Top competition from Montana made its way to the Powell High School gym on Tuesday, where the Panther wrestling team split a pair of matchups — losing to Huntley Project 50-30 before defeating Laurel 46-34.

HUNTLEY PROJECT 50, POWELL 30

Starting out the night the Panthers matched up with the defending state B champions in Montana, hoping to see where they stacked up against top competition.

Vinny Timmons got things started for the Panthers at 132 pounds, earning a first round pin to make it 6-0 early.

“It was nice to see Vinny go out there and get us started,” coach Nick Fulton said.

Huntley Project responded over the next five weights, earning a pin over Wyatt Heffington at 138, a technical fall over Drew Valdez at 145, a loss by decision over Jack Van Norman at 152, a forfeit by Powell at 160 and a pin over Lannon Brazelton at 170 to make it 26-6.

“They are pretty tough in the middle,” Fulton said. “We showed some fight in those middleweight matches.”

Powell answered back at 182 pounds when Dillon Melton earned a pin in 18 seconds to give Powell momentum.

After a forfeit by Huntley Project at 195 pounds, Stetson Davis earned a pin at 220 pounds in the second round and Doug Bettger finished off the quick rally with a pin at 285 to make it a 30-26 advantage for Powell.

“When we rolled back over to the lightweights I looked up and said ‘woah, we are in this,’” Fulton said.

Gabriel Whiting lost a difficult matchup at 106 to give Huntley Project the lead back, and pins of Kaiden Apodaca at 113 pounds and Weston Thomas at 120 pounds to two-time state champion Gavin Nedens accompanied with a forfeit at 126 gave Huntley Project the 50-30 victory.

“Weston wrestled well, that’s as tough a kid as there is out there,” Fulton said.

POWELL 46, LAUREL 34

A short break gave the Panthers time to recover and regroup before taking on Laurel in the second matchup of the night.

The break did not help early, as Laurel took a commanding lead through a pin at 138 pounds, a major decision at 145 pounds, pin at 152 pounds, a forfeit at 160 pounds and a pin at 170 pounds to make it a 28-0 scoreline.

Powell got its first points with a forfeit at 182 pounds, starting a string of victories for the Panthers.

“We got into our upper weights and we were kind of able to roll from there,” Fulton said. 

Jimmy Dees earned a pin at 195 pounds, Davis earned a pin at 220, Bettger earned a pin at 285 and a technical fall by Whiting at 106 gave Powell the lead 29-28.

Powell wasn’t done, earning more points through a forfeit at 113 and a pin by Weston Thomas at 120 earned the victory for the Panthers.

A forfeit by Powell at 126 and a technical fall earned by Timmons at 132 made the final score 46-34.

“That’s a good win for us,” Fulton said. “I was pretty happy to come out of here with a win and hopefully the kids enjoy that.”

FINAL MONTANA TRIP

Powell will make its final trip north of the border this weekend, traveling to Missoula, Montana, to take part in the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic on Friday and Saturday.

“We gave up wrists and wings repeatedly against Huntley and we have to correct that,” Fulton said. “It was top to bottom, we will go back to work on that and get better.”

He said that the team is looking forward to getting to wrestle different and better competition, before making the return to Wyoming competition next weekend.

That tournament will feature teams from Montana, Idaho and Washington in addition to Powell and Sheridan as the only two Wyoming teams.