Grizzlies show grit at Powell Middle School Tournament

Rocky Mountain Middle School wrestlers brought home two individual championships and several strong placing performances Saturday at the Powell Middle School Tournament.

The Grizzlies finished seventh in the team standings with 22 points, led by first-place finishes from Peyton Grizzle and Ryker James. Head coach Eddie Whiting said their success came from more than simply winning their brackets.

“Peyton Grizzle and Ryker James placed first in their weight classes, but it was their grit and willpower that gave them the edge this week,” Whiting said.

Grizzle won the B Division 87-88-pound bracket, while James captured the B Division 71-76-pound title.

The Grizzlies also collected four second-place finishes. Aden Spencer placed second at 180 pounds in A Division, Augustus Loyning was second at 77 pounds in A Division, Barry Jolley took second at 275 pounds in A Division and Cody Kougl finished second in the B Division 107-111-pound class.

In the girls division, Kinli Bitton placed third at 132 pounds, Penelope Wambeke earned third at 120 pounds and Harper Griffin finished fourth at 126 pounds. Eleanor Johnson added a fifth-place finish at 91 pounds.

Whiting also singled out Bitton and Alexis Clark for the toughness and attitude they bring to the mat.

“Kinli Bitton and Alexis Clark, if you watch these two, they wrestle with a sense of grit and a crazy amount of attitude that makes a good wrestler,” Whiting said.

Clark competed at 132 pounds in the girls division, while Bitton recorded Rocky Mountain’s highest girls placing with her third-place finish.

Other Rocky Mountain placers included Brady Morgan, who took fourth at 275 pounds in A Division, and Tagg Harris, who placed fourth at 91 pounds in A Division. Gabriel Walker competed at 132 pounds in A Division and Jacob Undem wrestled at 98 pounds in A Division.

Whiting said the tournament reflected the steady development he is seeing across the roster.

“Everyone wrestled really well,” Whiting said. “We have a great group of kids here. I think each week they all should be top wrestlers. They continue to grow.”

While the individual results were encouraging, Whiting said the next step is sharpening the basics as the Grizzlies prepare for tougher competition.

For Rocky Mountain, that means building on the effort shown in Powell while tightening technique, improving position and carrying the same grit into the next tournament.

Rocky Mountain will travel to Riverton Saturday, Nov. 7, for the Riverton Middle School tournament. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. at Riverton Middle School Gym.