Pig Wrestling makes a splash at the fair

Posted 7/23/15

“It was muddy and a little rough on the bottom; (it) scrapes the knees up,” said Jennifer Bonander of the Hulk Smash women’s team.

Bonander and teammate Kayla Atkinson have wrestled pigs every year at the fair since first grade. This was …

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Pig Wrestling makes a splash at the fair

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Smelly, slippery and squealing — the pigs were back for another round of wrestling at the Park County Fair on Tuesday night.

“It was muddy and a little rough on the bottom; (it) scrapes the knees up,” said Jennifer Bonander of the Hulk Smash women’s team.

Bonander and teammate Kayla Atkinson have wrestled pigs every year at the fair since first grade. This was their second year wrestling alongside Kiley Cannon and Riley O’Brien.

“We have done it together a long time,” Bonander said.

Unfortunately, their Incredible Hulk power wasn’t enough to best the pig.

But, the Piggy Bankers really had it in the bank as they deposited their pig in a mere 16.67 seconds — faster than all other teams in all of the divisions.

Piggy Banker Holly Cole credited being last for their success. They watched what worked and took note of what didn’t, so they entered the pig pen with a plan. The ladies snuck up, grabbed the pig all at once and had it in the barrel in no time.

Cole said this was their first time competing, but nobody would have guessed it as they brought home the bacon with less mess and less time.

“We developed a strategy and took the pig down,” teammate Jessica Gimmeson said.

The ladies all work at First Bank of Wyoming in Powell and were inspired by the Lovell branch, since they formed a team for the Big Horn County Fair.

“I thought it would be slippery, but none of us fell, and we stayed on our feet,” Gimmeson said.

The Depot Divas weren’t far behind as Leela Engle, Mikala Fulton, Moriah Miller and Amber Stumm dove in for a time of 27.18 seconds.

Meanwhile, team BBK landed a 35.14-second time with Lexee Craig, Danna Hanks, Megan Wagner and Breanna Donarski.

Cutting it close to the 60-second cutoff were the Fabulous Oinkinators, Brittney Day, Mackenzie Wright, Cassie Collin and Heather McClintick.

There were five teams competing in the Pee Wee division, but the piggies all came out on top for each.

Nine teams of Park County kids went nose-to-snout with the pigs, and only three of them were able to make the catch in less than a minute.

The Swine Sisters — Raelynn Ramsey, Abby Landwehr, Tegan Lovelady and Josie Simpson — were the champs of their division with 20.04 seconds. Close behind were the Pink Piglets — Mikey Timmons, Wyatt Peterson, Kellon George and Issac Peterson — with a 32.62-second time.

The Pretty Little Piggies may not have been the fastest team, but they definitely made a splash as Elsie Spomer, Sami Cole, Sidney Karst, Bryten Checketts and Sydney Spomer nabbed the pig in the last few seconds.

Only two of the seven teams competing in the intermediate youth division were able to hook the ham.

Mackanzie Scott, Hunter Koster, Kris Nelson and Chelsea Condrey of the Big Bad Wolves won the intermediate youth division with a time of 22.84 seconds. Meanwhile, Pork and Beans was right behind them with a 59.26-second time, thanks to the efforts of Maddy Hanks, Brooklyn Sweet, Kaylee Meyer and Gracien Whitlock.

Only one of the four men’s teams had what it takes to tackle the pig. Juston Carter, Carson Kleinfeldt, Chance Sheridan and Tim Jordan of the Heart Mountain Pig Nappers sealed the deal in 48.14 seconds.

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