The Powell Panther wrestlers ended their regular season with a strong performance last week, posting a 48-15 conquest of conference rival Worland on the Warriors' own mat.The Panthers dominated the upper weights and held their own against Worland's strength in the lower weights to earn the win, and coach Nate Urbach was happy with his team's performance against a “really tough” Warrior squad.Auston Carter and Jimmy Seckman opened the dual with a pair of pins and the Panthers never trailed in the team score, losing only four bouts in the contest.At 145, Carter jumped out to an 8-2 lead with three takedowns in the first period over Worland's Austen Sommerville, and finished the match less than a minute into the second period at 2:38. In their 152-pound match, Seckman and Worland's Joe Mitchell wrestled evenly into the second period, but with a minute to go in the period, Seckman took control and scored the fall at 3:28.Cole Kary, at 160 pounds, came out of a wild first period scramble with a 10-2 lead. The action slowed in the second round but Kary managed to add a two-point near fall, and in the third period, he reversed and nearly pinned Worland's Kaleb Mattiesen, scoring five points that ended the match in a technical fall with 13 seconds left in the match.At 171, Powell's Beau Williams took Warrior Dane Dooley, who scored a 7-0 decision to score Worland's first team points. Williams trailed by only four going into the third round, and earned Urbach's praise for the effort.“That was the No. 2 kid in the state, and Beau was right in there with him,” Urbach said. “He could place for us at state.”The Panthers then reeled off three more wins to take a commanding 30-3 team lead. Monte Nickles led off with a major decision over Worland's Dane Dooley. Nickles started the match with a takedown and near fall in the first period and built the lead to 13-2 for the 189-pound win. Joe Lujan followed with a 7-2 decision over Worland's Bronson Hernandez, a wrestler who had beaten him in a previous match, and Trevor Griffeth pinned James Porter in 3:35.The Panthers then took on the strongest part of the Warrior lineup, beginning with 103-pounder Jay Stine, who pinned Panther Charles Wittick in 1:29. Worland forfeited to Luke Wozney at 112, before Jessee Craig stepped out to meet Worland's Jared Leithead at 119Craig went on the attack early in the match, but Leithead's quickness enabled him to counter and score the first points. Craig scored with a reverse in the second period but Leithead came back with a reverse of his own to keep his lead, and went on to an 8-4 decision. Urbach praised Craig for his aggressive approach to the match with one of the state's best wrestlers.“Jessee doesn't care who you are, he's going to go after you, and he doesn't quit, ever,” Urbach said.At 125, Olie Olson faced off with Worland's Jorden Osbon in a battle of defending state champions. Olson found himself down 5-0 after the first period and early in the third period trailed 9-2, before scoring four points with a Granby roll that earned a reverse and two back points. He let Osbon go to try for a takedown, but Osbon scored a takedown instead to lead 12-6. Olson fought back with a reverse and had Osbon on his back before time ran out with the Warrior leading 12-10. Colt Nix stopped the Warrior streak in his 130-pound match and guaranteed a team win by coming back from a 3-2 deficit in the first period and pinning Jordan Hernandez in the second.Trent Gillett took on Matt Osbon, the champion at 135 at the Ron Thon meet in Riverton, and the two wrestled through a scoreless first period. In the second, Gillett gave up a takedown but scored with a reverse, and Osbon led 4-2 thanks to two escapes conceded by Gillett. Gillett took the lead in the third with an escape, a takedown and a nearfall to lead 8-4. Osbon closed the gap with a reverse, the decision went to Gillett.Randy Andrew closed out the dual with a win for the Panthers over Jeff Redland. After giving up a takedown, Andrews executed a nifty forward roll to reverse and picked up three back points as well in the first period to lead 5-2. Redland battled back, but Andrews hung on for a 9-7 decision.The dual was the last action for the Panthers before entering this weekend's West Regional meet in Jackson, and Urbach said the team would get a couple of days rest before getting back in the practice room on Monday.Wrestling begins in Jackson Friday at noon and will continue on Saturday.“Now the fun starts,” said Urbach.

