CASPER – A successful season for Pinedale High School grapplers culminated with both the boys’ and girls’ teams capturing second place at the 2024 State Wrestling Championships in Casper over the weekend.

The Lady Wranglers competed in the second annual all-classification tournament and finished the three-day event posting 107 team points to earn second place out of a field of 45 competing teams. Star Valley took first place with 163 points.

Pinedale crowned three state champions in the girls’ tournament. Sophomore McKinzie Mortensen garnered gold in the 100-pound weight division. Fellow sophomore Kaylea Mortensen achieved the state title at 105 pounds. Senior Katyana Dexter snagged the championship in the 235-pound bracket.

The boys’ competed in the 3A state tournament and came in second place with 212 team points out of 17 participating programs. Green River placed first with 242 points.

Two boys captured state championships – junior Ryan Nutt in the 120-pound division and senior Jake Hammer at 138 pounds.

Girls’ Tournament

McKinzie Mortensen squared off against Worland’s Hailey Wall in the quarterfinals on Friday morning, winning by fall at 1 minute, 24 seconds.

Advancing to the semifinals, Mortensen pinned Cheyenne South’s Trinity Warner midway in the second period.

The championship match pitted Mortensen against Caden Simianer, of Upton. Mortensen battled her opponent through the first minute of the match before getting a pin at 1:07.

In the 105-pound bracket, Kaylea Mortensen defeated Cheyenne East’s Sophia Arellano by fall 50 seconds into the quarterfinals.

Moving up to the semifinals, Mortensen pinned Carlee Angell, of Star Valley, at 4:37.

Stepping into the ring for the championship round against Wind River’s Cora Remacle, Mortensen won by fall with more than 1 minute remaining in the third period.

Dexter made quick work of Wright’s Tamra Knight in the quarterfinals at 235 pounds, with Dexter getting a pin at 21 seconds.

Progressing to the semifinals, Dexter felled Jada Bohm, of Sheridan, 1:27 into the round.

The championship round found Dexter facing off against Dubois’ Aaliyah Martin. Dexter promptly pinned Martin with 52 seconds to spare in the first period.

While other members of the girls’ team came up short in making it to the podium, several athletes scored team points with wins in either the opening round or consolation brackets.

Junior Matazi Landers (120 pounds) and sophomore Malari Craig (130) both netted six points for the Lady Wranglers while sophomore Evelynn Shivers (110) and sophomore Alicia Dexter each posted three points.

Boys’ Tournament

The Wranglers counted 11 medalists making it to the podium in their respective brackets at state.

Nutt kicked off the quarterfinals at 120 pounds by pinning Evanston’s Ryker Frongner 1:42 into the round.

Stepping onto the mats in the semifinals, Nutt defeated Green River’s Kaleb Gunter by a 9-0 major decision.

Nutt battled Rawlins’ Adrian Trujillo through three periods in the championship round to secure the win by a 12-0 major decision.

In the 138-pound bracket, Hammer defeated Newcastle’s Scott Larson by fall with 40 seconds remaining in the first period of the quarterfinals.

Moving up to the semifinals, Hammer pinned Timber VanGieson, of Lyman, early in the second period.

The championship round featured a showdown between Hammer and teammate and senior Fisher Vance. Hammer pinned Vance in the third period.

Vance snagged second place at 138 pounds, pinning Green River’s Conner Smith in the quarterfinals and felling Luke Ewing, of Douglas, early in the second period of the semifinals.

Sophomore Wylee Willson secured second place in the 126-pound bracket. Willson won the quarterfinals against Wheatland’s Kale Gudahl by pin at 1:46. Advancing to the semifinals, Willson beat Green River’s Spencer Wright by a 4-1 decision.

In the 165-pound bracket, junior Garrett Haley scooped up second place, pinning Worland’s Dawson Utterback at 3:36 in the quarterfinals and defeating Rawlins’ Sage Lonn by a 6-4 decision in the semifinals.

Sophomore Landon Fornstrom clinched third place at 157 pounds, pinning Jaydon Walther, of Green River, with 15 seconds remaining in the third-place match.

Fourth-place finishes included junior Garrett Madole at 144 pounds, senior Dustin Larsen in the 150-pound bracket, sophomore Cale Dauwen at 175 pounds and senior Austin Green in the 190-pound classification.

Senior Viliami Dexter placed fifth in the 285-pound bracket.