Grapplers go 3-3 at Thoman Memorial duels

Robert Galbreath, rgalbreath@pinedaleroundup.com
Posted 1/21/21

Keegan Gehlhausen, Phelps, Hammer all cap perfect weekend.

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Grapplers go 3-3 at Thoman Memorial duels

Posted

GREEN RIVER – The new world of health restrictions did not prevent one of Wyoming’s largest high school wrestling meets, the Thoman Soda Ash Memorial, from taking place on Jan. 15 and 16.

Sixteen teams gathered in Green River, representing 2A wrestling programs, 3A schools like Pinedale and 4A powerhouses including Green River and Cheyenne East. The Thoman Memorial pitted teams organized into pools against each other in duels.

Pinedale’s competition ran the full gamut at the meet, from small schools to some of the largest high schools in the state.

The Wranglers competed in six duels and won three. The Wranglers placed third in Friday’s second pool and second in Saturday’s fourth pool.

On Friday, Pinedale fell to Evanston in a close match, 42-40. The Wranglers went on to defeat Campbell County, 59-24, and fell to Cheyenne East, 51-27.

Saturday’s action opened with the Wranglers battling Cheyenne South on the mats. The Wranglers scored a significant victory over the larger school, 56-9. Following a 55-19 loss to Rock Springs, Pinedale went on to defeat Kemmerer, 41-36.

Senior Keegan Gehlhausen (170-pound class) junior Cody Phelps (132 pounds) and freshman Jake Hammer (113 pounds) swept the competition and finished the weekend with 6-0 records.

Junior Colton Gehlhausen (138 pounds) and sophomore Ethan Kemp (126 pounds) went 5-1.

Cheyenne East

Hammer started the first duel out by pinning Benjamin Whitright 1 minute, 57 seconds into the bout. Kemp made quick work of his opponent, Jonus Aragon, with a victory by fall at 1:17.

Phelps pinned Bricen Bakatamarian with nearly a minute remaining in the first period. Colton Gehlhausen took down Brian Mead by fall 34 seconds into his match. Keegan Gehlhausen scored a win over Blaise Ronnau by a 7-4 decision.

Evanston

Hammer struck first, defeating Ryder Wilson by fall near the end of the second period. Freshman Dustin Larsen pinned Kyson Hamilton 40 seconds into the 120-pound weight class match.

Kemp beat Riley Kohler by fall early in the second period. Phelps stretched his match into the third period before pinning Brady Roberts.

Senior Kaleb Bigelow won his first duel, defeating Kody Rex by a 15-2 major decision. Keegan Gehlhausen struck a second time, beating Carson Knight by fall in the first period.

Freshman Austin Green (182 pounds) won by open forfeit.

Campbell County

Hammer took out his third opponent, Austin Enriquez, by fall 1:21 into the first period. Kemp pinned Aiden Perez 1:25 into his match.

Cody Phelps fought his opponent, Lucas Hill, to defeat by technical fall, 17-1. Colton Gehlhausen won his second match when he took out Alex Eisenbraun by fall in the third period.

Junior Zayne McClain scored his first points when he pinned Tyson Stephens in the second period. Bigelow promptly defeated his rival, pinning Hunter Henderson 1:14 into the match. Green pinned Wade Garrett in less than a minute.

Freshman Eian Smith (106 pounds), Larsen and Keegan Gehlhausen scored six points by open forfeit.

Cheyenne South

Larsen pulled off his second victory that weekend when he pinned Tanner Morgan 48 seconds into the match. Kemp battled into the third period against Alex Gallegos before winning by fall.

Phelps won by another technical fall over Aiden Gregory, 21-4. Colton Gehlhausen defeated Layne Warburton in the third period.

Bigelow won match number three when he took down Dom Gallegos by fall in the first period. Keegan Gehlhausen scored a 9-4 decision win over Blakely Blanchard.

Hammer, Green, Smith and sophomore Ian Cantu (195 pounds) won by open forfeit.

Rock Springs

Four Wranglers pulled out wins against their 4A rival. Colton Gehlhausen defeated R.J. Davidson by an 11-1 major decision. In his fifth win, Keegan Gehlhausen pinned Daniel Suazo 12 seconds into the second period.

Hammer struck again when he scored a 9-3 decision over Justin Henry. Phelps won by open forfeit.

Kemmerer

In the final match, Kemp defeated his adversary, Gabe Emery, by fall at 1:16. Phelps racked up another win by technical fall, this time against Ayden Kelly, 19-3.

Colton Gehlhausen pinned Abel Alverado 45 seconds into the second period. Hammer took down Mont Haslem by fall at 2:34.

Winners by open forfeit included Bigelow, Keegan Gehlhausen and Green.