PHS wrestling 2nd in Gillette duals

Posted 12/24/15

Powell High School’s wrestling team finished second with a 5-2 head-to-head record in the in the eight-team dual invite Friday and Saturday.

“Going in to this thing, I thought we could be anywhere from first or second all the way to …

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PHS wrestling 2nd in Gillette duals

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Senior trio takes titles

The wins didn’t come easy at the Pat Weede Tournament in Gillette, and that’s just what the Powell Panthers needed.

Powell High School’s wrestling team finished second with a 5-2 head-to-head record in the in the eight-team dual invite Friday and Saturday.

“Going in to this thing, I thought we could be anywhere from first or second all the way to eighth,” PHS wrestling coach Nate Urbach said. “Things were so tight, I was really happy with being second. We won a bunch of tight duals, and that’s great. That means your team is coming together.”

Three seniors — Chance Karst, Nic Urbach and Tucker Darrah — went a perfect 7-0 and were the champions of their respective weight classes.

Powell won its final three

duals by a combined 10 points, and lost two — one each day — by a total of 17 points.

“When you win that many duals under 10 points — that’s a one match swing basically,” Nate Urbach said. “It’s good for us to struggle a little bit and have to figure out ways to win.”

The Panthers opened the tournament with big wins over Moorcroft (51-21) and Sidney, Montana (51-17) before edging Natrona Country 36-33 and then closing Friday’s action with a 42-36 loss to host Campbell County, the top-ranked team in Class 4A.

Saturday opened with a 41-30 loss to Bismarck Century (Bismarck, North Dakota), but Powell bounced back with a pair of narrow victories against out-of-state opponents.

Powell beat Scottsbluff, Nebraska 39-35, followed by a 33-30 win against Rapid City Central (Rapid City, South Dakota).

In Gillette, the Panthers experienced blowout wins, a come-from-behind victory and a comeback loss, all of which Urbach said contributes to the growth of the team.

“I think we were up at one point 20-0 against Gillette and end up losing. Scottsbluff was up 24-0 and we end up winning,” Nate Urbach said. “Anytime you have close duals, it’s really good to build your team, because everybody depends on everybody. One or two matches go the other way and you lose the dual. It was really good for us.”

Even the 11-point loss to Bismarck Century was still in doubt as the teams headed into the night’s final bout.

“That still came down to the last match, it came down to the heavyweight match,” Nate Urbach said.

Karst and Nic Urbach remained perfect on the season as they won the 145- and 152-pound weight classes, respectively.

Karst wrestled in what Coach Urbach called “the marquee matchup” against Nebraska state champion Ben Rodriguez.

“Anytime you can beat another state-to-state champion that’s always awesome, and he did it in pretty dominating fashion,” Nate Urbach said.

Nic Urbach continued to improve as he kept his record spotless.

“He’s always been a guy that can take you quickly, but he’s getting better on his feet and better on bottom,” Nate Urbach, Nic’s father, said. “Our goal is to get him as well-rounded as possible. He’s 14-0 with 13 techs (technical falls) or pins.”

Darrah was the top wrestler at 160 pounds to round out Powell’s dominance of the middle weights.

“He beat the defending state champ from Gillette, that was a huge upset in many people’s minds,” Coach Urbach said.

Darrah beat Campbell County’s Logan Wagoner, who won the Class 4A title at 152 pounds in 2015 and is currently Class 4A’s second-ranked wrestler at 160 pounds.

Junior Ty Dearcorn went 6-1 at 182 pounds as he continues to hone his wrestling skills.

Coach Urbach said Dearcorn, who often relies on his natural skill, finished the tournament with more poise.

“He was looking a little sloppy early but I thought by the end of it he was looking good,” Nate Urbach said. “Ty’s a heck of a talent.

“He tries to hit a home run right off the bat. Sometimes you need singles and doubles.”

Dearcorn is part of a revamped group of heavier weights who are starting to gel for the Panthers.

Senior Teagan Cordes (3-4) caught Coach Urbach’s eye at 170 pounds in Gillette.

“Cordes wrestled really well. He’s well above where he was last year, he’s almost like a different kid,” Nate Urbach said. “I was really proud of him, he’s improved a ton. That really helps us team-wise.”

Freshman Cole Davis, who was second at the Powell Invite on Dec. 11-12, continued to impress in the second week of action.

Davis went 3-4, further solidifying the top of the Panthers’ lineup.

“He’s a pleasant surprise,” Nate Urbach said of the freshman. “He battled out there and that’s good to see.”

Fellow freshman Reese Karst went 5-2 as he continues to excel in his first year against high school wrestlers.

“He’s been really responding well to this higher level of competition,” Nate Urbach said. “Last year in junior high he didn’t have the challenges, and he’s a really good freshman.”

Freshman Brody Wells was 1-6 at 120 pounds, junior Marshall Wittick finished 1-6 at 138 pounds, junior Eli Briggs was 3-4 at 195 pounds, junior Zach Easum went 5-2 at 220 pounds and junior Terrence McLaughlin was 2-5 in the heavyweight division.

The Panthers have a week of rest before returning to practice ahead of their home dual against Lander on Jan. 7.

Powell heads to Bozeman the next day for a two-day tournament and then to Missoula on Jan. 15-16 for a 32-team, invite-only tournament featuring local teams as well as squads from Washington and Idaho.

With no shortage of challenges to start 2016, Coach Urbach said he’s going to give the team the holidays to relax and recuperate.

“I give them seven days off. I think at this point in the year the most importing thing for them is to just rest,” Nate Urbach said. “I like to give them as much rest as I can. When we get going, we’re in the grind. This is kind of the breath before the final plunge.”

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