{gallery}01_27_09/coltnix{/gallery}Powell High School's Colt Nix attempts to escape from Greybull/Riverside wrestler Blaine Gossens during last Thursday's dual meet at PHS. The Panthers won the matchup 58-14. Tribune photo by David DickeyNumber of PHS wrestlers notch 6-0 marksA day after recording a convincing victory over Greybull/Riverside in a dual meet in Powell last Thursday, the Powell High School wrestlers ventured to Buffalo for the Bison Duals. During that two-day event, the Panthers notched a perfect 6-0 record.

The top-ranked, Class 3A Panthers opened the Bison Duals with four victories during Friday's action. The Panthers reached the 70-point plateau in their first two matchups of the day and won in convincing fashion. Against Glenrock, PHS won by a score of 70-18. They followed with a 71-10 victory over Gillette's junior varsity.

In Friday's third round, the competition got tougher, but the Panthers still were able to outscore third-ranked, Class 3A Wheatland by a 15-point margin, 42-27. PHS ended the day with a 52-18 decision over Buffalo.

On Saturday, the Panthers encountered their toughest matchup of the duals when they squared off against second-ranked, Class 3A Douglas. Thanks largely in part to a victory by 215-pound entry Tyler Showalter late in dual, PHS was able to emerge with a 39-30 win.

“The match with Douglas was a tough one,” said PHS head coach Nate Urbach. “Tyler came through with a pin for us at the end, and that was big.”

Riding the momentum of that team victory, the Panthers went into their final contest of the day against fifth-ranked Torrington. PHS cruised to a 62-9 victory in that matchup.

Among the individual highlights were the 6-0 marks posted by Randy Andrews (130 pounds), Ren Utter (103), Auston Carter (140), Cody Kalberer (160) and Trevor Donarski (152). Included in Andrews' strong showing were victories over wrestlers ranked second and fourth in the state's standings. Kalberer and Donarski each had wins against wrestlers ranked second.

Urbach also noted Monte Nickles' victory over the 189-pound wrestler from Glenrock, who carries a No. 2 ranking. Nickles finished the two-day event with a 5-1 record.

“I thought the guys did really well,” Urbach said. “Duals have been a little bit of Achilles heel for us. We're a better tournament team, but I was really pleased with how well the guys did (in Buffalo).”

PHS's next action is slated for Thursday. That day at 4 p.m., PHS is scheduled to meet fourth-ranked, Class 3A Lander at LHS.

“That's going to be a big match for us,” Urbach said. “It should be one heck of dual.”

Wrestlers post 58-14 victory

Against Class 2A Greybull/Riverside last Thursday, the top-ranked Powell High School wrestlers recorded a dominating, 58-14 victory.

Of the 13 bouts that were settled on the mat, the Panthers won 10 against Greybull. PHS also picked up a forfeit in the heavyweight division.

“It was a good night for us,” said PHS head coach Nate Urbach. “We had some guys that did really well against some tough wrestlers.”

The event opened with top-ranked PHS wrestler Ren Utter scoring a pin at the 5:37 mark in his bout with Matt Grovenstein at 103.

PHS's Olie Olson, ranked No. 2 at 112, followed with a pin at 1:51 against Stephen Kerr.

Panther sophomore Luke Wozney took a commanding 7-1 lead against Levi Kelly in the 119-pound bout. Wozney went on to record a 9-4 victory.

Colt Nix, wrestling at 125, battled Blaine Gossens, and the two wrestlers were deadlocked at 1-1 after one period and 5-5 after the second. Gossens outscored Nix 5-1 in the final period to claim Greybull/Riverside's first win of the night.

In the 130-pound bout, PHS freshman Randy Andrews defeated No. 5 Nathan Hetzel with a pin at 2:55. Second-ranked Cory Eden followed by cruising to a 12-2 victory over No. 4 Payton Vigil in the 135-pound matchup.

Top-ranked Auston Carter, a junior, added a victory by pin in the 140-pound weight class. Carter was ahead by a sizable margin against fifth-ranked Ben Anson when he notched his pin at 3:37.

No. 2 Cole Kary kept the momentum in PHS's favor at 145 by pinning Nick Kern at the 1:13 mark.

In the 152-pound matchup, No. 1 Trevor Donarski continued to show solid form as he pinned Daniel Grovenstein with 29 seconds remaining in the first period.

Cody Kalberer, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, then added a 3-1, overtime decision against top-ranked Chayce Groton in the bout for the 160-pound entries.

At 171, PHS junior Joe Lujan made his return to the mat after being sidelined because of a knee injury. He was pitted against fifth-ranked Clay Cundall and lost 19-4.

PHS junior Monte Nickles made quick work of Gabriel Villegas in the bout at 189. Nickles won with a pin after a mere 24 seconds.

Powell's 215-pound entry, senior Tyler Showalter, enjoyed a strong showing in the early portion of his match against second-ranked Wes Ridgway, but eventually lost by a pin at 5:31.

Panther sophomore Trevor Griffeth capped the dual meet by claiming a forfeit victory at 285.