The Jefferson High School wrestling team hosted a mixer with Cascade, Deer Lodge, Manhattan and Three Forks on Thursday, Dec. 8. In the mixer format the wrestlers are matched up against opponents in their weight class and no team scores are kept. The Panthers suited up 17 wrestlers for the competition. The first round saw Leighton LaFromboise and Dylan Mikesell at 120 pounds, Dayton Brown at 126 pounds, Mike Richard and Jeyce Sullivan at 132 pounds, Cooper Mikesell at 138 pounds, Jace Oxarart at 152 pounds, John Armstrong at 160 pounds, Brady Armstrong at 182 pounds, Jeyden Sullivan at 205 pounds and Dylan Stevens at 285 pounds. All were able to secure victories, and all did so by pin. The second round found LaFromboise, Brown, Richard, Cooper Mikesell, Oxarart, both Armstrongs, Hunter Steele at 170 pounds, Jeyden Sullivan and Stevens getting their hands raised for the win, again all by pin. Also suiting up for Jefferson was Dominic Hurlbert at 113 pounds, Nik Richard at 126 pounds, Shae Jones-Moore at girls’ 138 pounds, Micah Hartman at 182 pounds and Luke Jackson at 205 pounds.
The Panther wrestling team then traveled to the Whitehall Alumni Dual Team Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9 and 10. The Panthers suited up 15 wrestlers and were able to fill twelve weight classes out of a possible thirteen. There were 24 teams entered into the tournament. Wrestling for Jefferson was Dominic Hurlbert at 113 pounds, Dylan Mikesell and Leighton LaFromboise at 120 pounds, Dayton Brown and Nik Richard at 126 pounds, Mike Richard and Jeyce Sullivan at 132 pounds, Cooper Mikesell at 138 pounds, Jace Oxarart at 152 pounds, John Armstrong at 152 pounds, Hunter Steele at 170 pounds, Brady Armstrong at 182 pounds, Jeyden Sullivan and Luke Jackson at 205 pounds and Dylan Stevens at 285 pounds.
The Panthers opened up the tournament on Friday by wrestling Anaconda. Hurlbert, both Mikesells, Brown, Mike Richard, Oxarart, both Armstrongs, Steele and Sullivan scored points for Jefferson with all but Anderson winning by pin. The final score was 54-18.
Next up for the Panthers was Bozeman Gallatin JV. Jefferson once again dominated their opponent with a 64-6 dual victory. Hurlbert, LaFromboise, both Mikesells, Brown, Oxarart, both Armstrongs, Steele, Sullivan and Stevens scored points for Jefferson.
The Panthers’ third dual was against Great Falls High JV. Jefferson was able to overpower their opponents and pick up a 54-18 victory. Hurlbert, Dylan Mikesell, LaFromboise, Jeyce Sullivan, Oxarart, both Armstrongs, Sullivan and Luke Jackson scored points for Jefferson.
The final dual for the day was against Hamilton. This proved to be the toughest dual of the day with a final score of 48-29. Dylan and Cooper Mikesell, Brown, Nik and Mike Richard, Oxarart and John and Brady Armstrong scored points for Jefferson.
Jefferson finished first in their pool on Friday, which qualified them for the championship bracket in Saturday’s action. This put the Panthers in the top 8 out of 24 teams.
In Saturday’s competition Jefferson squared off against Billings West JV in their first dual. Jefferson picked up a 51-22 dual victory. Dylan Mikesell, Dayton Brown, Mike Richard, Cooper Mikesell, Jace Oxarart, John and Brady Armstrong, Jeyden Sullivan and Dylan Stevens scored points for Jefferson.
Next up was the semifinal dual against North Freemont, Idaho. In a close dual where the lead changed several times, Jefferson came up short and lost 42-34. Scoring points for Jefferson was Dylan Mikesell, Brown, Richard, Oxarart and both Armstrongs.
Jefferson faced Anaconda in the consolation semifinal. This was a rematch of the previous day, but the outcome was much closer at 42-36 for Jefferson. Scoring points for Jefferson was Dylan Mikesell, Brown, Richard, Oxarart, Hunter Steele, Brady Armstrong and Sullivan.
The last round was the consolation finals with Jefferson being paired up against cross-county rival Whitehall. In an exciting dual in which the Panthers would build up a lead only to have the Trojans narrow the deficit. The dual came down to the final match with Dayton Brown pinning his opponent to put Jefferson on top 42-33 and capture the third-place trophy. Securing points for Jefferson was Hurlbert, both Mikesells, Brown, Oxarart, John Armstrong and Sullivan.
Individually leading Jefferson for the competition was Dylan Mikesell, Dayton Brown and Jace Oxarart with perfect 8-0 records. John Armstrong and Brady Armstrong finished with respectable 7-1 records.
Coach Humphrey’s comments: We had a great crowd at both our home mixer and the Whitehall Duals. It is refreshing to have so much support from the fans and community. We managed to fight our way back after a disappointing loss. Jefferson had won 25 consecutive duals, dating back to the 2020-2021 season.
Jace Oxarart has been selected by his coaches as the JHS Panther Wrestler of the week. Oxarart ended his week with a 10-0 record with nine of those being pins.
John Armstrong had the quick pin of the week for the Panthers when he pinned his opponent in 23 seconds during the Great Falls dual.
The next action for the Panther wrestling team will be on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17 at the Great Falls CMR Holiday Classic Tournament with over 40 schools participating. The best teams from Class AA, A and BC will be there with this tournament being tougher than the state tournament in Billings.
