Tiger wrestlers split dual matches

The Mountain Home Tiger wrestling team came away with a split of its dual matches with Kuna and Timberline, beating the Wolves, but losing to the Kavemen last Tuesday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in Mountain Home.

Tigers 51

Timberline 35

The Tigers racked up nine wins against the Wolves, six by pins, in beating Timberline 51-35.

Picking up wins by pins were Cory Pinque (112 pounds), Tommy Miller (135), Junior Ruiz (145), Austin Clark (152), Michael Heinen (189) and James Bailey (285).

Joe Gutierrez won by forfeit at 119 pounds and DeVonte McClain won a 17-3 major decision at 125. Erwin Ruiz (130) lost by technical fall (18-1), Ryan Goldsby (140) and Joe Russell (160) lost by pins, and the Tigers forfeited at 171 and 215 pounds.

Both teams forfeited at 103 pounds.

Kuna 52

Tigers 29

The Tigers won just four matches against Kuna, two by pins, as they came up short, 52-29, to the Kavemen.

DeVonte McClain (119) and James Bailey (285) won by pins, Cory Pinque (112) won by forfeit and Tommy Miller won by technical fall (18-2).

Junior Ruiz (140) and Michael Heinen (171) lost by decisions, Erwin Ruiz (125) lost a major decision, and Zach Pomerantz (130), Austin Clark (152) and Joe Russell (160) lost by pins.

The Tigers forfeited at 103, 145 and 189, and both teams forfeited at 215 pounds.

Tiger wrestling coach Lynn Knudson thought his guys wrestled well, considering they were down in numbers.

"With what we had out of our lineup, we did pretty well against Kuna. We didn't have Kaeo Doronio and Tim Hazelbaker in our lineup, but we were on a pretty good pace to beat them. I liked how the guys worked and wrestled and we had a chance, but couldn't quite come out on top on that one, but came back and wrestled Timberline real tough and came out with a win on that one."

The Tigers go to Middleton Thursday night for a conference dual, and head to Pocatello for the Dick Fleishman Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

"We're going to be taking some extras down there (to Pocatello) and try and mix up our lineup here and there in a few spots, so hopefully we can come out of there with some wins from that dual tournamnent," said Coach Knudson.