Rocky middle school grapplers open new season strong

The Rocky Mountain Middle School wrestling squad opened the 2023 season at the Powell Invitational October 21 and came away with nine medalists, then wrestled in Lovell October 28 and had four champions.

In Powell, seventh grader Benson Jolley wrestled to a 2-1 record and a second-place finish at the 110-pound A Division, pinning Emerson Hose of Laurel and Forest Kleinfeldt of Powell before falling by pin to Levi Gale of Riverton to place second.

Eighth-grader Alex Walker only wrestled twice at 220 pounds in the A Division, pinning Allen Schooner of Riverton and falling by pin to Connor Farwell of Powell.

Sixth grader Xavier Hetland went 2-1 plus a bye to place second at 115 pounds in the B Division, winning two matches by pin and falling by pin to place second.

Sixth grader Dally Malson went 2-1 in the B Division 132 pounds, pinning two opponents before dropping the title match by a fall.

Eighth grader Zach Unruh wrestled to a 3-1 record to place third at 132A. Placing fourth were eighth grader Jesse Ganoung at 98A (1-2), eighth grader Cooper Ward at 132A (2-2), Hudson Moore at 77B (3-2) and Brooks Brost at 91B (4-2).

Winning at least one match were seventh grader Tejeo Scheeler, sixth grader Brogan King, sixth grader Madden Cooley, sixth grader Jason Unruh, seventh grader Rowan Hanusa and eighth grader Nathan Undem.

Other wrestlers in Powell were eighth grader Ethan Haslem, Burlington seventh grader Michael Broederlow and sixth grader Derek Hedges.

Lovell tournament

Saturday in Lovell, Ganoung captured the title at 98 pounds in the A Division, finishing with a 3-0 record after a first-round bye. Ganoung pinned two opponents in 17 seconds and 2:45, then edged Stetson Starbuck of Worland 7-6 for the title.

Jolley won the title at 110-pound A, wrestling to a 3-0 record pins in 37 seconds, 1:14 and 3:44, sticking Trevin Shaffer of Thermopolis for the title.

Zach Unruh went 3-0 at 132A to take the individual medal, winning 15-0 and by pin in 1:15, then taking a forfeit win over teammate Cooper Ward for the championship.

Walker beat Isaiah Palato twice with pins in 1:12 and 2:03 to claim then title at 220A.

Other RMMS placers were:

Third place – Ward 1-2 at 132A with a loss by fall in 2:30 and a win in 1:17; King 1-2 at 155A with a 3-2 win over Ira Peck of Worland.

Fourth place – Hanusa 3-2 at 98A with a 6-2 decision, a fall in 4:09 and a 4-1 decision for his three wins; Hetland 1-3 at 115A with a pin in 2:56 for his lone win; Haslem 3-2 at 126A with a pin in 35 seconds, a 5-2 decision and an 11-4 decision; Broederlow 1-3 at 165-175A with a pin in 2:40.

Winning at least one match were Undem at 105A and Scheeler at 120A.

The Grizzlies will wrestle next at the Riverton Invitational Saturday at
9:30 a.m.