Grizzlies Senior Night And Week’s Duals, Lady Grizz Go To Kimberly Tournament

The Grace Grizzlies celebrated senior night last Wednesday prior to their dual with Declo and then battled it out in quad team duals with Butte County, Salmon and West Jefferson.  Meanwhile the girls wrestling team participated in the same quad team duals before heading to the Kimberly tournament over the weekend.

The week’s events started with the Grizzlies taking on the Hornets from Declo on senior night.  The Grizzlies honored three seniors this year.  From the boys team there was Brett Hobbs and Jack Eddins and from the girls team Josie Newby.  Each of the three wrestlers were escorted out onto the mat by their parents.  Following the senior ceremony the boys team got to the action.  Due to some illness and one wrestler moving out of the district the Grizzlies were limited on the number of wrestlers competing last week more so than usual.  In the dual against Declo the Grizzlies had just five wrestlers compete.  Due to the low numbers the Grizzlies lost the team scoring but in the contested matches the Grizzlies went a perfect five for five.  In fact, including the four exhibition matches the Grizzlies only suffered one loss on the night.  At 126 lbs Dylan Wood was 1-1 on the night winning his dual match but losing his exhibition match.  Cael Newby wrestled two exhibition matches that he handily won at 132 lbs.  Carter Kimball also wrestled at 132 lbs winning one dual match and one exhibition match in dominant fashion.  At 165 lbs Mack Jorgensen was the only Grizzly wrestler to have just a single match on the night where he won convincingly.  Lastly the lone senior to participate on senior night was Brett Hobbs at 138 lbs.  Hobbs made quick work of his dual competitor pinning his opponent in under a minute.  Hobbs then won an exhibition match to top off his night.

Following the successful senior night the small contingent of wrestlers headed to the quad dual where once again they suffered losses due to their low numbers.  The boys team was able to secure one dual win over Salmon by a slim one point margin.  Despite the struggles in team scoring the Grizzlies fared well in the event.  Wood at 126 lbs finished 2-1, Kimball at 132 lbs was 2-0 and wrestled an exhibition at 144 lbs that he also won.  Hobbs at 138 lbs finished 2-1 as did Jorgensen at 165 lbs.  Newby wrestled just two exhibition matches where he lost at 126 lbs but won at 138 lbs.

Like the boys the girls team was traveling with limited numbers during the week.  At the quad duals with the same schools as the boys Hayden Ball at 107 lbs finished 1-2 while her sister Holland Ball at 126 lbs finished a perfect 3-0.  Skyla Cloud wrestling at 165 lbs also was able to go a perfect 3-0 in the duals.  Josie Newby rounded out the girls team as she was also able to go undefeated at the duals picking up two wins at 145 lbs and one win in an exhibition bout at 165 lbs.

The Lady Grizzlies finished their week by traveling to the Kimberly tournament.  There the same four girls were the only ones to make the trip for Grace.  Hayden Ball at 107 lbs won her first match before falling in the semi finals sending her to the consolation side of the bracket.  There Hayden suffered another loss in the consolation semi final match sending her to the fifth place match.  In that match she was declared the winner by medical forfeit earning a fifth place finish.  Holland Ball at 126 lbs lost her opening match and got sent to the consolation bracket.  Holland then went on a tear winning her next three matches and claiming third place overall.  Josie Newby at 145 lbs won her first bout but suffered a loss in the semi finals sending her to the consolation bracket.  Josie won her next match giving her a shot at the third place match.  UnfortunatelyUnfortunately she would fall in that match and finish with fourth overall.  Lastly Skyla Cloud at 165 lbs was the top Lady Grizzly wrestler in this tournament.  Skyla won her first match by technical fall then pinned her next two opponents earning a spot in the championship match.  Skyla ended up winning that match by major decision and claimed the first place award.