Powell heads to regionals as top-ranked team in state

The Powell High School wrestling team closed out the regular season with back-to-back dual wins last week.

The Panthers beat Cody 42-36 at home on Feb. 9, and won 40-21 in Worland on Thursday despite a roster left at less than full strength.

“I was really proud of my young guys in Worland,” PHS head coach Nate Urbach said. 

Two of Powell’s three freshmen won against the Warriors.

Cole Davis won 15-6 at 106 pounds, Dalton McMillan won an 11-10 decision at 132 and Brody Wells was edged 3-2 at 113.

“All those kids did a good job,” Urbach said.” They had to step up. With Reese (Karst) and Nic (Urbach) gone, the dual could have went either way. We could potentially lose this dual, because they’re the No. 3 team in the state.”

Nic Urbach (152 pounds) missed both duals last week due to a knee injury, and Karst (132) was out at Worland with Impetigo, a skin infection commonly associated with wrestling.

Coach Urbach said both “should be 100 percent” for regionals.

“Nic’s knee is looking good, just being cautious,” he said.

Powell won nine of the 13 matches (there was no bout at 120) .

Senior Tucker Darrah started the night with a 7-5 win, followed by senior Teagan Cordes’ (170 pounds) pin at 1:02 and senior Ty Dearcorn’s 4-2 decision at 182.

Dearcorn’s win highlighted the night, as it came against top-ranked Wade Goncalves. Dearcorn is ranked No. 2 at 182 pounds.

“He ended up beating him in overtime, a kid that’s beat him four or five times in a row,” Nate Urbach said. “This is a huge win for him.”

Junior Zach Easum won via pin at 2:36 and senior Chance Karst did the same at 1:53. Senior Kye Catlin capped off the match with a pin at 1:27 in the first round.

Catlin made his home debut against Cody in just his third competition since returning from injury.

“He looks good,” Nate Ubach said of Catlin, who injured his shoulder at the Ron Thon Memorial Wrestling Tournament in Riverton on Feb. 6. “It didn’t hurt him at all these last two matches.”

Catlin needs time on the mat after missing most of the season with a knee injury prior to the Ron Thon.

“Kye can’t afford to take any time off,” Nate Urbach said.

The Panthers scored early and often at home against the Broncs.

Chance Karst (141 pounds) started the night with a first round pin, a sign of things to come for Powell.

Darrah (160 pounds), Easum (195) and junior Eli Briggs (220) also won via pin in the opening round, while Catlin (152) pinned his opponent in the second round. 

“We’re pretty tough once you get in the bigger weights, but they’re tougher in the lower weights,” Nate Urbach said.

Junior Marshall Wittick (138 pounds) won 8-3 at Worland, but was pinned in the second round at home against the Broncs.

 “I was proud of Marshall,” Nate Urbach said. “He’s coming along at the right time, I was happy with that.”

Cordes won a 5-2 decision and Davis won 10-5 against the Broncs.

Powell tops the polls

For the first time since the preseason, the Panthers were ranked No. 1 in the wyowrestling.com state polls.

Urbach shrugged off the jump after six straight weeks at the No. 2 position, behind the formerly top-seeded Braves.

“I’ve told everybody, Star Valley is a tough team to beat,” the coach said. “We’re going to have to wrestle real well to get it done. The rankings, they don’t matter a whole lot.”

Powell won the Class 3A state title in 2012 and 2013 when ranked at No. 2 prior to the state tournament.

The Panthers enter regionals with five wrestlers — Chance Karst, Catlin, Nic Urbach, Darrah and Easum — ranked atop their weight class.

Powell leaves for Pinedale and the Class 3A West Regionals on Thursday. The tournament starts at noon on Friday and continues at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Coach Urbach said the tournament isn’t necessarily indicative of what will occur the following week at state.

“It’s a seeding tournament, really,” Nate Urbach said. “What you want to do in wrestling is get as many kids as high a place as you can so that gives you favorable seeds at the state tournament.”