The Boulder/Clancy middle school wrestlers enjoyed a packed and successful week on the road, coming away with many individual wins and a big team finish.
At the Manhattan Mixer on Mar.1, the wrestlers were on fire, finishing the day with a 21-3 record. Everyone won at least two matches, including Jacob Buckley, Riggins Mikesell, Bella Hays, Olivia Dean, Bella Mikesell, Korbin Rintamaki, Owen Mikesell, Caysen Wing and Tellen Simanton.
On Mar. 4, the young Panther wrestlers racked up a 15-12 record at the Deer Lodge Mixer. Buckley, Riggins Mikesell, Hays, Dean, Bella Mikesell, Rintamaki, Owen Mikesell and Wing notched wins, as did Kayle Deichert-Fitzgerald and Daniel Ahkivgak.
Next stop was the Butte Central Mixer on Mar. 6. Another great performance,yielded a 17-9 team record. Buckley, Joe Deichert-Fitzgerald, Riggins Mikesell, Hays, Kayle Deichert-Fitzgerald, Oliver Davis, Bella Mikesell, Ahkivgak, Rintamaki, Owen Mikesell and Wing all picked up at least one win on the night.
On Mar. 8 the team traveled to compete in the Dillon Jaycee Tournament, a big event with 17 teams and 304 wrestlers. The Boulder/Clancy co-op entered 13 wrestlers, and 11 of those finished in the top four. Jacob Buckley, Olivia Dean, Oliver Davis, Owen Mikesell, Caysen Wing and Tellen Simanton came away as champions in their classes, while Bella Mikesell and Korbin Rintamaki finished second. Bella Hayes placed third, and Daniel Ahkivgak and Kayle Deichert-Fitzgerald finished fourth. Joe Deichert-Fitzgerald and Riggins Mikesell also competed for the Panthers, but the young 6th graders were unable to find the podium despite wrestling hard.
At the Dillon tournament last year, the Panthers took home first place in the small team division, so they were looking to defend their title. But with 13 wrestlers this year, they moved into the medium team division. Even though they were competing against bigger teams the Boulder/Clancy athletes managed to bring home the 2nd place trophy.
The middle school season will finish up on Mar. 11 at the Townsend Mixer. Several of the wrestlers will continue on with club wrestling. Jefferson High School wrestling has a bright future with so many talented athletes competing at the youth level.
