A quick turnaround Tuesday night after a long weekend saw the Powell Panther wrestling team drop a pair of duals to Montana competition in Huntley Project 39-18 and Laurel 49-21, as the Montana teams swept Powell and Cody on the mats.

Going up against Huntley Project first the Panthers fell into an early deficit, trailing 21-0 after getting pinned at 103, 113 and 120 pounds and losing an 8-2 decision at 126 pounds.

Powell got its first win of the night at 144 pounds, when Patrick Haney earned a pin in 3:52 to cut into the deficit.

“Patrick had a really nice match against Huntley Project,” coach Nick Fulton said. “He’s really matured over the season, I really like how he’s wrestling right now. He’s being steady through the course of his matches.”

Huntley Project put the match out of reach with pins at 150 and 157 pounds, before two straight forfeits gained Powell points through Dusty Carter and Jimmy Dees at 182 and 205 pounds.

Powell lost the final match at 285 pounds via pin, with Huntley Project earning the 39-18 win after both teams had several weights open which resulted in double forfeitures.

“They’re a really good team,” Fulton said. “We got a little beat up in that dual.”

Turning their attention to Laurel, the Panthers lost the opening bout via a 13-2 major decision to trail 4-0 before Gabriel Whiting earned a pin at 113 pounds in 34 seconds to give Powell a 6-4 lead.

Laurel responded and took the lead for good with a pin at 120 pounds, followed by a 2-0 decision at 126 pounds to make it 13-6.

Two straight forfeits at 132 and 138 pounds extended the deficit, and three straight pins at 145 pounds, 152 pounds and 160 pounds followed by another forfeit at 170 pounds sealed the Panther’s fate.

Carter earned a pin in 2:41 at 182 pounds in a victory that encouraged Fulton, as he said it showed the junior’s progress in defeating an opponent which had twice defeated him this season.

“I was most impressed in that dual with Dusty,” Fulton said. “Dusty and he were in a tight match, he really wore the kid out and turned it around and won the match. That was an awfully good win for Dusty that should boost his confidence.”

Finishing the dual the Panthers got a pin from Dees in 23 seconds at 205 pounds and Doug Bettger won via a 6-2 decision at 285 to cap off the 49-21 scoreline.

Fulton said due to illness and injuries the Panthers held out several wrestlers Tuesday night, not wanting to risk further harm at this point in the season.

“There are some guys with nagging injuries and dings right now,” Fulton said. “Nothing that I foresee being long-term problems for them, but we don’t want to create long-term problems either by pushing them too hard in January.”

Powell will head back to Montana this weekend, heading to Missoula for the Jug Beck Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

That will be the final out of state competition for the season, as Powell will return home next Thursday night for a dual with Worland before heading to the Lander Invitational.