A dominant season on the mat led to a second straight Big Horn Basin Conference title in December for the Powell Middle School wrestling team, winning by 113 points over the next closest competitor in Thermopolis.

“This is a special group who set high goals for both football and wrestling,” coach Nate Urbach said. “The goal from the beginning of the season was to repeat as champions, so it was mission accomplished.”

Overall the Cub boys had eight first place winners in the final tournament of the season, as Kasen Asay went 2-0 to win at 70 pounds, Auzzy Carter went 3-0 to win 115 pounds, Russell Goolsbey went 3-0 to win 120 pounds, Ethan Ely went 3-0 to win 145 pounds, Isaiah Torres went 3-0 at 155 pounds, Trevin Morton went 2-0 at 165 pounds, Justin Marquez went 2-0 at 175 pounds and Jacob Christofalos went 2-0 at 275 pounds.

Combined, those eight wrestlers recorded 16 pins, as the Cubs’ strength came from returning talent from last year’s team.

The point tally for the Cubs was 263 points, well ahead of host Thermopolis in second with 150 while Lander was third with 117.5.

“We returned most of our points from last year and had a couple of move-ins that helped us push past last year’s mark,” Urbach said. “In particular, the eighth grade group had a goal of breaking last year’s point total and they provided the leadership and work ethic to earn another title.”

The girl wrestlers also had a first place finisher as Rilee Rohrer won at 105 pounds after going 2-0, with the girls’ team earning a second place team finish.

Second place finishers for the Cub boys included Chris LeBlanc going 1-1 at 70 pounds, JJ Haney going 2-1 at 110 pounds, James Schaefer going 1-1 at 120 pounds, Morgan Rodriguez going 1-1 at 175 pounds and Tristan Snell going 3-1 at 220 pounds.

Second place finishers for the girls included Harper Tatom going 1-1 at 70 pounds, Lily Lennon went 1-1 at 77 pounds, Avery LeBlanc went 2-1 at 98 pounds, Elora Joy went 2-1 at 145 pounds and Emelia Ginest went 0-2 at 175 pounds.

Third place finishers for the boys included Rhett Goolsbey going 3-1 at 77 pounds, Tucker McDonald went 3-1 at 98 pounds, Forest Kleinfeldt went 3-1 at 126 pounds and Owen Jones went 3-1 at 132 pounds.

Ivy Lennon was the lone third place finisher for the girls after going 1-2 at 132 pounds.

Luke Childers placed fourth at 110 pounds after going 1-2.

Other competitors for the boys in the ‘A’ brackets included Paele Rapp at 77 pounds (1-2), Dylan Hansen at 91 pounds (1-2), Garrett Davis at 105 pounds (1-2) and Eli Bear at 220 pounds (0-2).

Other competitors for the girls were Neveah Andrews at 98 pounds (1-2) and Audrey Schultz at 126 pounds (0-2).

In the ‘B’ division the Cubs had four more individual champions for the boys, as Weston Loeper went 4-0 at 115 pounds, August Teten went 2-0 at 120 pounds, Wade Gernhart went 3-0 at 145 pounds and Charlie Arzaga went 3-0 at 165-175 pounds.

Darell Mumm placed second at 110 pounds (2-1) and Joel Baxter placed second at 120 pounds (1-1).

A contingent of Cubs placed third, starting with William Taylor at 70 pounds (1-2), Kade Kirk at 84 pounds (3-1), Desmond Bear at 126 pounds (5-1) and Bryian Davis at 145 pounds (3-1).

Also competing in the ‘B’ division were Neal Butterfield at 84 pounds (0-2), Pierce Pease at 84 pounds (0-2), Jack Tietema at 98 pounds (3-2), Buskin Study at 120 pounds (0-2), Braeden Curtis at 126 pounds (2-2), Levi Rogers at 126 pounds (2-2) and Clayton Cox at 155 pounds (1-2).

Next year the Cubs will return 30 wrestlers.

“Our No. 1 goal is to prepare these kids for high school success,” Urbach said. “We try to teach solid technique along with a work ethic that will hopefully serve them well in high school. Coach [Nick] Fulton, [Juston] Carter and [Cody] Kahlberer are good friends and colleagues. Nobody is a bigger fan of Panther wrestling than me and my coaches [Carson] Kleinfeldt and [David] Holland.”

He said that with such a large contingent of wrestlers this year it was tricky at times to get help for each and every wrestler, but he and his coaching staff did their best to help each improve throughout the season.

“We had a big team this year so it was a little tricky getting help to each and every one on the team,” Urbach said. “I however am spoiled with two excellent assistant coaches in Carson and David which made it light work for me. I also had a former wrestler of mine, Randy Andrews, help out and he has a bright future in coaching if he decides to further pursue it. Lastly, a big shout out to administrators Chanler Buck, Steve Janes and the great parents that followed us around the state.”