An intense rivalry dual came down to the final bout between the Powell Panthers and the Cody Broncs on Thursday night at Powell High School. PHS senior Doug Bettger got a pin to lift the Panthers over the Broncs in the 285-weight bout to win against their rivals for the first time since 2021.

“Good win, great crowd, great atmosphere really on both sides,” coach Nick Fulton said. “Those are fun duals with two pretty darn good teams going at it.”

POWELL 38, CODY 34

The evening started at 106 pounds, where a scoreless first period saw it all to play for in the second period between Powell’s Talon Nuss and Bobby Hernandez.

Hernandez ended up getting the better of Nuss late in the second period, earning the pin at the 3:34 mark to give Cody a 6-0 lead.

Both teams were open at 113, before Powell got a forfeit win for Channing Wenzel at 120 pounds to tie the match 6-6.

At 126 pounds Cody’s Will Wood held a lead throughout the match over Chevy Hill, and eventually earned a pin at the 5:24 mark to restore Cody’s lead.

It grew further when Trey Smith pinned Tyler Wenzel at the 3:50 mark to make it an 18-6 score in favor of the visitors after 132 pounds.

After a scoreless first period at 138 pounds, Broc Frank got the better of Chase Schubert, reversing his opponent after Schubert chose top and secured the pin at the 3:50 mark to make it 18-12.

At 144 pounds, Chase Visocky got the better of Gabe Grant, earning a 10-5 win and making it an 18-15 scoreline.

After trailing 6-0 after the first two periods, Reese Lowe got the victory for Powell at 150 pounds, choosing top against Myles Hensley and getting the pin at the 4:09 mark to give Powell the lead.

“All of my guys, they just have a lot of heart,” Fulton said. “I don’t put a guy out there that doesn’t have a lot of heart. Reese is a prime example … Kid got out of position and Reese capitalized, got a big pin for the team. Definitely happy for him.”

Cody Seifert lost by fall for Powell at 157 pounds, after a back and forth match resulted in Kannon Grant getting the better of him and getting the pin at the 2:37 mark.

McKale Foley gave the Panthers the lead back at 165 pounds, pinning Israel Robertson just before the end of the first period in 1:56 to make it 27-24 Powell.

Mitchel Wainscott extended the lead further at 175 pounds, coming back to earn a pin of Alex Sitz in the second period. Wainscott trailed after the first period but got the pin in 3:01. However, he was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct one-point penalty following the bout which made it 32-24 Powell.

Cody got back in the match after Dusty Carter fell to Cinch Dalton via major decision 15-5 at 190 pounds and Anker Stewart pinned Jacob Eaton in 4:57 at 215 to set up the final bout with Powell trailing 34-32.

Bettger made quick work of Wyatt Barton at 285 pounds, getting the pin in 59 seconds to give Powell the win in the final dual of the season.

“It’s nice to have a closer like Doug. He’s a mature kid, he’s intelligent and went out, did what he needed to do for himself and for the team,” Fulton said. “Good win for our kids, good way to send us into regionals.”

REGIONAL TOURMAMENT

Powell heads out on the road to start the postseason, making the trip to Pinedale for the 3A West Regional Tournament.

“I’m happy where we’re at. I’m happy with the trajectory we’re on,” Fulton said. “We haven’t lost a dual since the first week of January. We had good showings in Montana and then of course came back and Lander and Ron Thon we were first and fourth. I’m very confident with the direction our team is moving, we’re going to continue to get better.”

The tournament will be on Friday in Pinedale; brackets were not determined as of press time Monday.