Bulldog wrestlers battle through back side of regional brackets

The Lovell bulldog wrestling team has come one step closer to finishing their season after attending Regionals this past weekend. The boys competed at the 3A West Regional Tournament in Pinedale while the girls competed at the 4A Girls West Regional in Evanston. By the end of the tournaments, 14 boys and three girls qualified for the state tournament. 

The boys team stepped into the Pinedale tournament on Friday looking to place within the top eight of their respective brackets to earn their spot at State. Coaches Skye Mickelson and Quinton Hecker were in the Bulldogs’ corner this weekend.

“Regionals started off a little rough for us, but the kids picked it up eventually,” Coach Mickelson said. “All but three of our kids who attended Regionals made it to State. We really had to battle through the illness going around this season.”

Five Bulldogs worked through the left side of the bracket to land a spot on the podium by the end of the tournament.

“The kids that didn’t place gutted it out and wrestled some tough matches to get to State,” Mickelson said.

Sophomore Hudsen Mickelson competed in the 120-pound weight class and battled back after a tough semifinal match loss to take third place.

“Hudsen showed up to wrestle this weekend. His only loss was to the regional champion in his bracket,” Coach Mickelson said. “If he wrestles the way he did at Regionals, he has a good chance at placing at State as a sophomore.”

Dino De La Cruz wrestled in the 132-pound bracket this weekend and avenged a loss to advance through the left side of his bracket to take third place.

“De La Cruz got caught and lost in a match he should have won, but he battled back and beat the kid he lost to with a tech fall,” Mickelson said. “With the way he wrestled at Regionals, I believe he will have a good state tournament this weekend.”

Mason Christenson secured his spot in the state tournament at 138 pounds with a third-place finish at Regionals. “Christenson looked amazing on his feet and gutted out some matches. As long as he keeps wrestling the way he is, he has a good opportunity to place high at State,” Mickelson said. 

Sophomore Chance Hatch placed fourth in the 144-pound bracket, battling through the back side of the bracket to qualify for State. Coach Mickelson commented on his performance by saying, “As a sophomore, Hatch wrestled out of his mind. He made a huge jump from last year and has improved a lot by making it to State this year.”

Senior Kasey Jordan competed in the 190-pound bracket and wrestled through the left side of the bracket to bring home fourth place.

“Jordan wrestled his style and, because of that, he was able to place. He went into the bracket seeded seventh and placed fourth, weeding through kids ranked above him,” Mickelson noted. 

Other Bulldog wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament include: 

Tyler Wilkerson at 120 pounds, Jaxen Baxendale at 126 pounds, Zayden Stahl at 132 pounds, Talon Burton at 144 pounds, Hunter Krei at 150 pounds, Owen Hill at 157 pounds, Porter Blau at 157 pounds and Rudy Hall at 175 pounds.

Girls tournament

The girls wrestled Friday and Saturday at their regional tournament in Evanston. Coaches Ty Hecker and Mark Crumrine were in their corner this weekend.

Seniors Danika Crumrine, Avery Layne and Maecie Joy all qualified for the state tournament.

“Our senior girls really showed up this weekend,” Coach Hecker said. “They knew what was on the line and made sure to punch their ticket to State, showing the younger freshman girls what it takes to get what you want.”

Crumrine competed in the 145-pound bracket and took home fourth place.

“Crumrine wrestled hard this weekend and battled through injuries,” Hecker said. “She is ready to make her final run at the state tournament as a senior. We are really looking to get healthy and make this final push.”

Layne wrestled in the 155-pound bracket and also took home fourth.

“Layne wrestled the best I have seen her wrestle. She wrestled with really good bottom positioning. No one can keep Avery down,” Hecker said. 

Joy qualified for State in the 140-pound bracket, pulling some upsets against girls in her bracket.

“Joy won her quarterfinal match against the number three ranked girl in the state, solidifying her spot at the state tournament,” Hecker said. “She has had a rough couple of weeks but turned it around when it counted by wrestling phenomenally this weekend.” 

Freshmen Kaylynn Mickelson and Harley Tillett wrestled well against their competition this weekend but did not end up qualifying for State.

“Kaylynn and Harley had a great season. They came up short but learned you have to give it your all at Regionals to make it onto that state bracket,” Hecker said. “I am proud of those girls, and I see that they have bright futures.”

State in Casper

This weekend the team will be making the final push for their season by attending the three-day state tournament in Casper at the Ford Wyoming Center. Wrestling will start at noon on Thursday and at 10:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

“State is a tough three-day tournament, but we are focused and hungry right now and ready to lay it on the line for our last weekend,” Hecker said. “The switch up to 3A for the boys has been stiffer, but I genuinely believe we can compete with any class if we stay focused. State is an exciting tournament, and I see us having a great weekend.”