Tigers' matmen thwarted at state finals

Mountain Home Tiger wrestlers competing at the state championships included, from left, Jeff Checketts, Devonte McClain, Tim Hazelbaker and Austin Clark. Hazelbaker won two matches but fell short in his quest to finish in the top 10 in the 171-pound weight class. His teammates faced similar challenges on the mat as they fell in their initial matches. Photo by Brian S. Orban

The four Mountain Home Tiger wrestlers that competed at the State 4A Wrestling Tournament in Pocatello all found the going tough, falling out after the first day of competition.

Of the four, Tim Hazelbaker went the farthest, winning two matches. Had he won at least one more, he would have finished in the top six.

Columbia won their second straight 4A state title, racking up 227.5 points. Blackfoot was second with 181.5, Pocatello was third with 148, Nampa fourth with 136.5 and Jerome fifth with 124. The Tigers finished in the 23rd spot with eight.

The following is a rundown of the Tigers' matches at state:

* Devonte McClain (119 pounds) opened the tournament against Michael Hernandez of Nampa and won a 20-9 major decision. That put him against Austin Schaffner of Columbia, and the Tiger junior lost a 13-8 decision. He then faced Columbia's Tomas Gonzalez and lost to him by pin. Devonte finished 1-2 at the tournament and 30-10 for the season.

* Austin Clark opened the tournament against Tyson Alder of Preston and lost by pin. That put the Tiger sophomore in the consolation bracket where he faced Joel Simental of Minico and lost by pin in the second round. Austin went 0-2 at state and finished 14-22 overall for the season.

* Hazelbaker (171 pounds) opened the tournament as the number six seed and went against James Thomas of Pocatello, winning by pin. He then faced the number two seed, Colton May of Minico, and lost a close 9-6 decision. That put the Tiger senior in the consolation bracket where he beat Orrin Bunn of Nampa, 5-1. He then faced Tanner Snodgrass of Columbia and lost by pin. Hazelbaker went 2-2 in the tournament and finished 13-10 overall for the season.

* Jeff Checketts (215 pounds), who wrestled most of the season at the JV level, opened the state tourney against Tim Thournau of Nampa and lost by pin. The sophomore then faced Ramiro Riojas of Minico in the consolation bracket and lost by pin.