The Hawk grapplers traveled to Moorcroft, Wyoming on Friday, for the Moorcroft Mixer.

“It was our best tournament of the year so far,” Broadus Coach Frankie Schoonover commented.

A number of the Hawk wrestlers were able to taste victory for the first time at Moorcroft, including Dakota Holbrook, wrestling at 160 lbs, and Ronnie Richards, at 195 pounds.

Two Broadus competitors, Larry Hunt at 170, and Christian Middle Rider, wrestling in the Heavyweight division, placed at the meet.

Middle Rider, wrestling against Austin Crotteau of Spearfish, took sixth place.

“Christian’s lack of experience got him, but with that small taste of success, he will look to improve in the future,” Coach Schoonover said.

Larry Hunt, at 170 lbs, was able to beat Wyatt Peters of Moorcroft by decision to take third place. Schoonover said that Hunt had faced Peters in Hettinger, last week, and lost, so Larry continues to improve on the season.

The Hawks who didn’t make the championship round on Saturday wrestled in the Second Chance tournament. Their coach had this to say: “We dominated the Second Chance tournament. The guys really did well, and it showed that with a little work they could be standing on that championship podium.”

In the Second Chance tournament, Seth McDowell, wrestling at 113, won second. Corbin Irish, wresting at 135, took fourth. Troy Amsden came in 1st at 147. Donovan Sturtz won 2nd at 151, while Luke Herzog took 2nd in his weight class. Dakota Holbrook achieved 2nd at 161, while Ronnie Richards took 2nd at 195.

“Our success as a team doesn’t have to do so much with the matches we’ve won or lost, but with the team’s work ethic and morale. This group of guys is one of the most motivated teams I’ve coached. They push each other, have fun, and motivate each other, which is showing up on the mat as they improve every week,” Schoonover said.

The team will need those improvements as they go into the last tournament of the season before Divisionals, this Saturday in Hardin. After that, Broadus is on to Divisionals at Forsyth, next Friday.