 120, and Luis Pedroza and Ryan Grindle in the 138.

During the second half of home tournament, the varsity Tigers pummeled Gooding during a decisive 66-6 victory.

Doronio won by an 8-1 decision with Cruz picking up a win following a 3-1 decision. Those winning by fall were Thornburg, Sexton, Ogaard, Mayhew and Park.

Brad Keierleber won by an injury default in the 145-pound weight class with Alex Castro winning off another injury default in the 152. Hazell, Mederios and Welle all won by forfeit. Meanwhile, Ortiz lost by a fall two minutes into his match.

Gooding also proved no match against the JV Tigers, who redeemed themselves during a 27-6 win.

Westley Foster and Brandon Wussow led the 120-pound division by picking up wins by fall. In the 160, Tyler Durham won by fall with Jonathan Sprain winning off a 7-5 decision. In the 285, Jonathan Kaiser won by a pin while Juan Rangel lost to a pin.

Seniors recognized that evening were Cruz, Keierleber, Ogaard, Ortiz, Sprain, Thornburg and Welle. The team closes out their regular season on the road today, Feb. 10, as they face Caldwell.