Bronco wrestlers prep for home match, succeed at tournament

The Broncos Wrestling team showcased improvement in their overall skill during the Coyote Classic Tournament in Kittitas On Saturday, Jan. 21. The athletes who competed in the tournament were Tristan Regan, Alex Whitman, Dylan Lane, Garrett Correll, Maisa Ferderer and Chelsie Watterson.

Regan wrestled first against an athlete from Colfax at 106 pounds. Head Coach Jason Hilzer said Regan remained ahead 3-0 going into the second period but ended up losing by pin. Hilzer said despite the loss, he is impressed with how Regan wrestled against his opponent due to the fact the athlete quickly pinned him in the first round in a previous match.

In his second match, Regan faced a wrestler from Almira Coulee Hartline (ACH) and showcased determination to win the match. By having quick feet, Regan won the match by pin in the second period.

He then wrestled a Selan athlete for his third match. The amount of energy Regan executed in his previous matches proved to have physcially drained him as his opponent caught him out of position and pinned him in the first round.

Lane wrestled next against an athlete from Ellensburg at 145. His opponent’s skill level proved to be more advanced as he quickkly lost by pin in the first round.

With new found energy, Lane picked up the intensity in his second match against an athlete from Waukee. He continued to take down his opponent and won the match by pin in the third round.

He then wrestled a Colfax athlete. Hilzer said Lane could not seem to gain positioning on his opponent or seek opportunities for take downs as he lost by pin in the first round.

The next to wrestle was Whitman at 145 against an athlete from Colfax. He proved to be more experienced than his opponent and quickly pinned him to claim the win in the first round of the match.

Whitman then wrestled the same Waukee athlete Lane faced for his second match of the tournament. Determined to not allow his opponent to gain positioning to pin him, he wrestled smart, constantly looking for opporuntities for take downs and to earn points.

Whitman won the match by pin in the third round and took first. Hilzer said he is impressed with how Whitman wrestled and it was the best he has performed all season.

Correll wrestled next against an athlete from Brewster at 285. He quickly lost by pin in the first round.

He then faced a Waukee athlete for his second match and lost by pin in the first round.

Hilzer said Correll’s opponents had a weight advantage over him and is the reason for the losses.

Ferderer then wrestled an athlete from Napa Valley at 135. Due to the need for additional mat time, Ferderer lost by pin in the first round of the match, said Hilzer.

Watterson wreslted next against a Napa Valley athlete at 135. Her opponent quikcly caught her out of position forcing her to lose by pin in the first period.

She then faced an athlete from ACH and lost by pin in the first round.

For her third match, Watterson faced the ACH athlete again only to fall to her by pin in the first round.

Despite the losses, Hilzer said Watterson is showcasing improvement and he expects her skill level to advance by the end of the season.

Hilzer said the team will focus on situtional wrestling in practice this week as they begin to reach the end of their seaosn.

The Broncos mat squad faced athletes from multiple school districts in the Mix and Match tournament in Ritzville. The team will travels to Pomeroy on Saturday, Jan. 28, to wrestle in league matches.