Grizzly grapplers pick up some wins at tough Moorcroft tournament

Competing at one of the largest annual meets in the state, the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies won several matches at the Dylan Humes Memorial Mixer in Moorcroft over the weekend.
The Grizzly boys earned 16 points in the 27-team varsity field that included the likes of Sheridan, Thunder Basin, Casper Kelly Walsh and Campbell County High School.
Rocky Mountain had one placer in the tough field. Burlington junior Michael Bassett placed eighth at 132 pounds. After an opening round bye, Bassett pinned Bryce Nielsen of Buffalo in 1:54, then fell by pin to Riley Davis of Baker, Montana, in 1:37. Bassett bounced back to beat Mason Sorensen of Lingle-Ft. Laramie/Southeast 13-6, then fell by pin to Don Balerio of Fossil Ridge (Colorado) in 2:17 and Casey Matthews of Newcastle in 47 seconds.
Freshman Sam Loyning wrestled to a 1-2 record at 120 pounds, beating Kade Haynes of Moorcroft 8-7 on a tie-breaker for his win.
Freshman Dalan Wambeke also went 1-2 at 126 pounds, pinning Shooter Vigil of Sheridan in 4:16 for his lone win.
Sophomore Colten Bitton went 1-2 at 126 pounds, pinning Cole Cantu of Moorcroft for his win in 4:32, and sophomore Jacoby Wachob wrestled to 1-2 at 132 pounds, pinning Clayton Ailport of Glenrock in 5:29 for a first-round win.
Burlington senior Hunter Aagard was 1-2 at 190 pounds, beating Alec DeMarce of Lingle-Ft. Laramie/Southeast 10-4 in the first round for his win.
Also wrestling were freshman William Torres at 175 pounds, freshman Masen Twomey at 215 pounds and junior Wyatt Houchin at 215.
Both sophomore Emmilee Wambeke and junior Rebecca Herren competed in the girls tournament.
When it comes to tough tournaments, it’s kind of out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Grizzlies this week as they travel to Riverton for the best-of-the best, all-class Ron Thon Memorial Tournament, a meet that brings most if not all of the wrestling teams in the state to one location.
Action begins Friday at 10 a.m. and continues Saturday at 9 a.m.
Rocky coach Eddie Whiting was unable to provide comments this week about his wrestlers at the Moorcroft tournament.