PINEDALE – Capping off a successful season, the Wranglers added three more wins to their bag at home duels on Feb. 11 and 13.

On Thursday, Pinedale challenged 4A team Rock Springs on the mats.

“We defeated Rock Springs, 43-30, and wrestled really well,” said Head Coach Kendall Horrocks. “Jake Hammer had a great win at 113 pounds against Broc Fletcher. Kaleb Bigelow also wrestled well and defeated the No. 2 ranked 4A wrestler Cash Christensen. Other great wins included Tristan Haley, Ethan Kemp, Colton Gehlhausen, Cody Phelps and Keegan Gehlhausen.”

Saturday featured duels at the Wrangler Gym against Lyman, Mountain View and Cody. Pinedale defeated Lyman, 45-22, and took down Mountain View, 60-24.

The match against Cody ended in a 40-40 draw, and eventually went in Cody’s favor by one point based on criteria.

“On Saturday we wrestled well,” coach Horrocks said. “We ended up losing the duel against Cody, and if just a few things would have turned out differently, we would have come out on top. But our athletes still wrestled incredible matches and finished out the regular season strong with a 30-8 duel record.”

The Wranglers travel to Lander on Friday, Feb. 19, for the 3A Northwest Regional Tournament, where wrestlers fight to qualify for State.

“We are excited to compete this weekend in the regional tournament,” said Horrocks. “Our goal is to finish first at regionals and in the top four at the State Tournament as a team. It has been an interesting year with COVID, but it has been a good regular season. We wrestled tough and have improved so much.”

Lyman Duel

The Wranglers battled the Eagles first on Saturday. Hammer opened the match with a victory by fall in the second period over Nick Cook.

Kemp scored the next win in the 126-pound division following a close battle against Sean Rogers. Kemp won by a 5-1 decision with two takedowns and an escape.

Phelps beat Jarrit Hood in the 138-pound weight class when he pinned his opponent in the second period. Bigelow made quick work of Jean Nelson in the 160-pound weight class, winning by fall in the first period.

In the 220-pound division, Ian Cantu defeated Tyler Covolo by fall in the first period. Colton Gehlhausen, Keegan Gehlhausen and Austin Green each won by open forfeit.

Mountain View Duel

Kemp won his second match on Saturday when he pinned Clay Walker in the second period. Colton Gehlhausen took down Gus Roden by fall in the first period in the 132-pound weight class.

Phelps scored his second win against Tanner Collins, following two takedowns with a pin in the second period. In the 145-pound division, Taylor Richey pulled out his first win against Tyson Muir by fall in the first period.

Bigelow pinned his opponent, Bodey Fraughton, in the first period. Keegan Gehlhausen followed up with a quick takedown and pin against Mark Walker. Cantu took down Colter Bindl by fall after a takedown and reversal in the first period.

Hammer, Haley and Eian Smith won by open forfeit.

Cody Duel

Haley opened the action defeating Ben Hogan by fall early in the first period. Colton Gehlhausen scored next for Pinedale, pinning Trenton Hobbs after a takedown in the second period. Phelps took his third win of the day when he pinned Kash Merritt in the second period.

Richey fought Gavin Vance into the second period, and followed up a reversal with a pin. Bigelow won a close match against Jackson Wood by technical fall in the third period. Keegan Gehlhausen scored a win by technical fall in a two-period bout.

Hammer pulled out a win against Ty Peterson by fall in the third period to tie the duel.