Lovell Middle School wrestlers take third at Powell

Lovell Middle School wrestlers turned in a strong team performance at Powell on Saturday, placing third in the tournament standings with 82.5 points.

The Bulldogs produced two individual champions, six second-place finishers and a deep group of wrestlers who placed in the top five. Head coach Quinton Hecker said he saw noticeable progress throughout the Lovell lineup.

“I saw a lot of improvement for my wrestlers this last weekend in Powell,” Hecker said. “Temperance Hubbs, in the girls division, wrestled solid along with all my girls. It’s hard to pick out one top wrestler.”

Hubbs placed third at 98 pounds in the girls division, one of several Lovell girls who earned a place. Hadley Henton led the group with a second-place finish at 126 pounds. Leila Brown was third at 115 pounds, Evalina Garcia took third at 105, Emaline Smith placed fourth at 145, and Brielle Hubbs, Lillyan Hansen, Olivia Phillips, Scarlette Hubbs and Treleah Two Two also competed for Lovell.

On the boys side, Sean Leece won the B Division 78-81-pound bracket, while Lionel Two Two captured first place in the B Division 97-98-pound bracket.

Hecker singled out Leece for the growth he has shown since last season.

“Sean Leece took first,” Hecker said. “He’s shown tremendous growth over the past year.”

Lovell also had six second-place finishes. Cinch Bischoff was second in the B Division 72-77-pound class, Hudson Morgan placed second at 70 pounds in A Division, Carson Grant took second in the B Division 89-92-pound class and Thayne Walker was second in the B Division 71-76-pound bracket. Henton and Remmey Cliame, who was second at 165 pounds in the girls division, rounded out the Bulldogs’ runners-up.

Nine Lovell wrestlers earned third-place finishes. In addition to Brown, the Hubbs sisters and Garcia in the girls division, Caison Mickelson placed third in the B Division 127-130-pound class, Devin Stoker was third at 94-97, and Joel Henley took third at 113-118. Hayden Harshman placed third at 105 pounds in A Division, while Cayden Dickerson was third at 77 and Corbin Henley was third at 138.

Other Lovell placers included Braxton Layne, fourth at 132 pounds; Kaden Waltjen, fourth in the B Division 98-105-pound class; Linus Killinger, fourth at 128-137; Manuel Garcia, fourth at 82-84; Miles Baxendale, fourth at 87-88; and Kannon Bassett, fifth at 84 pounds. Joel Henley also placed fourth in the B Division 113-123-pound bracket.

The Bulldogs now turn their attention to a larger challenge this Saturday at Riverton.

“This weekend we have a big tournament in Riverton, so we’re fine-tuning our technique and getting our minds prepared for tougher competition,” Hecker said.