Bulldogs battle through Ron Thon

The Lovell Bulldogs had an intense past week, attending a dual in Montana and the Ron Thon Memorial Tournament this past weekend. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the bulldogs traveled across state lines to wrestle a dual against Montana team Columbus. The team lost a tough one, losing to the Cougars 53-15.

“We were lucky to make it to Columbus with anybody because sickness and injuries had ravaged us,” commented Lovell head coach Ty Hecker, adding, “It is out of state competition. Our opponents wrestled well against us and deserve the credit.”

The Ron Thon Memorial tournament was next in line for the Bulldogs, which is the largest tournament of the entire season. This year it brought together 30 teams from all over the state to compete for the title of “best of the best.”

The girls started their tournament on Thursday and wrestled into Friday. This year the tournament had the largest attendance of female wrestlers, welcoming 319 into the tournament.

“Ron Thon is a preview for State for the females as they are an all-class state championship,” noted Hecker. 

The Lady Bulldog wrestling team welcomed home one placer out of the tournament —senior Danika Crumrine. Crumrine competed in the 145-pound bracket. She pinned her first three opponents to land her in the finals against Veil Foreman of Star Valley. After a tough match, Crumrine ended up placing second in her bracket.

“Crumrine made it to the finals where she wrestled her nemesis from her sophomore year looking to avenge her loss but came up short,” Hecker said. “Crumrine has to not lose her confidence and stick to the grindstone and get back into position to get another chance at Foreman.”

Hecker also highlighted Harley Tillett this weekend. Tillett went 3-2 in Riverton, falling short of the placing rounds.

“Harley Tillett came out of her shell at the biggest tournament of the year,” observed Hecker. “She is a freshman wrestler that was wrestling a bit timid until this weekend. She came out aggressive and pinned multiple girls. If she keeps this version of herself up, she is going to make noise come State. I see her placing at State if we can keep this aggressiveness.

“The three other girls on our team had some tough matches and fell short of placing, but now we need to know where we sit and what to work so we can make it to State and place there. Our two senior girl captains have to shake off this weekend and buckle down for our last run and show the younger girls what it takes to be successful on the big stage.”

Varsity boys

The varsity team faced tough competition, but many fell short of placing.

“Our top boys wrestled tough and battled through injuries,” Hecker said. “Now we are looking to get back on track as we wind down the season.”

The bulldogs that competed in the JV side of the tournament performed well this weekend and brought home a few medals after wrestling a tough two days.

“The JV kids performed well this weekend,” said assistant coach Skye Mickelson. “We had several placers, and our team wrestled good, but some fell a little short of their goals. Overall, though, I was excited how our whole team wrestled.” 

Sophomore Hudsen Mickelson plowed through his competition this weekend and took first place in the JV 120-pound bracket with a clean 5-0 record.

“Hudsen wrestled well,” Coach Mickelson said. “He stayed in control on the mat and didn’t get out of position.”

Mickelson defeated his first four opponents by pinning them, sending him into the finals against Cole Anderson of Cheyenne East. Mickelson wrestled tough all three periods to claim an 11-4 win against his opponent and stand at the top of his bracket. 

Freshman Monte Blank was the second highest placer for the Bulldogs, taking second in the JV 175-pound bracket. Blank went 4-1, battling through his bracket. His semifinal match was won by a sudden victory, sending him into the finals.

“Monte took second and wrestled amazingly. He was energetic and ready to go out each time,” Mickelson said. 

Chance Hatch placed fifth in the 144-pound bracket. Hatch’s bracket was one of the largest brackets at the tournament, with 40 competitors. A tough loss in the first round of the tournament sent Hatch to wrestle through the left side of the bracket. Hatch won six matches in a row to land him in the placing rounds. He faced Kit Tait of Mountain View for a fifth-place medal. Tied 3-3 at the end of the third period, Hatch turned it around with a sudden-victory takedown to take fifth place in his large bracket.

“Hatch wrestled really good. With as many matches as he had, he stayed resilient on the mat,” Mickelson said. 

Owen Hill placed sixth in the 157-pound bracket, forging a 5-3 record overall. “Owen placed sixth and looked great this weekend,” Mickelson said. Hill’s victories were all results of pins, and all of his losses this weekend came from major decisions, meaning Hill did not let any of his opponents claim a fall against him.

Tyler Wilkerson competed in the JV 120-pound bracket and ended his weekend in sixth place.

“Wilkerson did a good job this weekend. Being out of practice had hindered him, but he is starting to get back into the swing of things,” Mickelson said. Wilkerson went 3-3, staying tough on the mat against his competition. 

This week the Bulldogs will host a triangular dual against Shoshoni and Tongue River Friday. The dual will start at 5 p.m. after the team acknowledges their senior wrestlers for senior
night at 4:30. Saturday, the team will travel down to Greybull High School to wrestle in the
Greybull Memorial Tournament. Wrestling will start at 10 a.m.