The Big Sandy wrestling team opened their season competing in the Cascade "Badger" Invitational this past weekend. The Pioneer program has seven wrestlers this season; Quinn Rodewald(103), Leah LePinnet(114), Harley LaBuda(120), Sam Cox(132), Tannin Baumann(138), Sam Cox(205), and Darrell Sunchild (HWT). Five of the seven wrestlers were able to wrestle at Cascade. This season is the first that 8th graders are eligible to compete in high school wrestling. Quinn Rodewald and Harley LaBuda will be able to compete this coming weekend in Glasgow now that middle school basketball has ended.
Senior Tannin Baumann went 3-1 on the weekend, with his one loss coming in the 138 pound finals to Levi Wagner of Three Forks. Tannin was able to win his first three matches of the tournament by pin. Freshman Wes Cox also reached the tournament finals at 132 pounds after winning his first two matches by fall. Wes Cox would finish second after losing to Cody Fuller of Whitehall in the finals. Sophomore Darrell Sunchild also wrestled well for the Pioneers winning three matches in his return to competition after missing last season due to injury. Sunchild finished the tournament in 5th place at heavyweight.
Sam Cox and Leah LePinnet both earned their first victories of the season in Cascade this weekend. LePinnet is new to the Pioneer Wrestling program moving here with her family over the summer. Sam Cox was able to win by pin over a grappler from Boulder for his first win. As a team the Pioneers finished just outside of the top ten with 61 points. The Big Sandy wrestling team will have all seven of their wrestlers this weekend in Glasgow.
