Wrestlers notch 150th win for coach

The Mountain Home Tiger wrestlers improved to 23-3 on the season in dual matches with road wins over Jerome and Skyview last week, helping Tiger wrestling coach Lynn Knudson notch his 150th dual-meet win.

Mtn. Home 56

Jerome 12

The Mountain Home Tigers won 11 of 14 matches at Jerome last Tuesday to easily beat the Jerome Tigers, 56-12.

Picking up wins by pins for the Tigers were Matt Tennant (119), Kaeo Doronio (125), John Deal (130), Calvin Vivier (140), Kamron Spaulding (145), Ryan Hammer (152) and Kori Andrews (160).

Chris Knudson (171) won a 13-4 major decision, and Nico Pinque (135), Tyson Sessions (189) and Blake Pharis (285) won decisions.

Colby Lord (215) lost a tough 9-8 decision, T.J. Billinger (112) dropped a 10-8 decision, and Zach Pomerantz lost by pin at 103 pounds.

"We had a very successful night there," said Tiger wrestling coach Lynn Knudson. "We lost three matches, then we went 11-3, as far as wins and losses, and the JV ended up winning 16 and losing 7, so that was really big.

"We had to step up a few wrestlers that night -- Matt Tennant at 119, John Deal at 130 and Colby Lord, at 215. Colby, he's a back-up 189-pounder, but he stepped up and wrestled a match against a really good 215-pounder at Jerome, and came up a point short against a very good kid."

Tigers 66

Skyview 4

The Tigers completely dominated at Skyview last Wednesday night, winning 13 of 14 matches to claim a 66-4 conference win over the Hawks.

The Tigers picked up six wins by forfeit: Zach Pomerantz (103), T.J. Billinger (112), Kaeo Doronio (125), John Deal (130) and Calvin Vivier (140). Kamron Spaulding (145) won by disqualification.

Ryan Hammer (152) and Chris Knudson (171) won by pin, Kori Andrews (16) won by technical fall (17-2), Matt Tennant (119) won by major decision (10-2), Tyson Session (189) won a 3-2 decision, Colby Lord (215) won a 3-0 decision, and Blake Pharis (285) won a 6-1 decision.

"Colby Lord had another great match at 215 for us," said Coach Knudson. "He did an outstanding job, and if he can wrestle like that for us at 215, he's going to be able to do some really good things for us at district time at 189, so we're really looking forward to what's going to happen come district."

The Skyview win improved the Tigers to 5-0 in conference play and 23-3 in duals.

It was the 150th win for Coach Knudson at Mountain Home.

"Kevin Bish has been kind of keeping track of our overall wins and losses over the last 13 years, and he mentioned to me at Skyview that it was our 150th win since he and I have been coaching together, and a couple years later came Coach (Scott) Mederios, and he can enjoy it, too, and the rest of the coaches that have been helping us, Stan Brown, Jesse Pendergrass, Patrick Starkey, and Dave Johnson, who joined us this year and he's done a great job.

"It's the assistant coaches that have helped us over the years build this kind of a program and have contributed to our program, so it's not just me, it's the assistant coaches that have been under me, and the support of the parents, and of course, the young men themselves that have helped make this program what it is today."

TIGERS FINISH 4TH AT

BURLEY JV TOURNEY

The Tiger JV squad went to Burley Saturday for the Burley Junior Varsity Tournament and finished fourth out of 20 teams competing there.

Blackfoot won the tourney with 176 points, Highland of Pocatello was second with 130.5, Idaho Falls was third with 122, Mountain Home was fourth with 119.5, Skyline of Idaho Falls next with 106.5.

Five Mountain Home wrestlers placed at the tourney.

Winning first-place medals were Brandon Johnson at 160 pounds and Colby Lord at 189. Luke Loomis took third at 171 pounds, and fourth-place efforts went to Tommy Miller at 119 and Ryan Hammer at 152.

"It was a large pot of schools we were up against," said Coach Knudson. "It was all the big schools as far as kids go, and I felt we wrestled pretty well. I think we could have wrestled better, but it was a great effort by the JV kids, and we know what things we need to work on, and I think we can do some better things in our next tournament."

Next action for the Tigers is a home match against Nampa tomorrow (Thursday) night.

They travel to Weiser on Friday and Saturday for the Weiser Invitational, where 20 teams are expected to compete.