Panthers top rest of 3A field, sustain injuries to top wrestlers

For the second straight season, the Powell High School wrestling team was the runner-up at the Ron Thon Memorial Wrestling Tournament in Riverton.

This year, they did it without the benefit of an individual champion.

A pair of Panthers reached the finals and seven placed in the top eight as Powell’s depth scored 154 team points, 10 ahead of Class 3A’s top-ranked Star Valley Braves, who finished fourth.

“It’s a big tournament. It’s not the state tournament, I always say that. But it’s the most prestigious tournament in Wyoming. It has 42 teams, it has the whole state here. So to be top three is good,” PHS head coach Nate Urbach said.

The Ron Thon marked a turnaround from the Lander Invite (Jan. 22-23), in which the Braves beat the Panthers by 56 points.

“Star Valley handled us at the Lander tournament, so it was nice to finish ahead of them,” Urbach said. “We still have our work cut out for us. But that’s all right, that’s OK. We’re back in the conversation and that’s kind of what we wanted to be.”

The return of senior Kye Catlin made Powell’s side of the conversation a little louder.

Catlin, a three-time defending state champion, made his return in Riverton following a six-week layoff due to a knee injury. The 145-pound wrestler scored 23 team points and reached the finals, but a shoulder injury suffered in the semis prevented him from competing for the title.

“We just talked to him and it wasn’t worth it for us (to wrestle another bout),” Urbach said. “We’re trying to get him healthy for state. That’s his big focus.”

The injury won’t prevent Catlin from wrestling today (Tuesday) against Cody in the Panther Gym.

“He just needs to rest and (we’ll) heal him up as much as we can,” Urbach said. “He’s going to wrestle. He hasn’t wrestled for the home crowd at all.”

Senior Nic Urbach won’t wrestle against the Broncs after a knee injury prevented him from finishing the Ron Thon. Nic Urbach advanced out of the quarterfinals with a technical fall and a pin, but lost a 4-3 decision in the semis, then forfeited in the consolation semis and fifth-place match.

“Nic tweaked his knee a little bit, but not bad,” Nate Urbach said. “I’m leaning towards holding him this week. But if he had to, he could wrestle. But it’s not worth it at this point.”

Senior Chance Karst was upset in the 138-pound finals for his first loss of the season. Karst dropped a 9-3 decision to Campbell County’s Trevor Jeffries to finish second.

Nate Urbach said only one kid has ever gone undefeated during his coaching career, and that was in Nebraska.

“It’s hard to be perfect. Especially with our schedule, it’s hard to be perfect,” Nate Urbach said.

The coach said Karst made an uncharacteristic mistake and struggled to come back from it.

“It was definitely an upset. (Jeffries is) a good kid, good wrestler. He got Chance on his back and that changed the complexity of the match,” Nate Urbach said. “It was hard to get those points back. It’s hard to give up back points against a good kid and come back.

“He’s a tough kid, he’ll bounce back.”

Senior Tucker Darrah went 5-1 to place third at 160 pounds. Darrah won by two pins, a major decision and two decisions, including a 3-2 decision over Alex Ferguson of 4A Kelly Walsh in the third place match.

“He has come so far from last year. They are different kids,” Nate Urbach said. “He was sixth at state last year, and happy to be sixth. Then he was third this year at this tournament. Just a good job.”

Junior Zach Easum went 6-1, including four straight wins after a loss in the quarterfinals, to place third at 195 pounds.

“Easum looked really good,” Nate Urbach said.

Freshman Reese Karst placed fifth at 126 pounds with a 5-2 record.

“That’s good for a freshman, especially at that weight class,” Nate Urbach said.

Only one Class 3A wrestler finished above Reese Karst.

Junior Ty Dearcorn took fifth at 182 pounds despite battling illness.

Junior Eli Briggs went 3-2, including 2-1 against Class 4A competition, to earn nine team points at 220 pounds.

“Briggs looked really good, I was real proud of him. He got in the top 12 which was excellent for him,” Nate Urbach said.

Green River of Class 4A won the gold with 181 points, and Campbell County finished third with 152 points.

Powell hosts Cody at 6 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) as the Panthers hope to pick up where they left off on Saturday, and continue their ascent toward the state tournament.

“I thought we wrestled well but we certainly haven’t peaked yet. Which is good, which is fine,” Nate Urbach said. “We want to be good these last two weeks. Everyone on our team is hungry, and if they’re not, they should be.”