PCS wrestlers fourth at SPVA

Facing opponents from four different conferences, the Perkins County wrestling team finished sixth overall and fourth in the SPVA conference last week at Bridgeport.
Ashton Meyer had the best finish of all the Plainsmen, taking first place at 285 lbs.
After a quick pin in the first round, Ashton Meyer was pushed to the limit in his semifinal matchup against teammate Juan Perez. Ashton Meyer took a 5-2 win in the match, then won the championship match with a third period pin of Mitchell’s Daniel Thomas (29-8).
PCS Head Coach Tanner Collins said it’s big for Ashton Meyer to wrap up the tournament on a high note for PCS.
Collins is hoping it gives the whole team a boost going into districts.
Perez placed third with a quick pin over St. Pat’s Ben Melton.
Collins said Ashton Meyer and Perez go at it and give each other a good match every time.
“I am hoping they get on opposite sides of the bracket at districts and don’t have to wrestle, but hoping to get both to state,” Collins said.
Colton Pouk placed second at 145 lbs.
Collins said he was happy with what Pouk did, and added that he just needs some more mat time to get into shape.
“He should be pretty fresh and ready to go for the last two weeks,” Collins said.
Austin Meyer placed third at 220 lbs.
Collins said Austin Meyer showed improvement from last week.
“He is still building some confidence but is definitely moving in the right direction,” Collins said, adding he’s hoping Austin Meyer gets another chance at Sutherland’s Gavin White (30-3) in the district finals this Saturday.
Brient Wood went 1-2 and finished fourth at 170 lbs.
Wood won his first round of the day over Bridgeport’s Curtis Jackson (19-16).
“That’s a good win going into districts. I am excited to see what Brient can do this week. He has a tough path but could definitely squeak into Omaha if he has a good day,” Collins said.
Mason Toner won his first match at 126 lbs., then lost his next two matches by decision.
Toner was up by one point in the third period of his final match, but gave up a late take down and lost the match 2-3, Collins said.
“I thought he wrestled a lot better though and stayed on the offensive attack instead of stalling,” Collins said.
It should be a good match this week if Toner and Bayard’s Brock Burry meet up at districts, Collins added.
Henry Taylor recently dropped down to 132 lbs. and Collins feels like Taylor looks more relatable in size to his opponents. Taylor went 2-2 at the meet.
“I thought he did what he was supposed to do and found some new things to work on,” Collins said.
Results of last week’s meets are as follows:
WTC/SPVA /MAC/PAC 2022
Team scores—1. Sutherland, 203.5; 2. Gordon-Rushville, 138.0; 3. Mitchell, 94.0; 4. Chase Co., 88.0; 5. Hershey, 82.0; 6. Perkins Co., 71.0; 7. Bayard, 57.0; 7. Garden Co, 57.0; 9. NPSP, 45.0; 10. Bridgeport, 43.0; 11. Morrill, 38.0; 12. Leyton, 28.0; 13. Hemingford, 27.0; 14. Kimball, 17.0; 15. Banner Co, 8.0; 16. Minatare, 0.0.
Indivdual results:
126—Mason Toner (25-15) won by fall over Tyler J Smith (Morrill), fall 4:54; lost by major decision to Harrison Barnette (Bridgeport), MD 10-2; lost by decision to Brock Burry (Bayard), dec 3-2.
132—Henry Taylor (9-18) won by decision over George Colton (CCS), dec 5-2; lost by fall to Tucker Banister (GR), fall 0:47;  won by fall over Jayden Klein (NPSP), fall 2:30; lost by fall to Brodey Hund (Hershey), fall 1:43.
145—Colton Pouk (23-5) won by fall over William Costello (GR), fall 0:36; won by medical forfeit over Daniel Kohel (Morrill); 1st Place Match - lost by fall to Samuel Foster (Sutherland), fall 3:17.
170—Brient Wood (15-13) won by decision over Curtis Jackson (Bridgeport), dec 7-2;   lost by fall to Taylon Pascoe (GR), fall 0:58;  3rd Place Match - lost by fall to Kolby Houchin (Bayard), fall 1:32.
220—Issiah Dunn (2-24) lost by fall to Jaret Peterson (CCS), fall 1:13; lost by fall to Jackson Jenkins (Mitchell), fall 0:39.
220—Austin Meyer (24-10) won by fall over Casey Miller (Bayard), fall 2:59; lost by major decision to Gavin White (Sutherland), MD 12-3; won by decision over Jackson Jenkins (Mitchell), dec 7-1; 3rd Place Match - won by decision over Landon Nichols (NPSP), dec 3-0.
285—Juan Perez (19-11) lost by decision to Ashton Meyer (PCS), dec 5-2; won by fall over Noah Yetter (Banner Co.), fall 1:59; 3rd Place Match - won by fall over Ben Melton (NPSP), fall 0:44.
285—Ashton Meyer (26-8) won by fall over Michael Suttles (Mitchell), fall 0:40; won by decision over Juan Perez (PCS), dec 5-2; 1st Place Match - won by fall over Daniel Thomas (Mitchell), fall 4:49.
Up next
PCS will head west to Bridgeport once more for the district meet Friday and Saturday.
The meet will be streamed on Bridgeport’s Striv channel.
Joining the Plainsmen for the district meet will be Banner County, Bayard, Bridgeport, Crawford, Dundy County Stratton, Garden County, Hay Springs, Hemingford, Hitchcock County, Hyannis, Kimball, Leyton, Medicine Valley, Minatare, Morrill, Mullen, North Platte St. Pat’s, Paxton, Sioux County, Sutherland and Wauneta-Palisade. Sutherland comes into districts as the state Class D duals champion.
Collins said he wants to see his team constantly on the attack.
“I’m just wanting them to leave it all on the mat. I want to see them wrestle to win matches instead of wrestling to not lose,” Collins said.
The state wrestling championships will begin Feb. 17. Classes A and D will wrestle the evening session.
Class D will continue with the afternoon session Feb. 18, with all classes of semifinals and third round consolation matches being that evening.
All class sessions will begin at 7:30 a.m. MT Feb. 19 and run throughout the day until the championship matches begin at 2 p.m. MT.