Lovell Mustangs power through the brackets

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the Lovell Mustang wrestlers continued their season by attending a dual against the Powell Panthers.
“It was fun to see some of the kids experience a dual for the first time,” head coach Joey Bassett said. “It is a different kind of atmosphere I think the kids needed to experience.”
Fighting through a tough series of matches, the team only managed to secure 13 victories in 44 matches. Coach Bassett commented on the team’s performance, stating, “We did not perform very well, but I think that was because it was a weeknight. I don’t think the kids were mentally prepared for the dual, either.” No other statistics were recorded for the dual.
Worland Invitational
Despite their loss earlier in the week, the team managed keep their confidence heading into the Worland Invitational the following Saturday. Coming in just shy of Lander, the team managed to take fifth place at the tournament 119.5-115.
After analyzing some of the ‘B’ wrestlers’ individual performance throughout the season, Coach Bassett and assistant coach Skye Mickelson decided it was time to shake things up.
“We decided to put some of the kids who have been wrestling well in the ‘B’ bracket this season into the ‘A’ bracket so that they could see some different wrestlers,” Bassett said.
One wrestler Bassett praised for having a strong performance was sixth grader Xaden Baxendale, one of the ‘B’ wrestlers that had been moved up the chain into the Division A 77-pound weight bracket. Facing a tough bracket of older opponents, Baxendale managed to place fourth in the bracket through sheer perseverance.
Anthony Garcia came into the 132 Division A weight bracket with a fierceness that helped him claim the bracket. He managed to pin all three of his opponents to take the gold.
Creating a winning streak for himself, Taevyn Gruell went 3-0 this weekend in the 175 Division A weight class by pinning all of his competitors.
Entering a large bracket of 15 other 77-pounders, Joseph Durfee claimed the top spot in the B bracket by going 4-0.
Other placers at the Worland Meet included:
Second Place: Wyatt Blank, Division A 77, 2-1 record.
Third Place: Hunter Krei, Division A 145, 4-1 record; Oscar Garcia, Division B 120, 3-1 record; Christian Garcia, Division B 145, 2-2 record; Vada Schmidt, Women’s Division 111 - 121, 3-1 record.
Fourth Place: Aaiden Walker, Division A 120, 3-2 record; Monte Blank, Division A 155, 2-2 record; Kaylynn Mickelson, Women’s Division 104 – 110, 2-2 record.
Next up, the Mustangs will wrestle this Saturday at the Laurel Invitational, with wrestling scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.