The Powell Panther wrestlers ended their regular season with a strong performance last week, posting a 48-15 conquest of conference rival Worland on the Warriors' own mat.

The Panthers dominated the upper weights and held their own against Worland's strength in the lower weights to earn the win, and coach Nate Urbach was happy with his team's performance against a “really tough” Warrior squad.

Auston Carter and Jimmy Seckman opened the dual with a pair of pins and the Panthers never trailed in the team score, losing only four bouts in the contest.

At 145, Carter jumped out to an 8-2 lead with three takedowns in the first period over Worland's Austen Sommerville, and finished the match less than a minute into the second period at 2:38. In their 152-pound match, Seckman and Worland's Joe Mitchell wrestled evenly into the second period, but with a minute to go in the period, Seckman took control and scored the fall at 3:28.

Cole Kary, at 160 pounds, came out of a wild first period scramble with a 10-2 lead. The action slowed in the second round but Kary managed to add a two-point near fall, and in the third period, he reversed and nearly pinned Worland's Kaleb Mattiesen, scoring five points that ended the match in a technical fall with 13 seconds left in the match.

At 171, Powell's Beau Williams took Warrior Dane Dooley, who scored a 7-0 decision to score Worland's first team points. Williams trailed by only four going into the third round, and earned Urbach's praise for the effort.

“That was the No. 2 kid in the state, and Beau was right in there with him,” Urbach said. “He could place for us at state.”

The Panthers then reeled off three more wins to take a commanding 30-3 team lead. Monte Nickles led off with a major decision over Worland's Dane Dooley. Nickles started the match with a takedown and near fall in the first period and built the lead to 13-2 for the 189-pound win. Joe Lujan followed with a 7-2 decision over Worland's Bronson Hernandez, a wrestler who had beaten him in a previous match, and Trevor Griffeth pinned James Porter in 3:35.

The Panthers then took on the strongest part of the Warrior lineup, beginning with 103-pounder Jay Stine, who pinned Panther Charles Wittick in 1:29. Worland forfeited to Luke Wozney at 112, before Jessee Craig stepped out to meet Worland's Jared Leithead at 119

Craig went on the attack early in the match, but Leithead's quickness enabled him to counter and score the first points. Craig scored with a reverse in the second period but Leithead came back with a reverse of his own to keep his lead, and went on to an 8-4 decision.

Urbach praised Craig for his aggressive approach to the match with one of the state's best wrestlers.

“Jessee doesn't care who you are, he's going to go after you, and he doesn't quit, ever,” Urbach said.

At 125, Olie Olson faced off with Worland's Jorden Osbon in a battle of defending state champions. Olson found himself down 5-0 after the first period and early in the third period trailed 9-2, before scoring four points with a Granby roll that earned a reverse and two back points. He let Osbon go to try for a takedown, but Osbon scored a takedown instead to lead 12-6. Olson fought back with a reverse and had Osbon on his back before time ran out with the Warrior leading 12-10.

Colt Nix stopped the Warrior streak in his 130-pound match and guaranteed a team win by coming back from a 3-2 deficit in the first period and pinning Jordan Hernandez in the second.

Trent Gillett took on Matt Osbon, the champion at 135 at the Ron Thon meet in Riverton, and the two wrestled through a scoreless first period. In the second, Gillett gave up a takedown but scored with a reverse, and Osbon led 4-2 thanks to two escapes conceded by Gillett. Gillett took the lead in the third with an escape, a takedown and a nearfall to lead 8-4. Osbon closed the gap with a reverse, the decision went to Gillett.

Randy Andrew closed out the dual with a win for the Panthers over Jeff Redland. After giving up a takedown, Andrews executed a nifty forward roll to reverse and picked up three back points as well in the first period to lead 5-2. Redland battled back, but Andrews hung on for a 9-7 decision.

The dual was the last action for the Panthers before entering this weekend's West Regional meet in Jackson, and Urbach said the team would get a couple of days rest before getting back in the practice room on Monday.

Wrestling begins in Jackson Friday at noon and will continue on Saturday.

“Now the fun starts,” said Urbach.