Tiger wrestlers finish fifth at tournament

After dropping their season opening dual against an more experienced Borah squad, the Tigers went to the High Country Conference Duals at Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls where they finished fifth out of 12 teams competing.

Borah Lions 48

Mountain Home 30

The Mountain Home Tigers dropped their season opening dual match to the Borah Lions last Wednesday in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in Mountain Home.

The Tigers fell behind, 30-6 but won by pin in three of their next four matches to come within 12, 36-24, but could not overcome the deficit in the loss.

"It was one of those matches where you really don't have the guys that should be in there, and we had a lot of fill-ins," said Mountain Home Tiger wrestling coach Lynn Knudson.

"We had a lot of fill-ins. We had a fill-in at 189, as Tyson Sessions is out with his elbow injury (from football) still, and we didn't feel good about that. Our 140-pounder, Ty Kleffner, steps up and wrestlers their 140-pounder, and he's a 135-pounder. And Robby Bergh at 145, who isn't our varsity guy, either, he's going to win, or he's usually going to give up six points. I'm okay with the way things worked. It's just all the things that we have to overcome to win a dual this year. If we get our guys in the positions they need to be and then maybe we can do some good things."

Picking up wins by pins for the Tigers were Nico Pinque (130), Kori Andrews (160), Chris Knudson (171) and Charles Davidson (215). Kaeo Doronio won by forfeit at 112 points.

Daniel Doronio (125) lost a 15-5 major decision, Calvin Vivier (135) lost by technical fall (17-0), Ty Kleffner (140) lost a 14-7 decision, Robby Bergh (145) lost by pin in the second round, Tanner Carpenter (152) lost by pin in the second round, Matt Ward (189) lost by pin in the second round, Lucas Greer (275) lost by a second round pin, and T.J. Billinger (103) lost by a first round pin.

The Tigers also forfeited at 112 pounds.

Tigers place 5th at High Country Duals

The Tigers traveled to Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls for the annual High Country Conference Duals on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the Tigers lost to Bonneville, 42-30, were beaten by Hillcrest, 44-22, and fell to Idaho Falls, 47-27.

They fared much better on Saturday, beating Rigby, 57-30, Madison, 40-33, and got past Skyline, 42-39, to finish 3-3 for the two-day meet.

Idaho Falls won the event, Preston was second, Hillcrest, third, Bonneville, fourth, Mountain Home, fifth, Post Falls, sixth, Vallivue, seventh, Rigby, eighth, Sugar-Salem, ninth, Skyline, 10th, Madison, 11th, and Bishop Kelly, 12th.

Mountain Home had two wrestlers go unbeaten there. Kaeo Doronio went 6-0 at 112 pounds, and Kori Andrews went 6-0 at 160 pounds. T. J. Billinger and Matt Ward both went 5-1, Billinger at 103 pounds, Ward at 189. Calvin Vivier, Tanner Carpenter and Chris Knudson each went 4-2, Vivier at 140, Carpenter at 152, and Knudson at 171. Nico Pinque (130) and Ty Kleffner (135) both went 3-3, Charles Davidson went 2-4 and Blake Pharis went 1-2, both wrestling at 215, and Robby Bergh (145) and Lucas Greer (175) both went 0-6. The Tigers forfeited at 119 and 125 pounds.

The Tigers wrestle at Capital High in Boise tonight against the Capital Eagles and the Boise Braves.

Mountain Home Takes 7th at Capital Frosh-Soph Tourney

Eleven Mountain Home wrestlers went to Capital last Saturday for the Capital Frosh-Soph Tourney, where six of them placed.

Taking first at 130 pounds was Kamron Spaulding. Alex Lawicki finished second at 119 pounds. Third place efforts went to Nick Best at 112 pounds and Colby Lord at 160. Marcos Hernandez placed fourth at 140 pounds and Luke Loomis came in fifth at 171.

Mountain Home placed seventh as a team at the tourney.