An opening weekend to remember saw three Powell Panther wrestlers win their home invitational. Jimmy Dees and Wyatt Nicholson paced the boys while Allison LeBlanc was the lone winner for the girls as both teams finished fourth with the boys being the top Wyoming team at the Powell Invitational.

Battling at a new weight class of 215 pounds, Dees put on an impressive performance throughout the weekend despite entering into the season with a previously injured shoulder.

He earned seven pins in eight matches as well as a medical forfeit win to finish undefeated, with none of his matches going over one minute.

“It’s sure nice to see him perform being injured and everything,” coach Nick Fulton said.

Nicholson also had an impressive weekend going 6-0 at 106 pounds, and earning all of his victories by pins as well.

“We knew Wyatt would be a good kid at 106 this year,” Fulton said. “He looked good, really tough on top. He’s more steady and aggressive.”

LeBlanc also went undefeated over both days, earning five pins to her name in a 5-0 effort at 110 pounds.

“She was pretty dominant,” Fulton said.

Powell had two additional finalists on Saturday, as Nalani Jordan went 4-1 at 135 pounds for the girls, and Jeremy Harms went 4-2 at 150 pounds. Both athletes were pinned in their respective title bouts.

“He (Jeremy) won two really tough matches in the quarters and the semis,” Fulton said. “Nelani had a few great matches. She’s aggressive and fits into the mold of a tough-minded kid.”

Additional placers for Powell came from McKale Foley who placed third at 175 pounds (5-1); Wyatt Heffington placed fifth at 138 pounds (5-2); Doug Bettger also placed fifth at 285 pounds (5-2) and Jacob Eaton placed sixth at 215 pounds (2-4).

Additional placers for the girls were Eden Caydee placing third at 100 pounds (1-4); Abigail LeBlanc placing fourth at 115 pounds (2-3); Angelina Bontadelli placing fifth at 145 pounds (1-3) and Eleasah Horsley placing sixth at 115 pounds (0-5).

“A lot of our girls outside of Allison are new, they are learning,” Fulton said.

Other wrestlers competing on Saturday included Talon Nuss at 106 (2-3); Chase Visocky at 144 pounds (2-3); Dusty Carter at 190 pounds (2-3) and Chevy Hill at 113 pounds (1-4).

Those not advancing from their pools for the varsity Panthers were Patrick Haney at 144 pounds (1-2); Gabriel Whiting at 120 pounds (1-3); Cody Seifert at 157 pounds (1-3); Tyler Wenzel at 126 pounds (0-3); Rhys Bray at 150 pounds (0-3); Mitchel Wainscott at 165 pounds (0-3); Zain Younas at 285 pounds (0-3) and Kash Brazelton at 144 pounds (0-4) and Jonathan Harms at 285 pounds (0-4).

“I always use Powell as a measuring stick,” Fulton said. “We wrestled average, but we have a team of good guys … I was pretty happy, I don’t think we have tapped this team’s full potential yet.”

Over the two days the Powell faithful were spread around town, hosting varsity matches at the high school and junior varsity matches at Powell Middle School both days.

“I sure want to thank everybody for putting on this tournament,” Fulton said. “It’s a lot of work to put on a tournament with 600 kids and two locations. Powell’s support is amazing.”

Laurel won the boys team race with a score of 182.5, Lockwood finished second with 130.5 points, Huntley Project placed third with 120, Powell was fourth with 103 and Natrona County was fifth with 97.5 out of 22 teams.

Lockwood won the girls title with 182 points, Campbell County was second with 94 points, Hardin was third with 74 points, Powell was fourth with 66 points and Shoshoni was fifth with 62.5 out of 19 teams.

SPLIT WEEKEND

Powell will now split up the varsity and junior varsity squads this weekend, with the varsity team going to Gillette for the Pat Weede Memorial dual tournament and the junior varsity heading to Worland for the Battle in the Big Horns.

“A grinder of a dual tournament,” Fulton said of the Gillette tournament. “We might look at some weight adjustments this week. Fourteen of the best teams in five states, it’s pretty tough.”

He said he will send a relatively strong and healthy junior varsity squad to Worland, with the Panthers looking to continue growing in the final pair of events before the winter break.