PINEDALE – The Wrangler wrestling team opened 2021 on top of its game, defeating Mountain View and Shoshoni in home duels on Saturday, Jan. 2. Pinedale took on Mountain View first and scored a significant win, 60-24.

After taking a break while Shoshoni and Mountain View duked it out, the Wranglers hit the mats again in full gear to trounce Shoshoni, 51-30.

“Our wrestlers had a very successful weekend,” said head coach Kendall Horrocks. “Against matches wrestled, we only lost one match. The team wrestled very well and we are proud of them. They worked hard over break and were ready to compete last Saturday. It was a lot of fun to see them compete. There are things that we need to work on, and we will continue to do that. Overall, it was a great performance and good to compete at home.”

Mountain View

Sophomore Ethan Kemp hit the mat first in the 126-pound weight class and made quick work of his opponent, Clay Walker. Following two takedowns, Kemp pinned Walker 1 minute, 29 seconds into the bout.

Junior Cody Phelps took on Gus Roden in the 132-pound weight class. Phelps methodically wore his adversary down through two periods before coming out on top in a reversal during the third period and pinning Roden at 1:27.

Colton Gehlhausen, a junior, fought an intense battle against Tanner Collins in the 132-pound class. Collins took the upper hand in the first period with a takedown. Colton Gehlhausen answered back in the second period with an escape and a pair of takedowns. Twenty-one seconds into the third period, Colton Gehlhausen won the match by fall.

Fellow junior Zayne McClain squared off against Bodey Fraughton in the 152-pound weight class. McClain scored a takedown in the first period, and followed that up with a reversal in the second period and a pin at 1:16.

Senior Keegan Gehlhausen scored a quick win against Daniel Harris in the 170-pound division. Keegan Gehlhausen took out his opponent by fall a minute into the first period.

Freshmen Eian Smith (106 pounds) and Jake Hammer (113 pounds), along with junior Tristan Haley (120 pounds) and sophomores Tucker Kelly (160 pounds) and Ian Cantu (195 pounds) won by open forfeit.

In junior varsity action, Cantu won a match against Colter Bindl by fall in the first period. Freshman Fisher Vance followed up and pinned his opponent James Owens in the 126-pound weight class. Liam O’Connor, also a freshman, trounced Brailen Potter by fall in the first period of the 132-pound weight class bout.

Shoshoni

Kemp took down Zeke Duncan in the first matchup against Shoshoni. Before the clock hit 20 seconds into the first period, Kemp pinned his opponent.

Colton Gehlhausen hit the mat against Braden Cash. The athletes battled into the second period when Colton Gehlhausen defeated Cash by fall in 55 seconds.

Keegan Gehlhausen faced off against Cannon Campbell. Campbell managed an escape early in the first period, but Keegan Gehlhausen promptly took control and pinned Campbell at 1:54.

Hammer took the win in a bout against Nicky Knigge. Following a takedown, Hammer finished off his opponent with a pin at 53 seconds.

Freshman Dustin Larsen battled Malachi Lane in the 120-pound weight class. The closely fought contest went into three periods. Larsen trapped his opponent in a near fall and pulled off a reversal in the third period for a 7-4 decision win.

Phelps, Cantu, Smith and freshman Austin Green won by open forfeit.

Junior varsity athletes won several matches against Shoshoni. Vance pinned Zeke Dunkin with a few seconds to spare in the first period. Larsen took on Knigge and won by fall in 46 seconds. Phelps stepped into the junior varsity division and pinned Ernesto Barajas.