Sports

The Varsity Dragon wrestling team headed to Smithfield on Dec 7th to dual against two Utah 4A schools. Malad faced off against Sky View and won the dual 44-31. Porter Mills won against Sky View with a tech fall 15-0 and Caleb Mathews won by decision 6-0. Tommy Angell, Trevor Mills, Cael Seamons, Sam Willie, Blaiz Wright, and Mayson Bree all won by pin against the Bobcats. Next Malad wrestled against a tough Green Canyon team, losing the dual 48-30. Picking up wins by pin were Trevor Mills, Ruxton Tubbs, Hunter Wray, and Blaiz Wright. Jace Potter received a bye. While varsity wrestled in Utah the JV team headed to Raft River to face of against Buhl, Raft River and Oakley. The Dragons wrestled tough against all three schools.

Friday and Saturday the Dragons wrestled in the Marsh Valley tournament. The tournament hosted 27 teams in 2a-4a divisions from all over Idaho. Malad had some exciting matches over the two days.

Coach Morrison “We had some tough matches and win or lose our wrestlers did a great job. We were in every match and our kids fought hard.”

The Dragons will be preparing this week for their tournament that will be held on Friday the 16th and Saturday the 17th. The Malad fans always show up to cheer load and proud and we look forward to having that hometown crowd this weekend.

Braylee Price getting the pin

Rydon Montgomery won a tough match against the Pocatello wrestler Lex Driscoll winning with a pin JV RESULTS

106lbs Porter Mills 1st 106lbs Caden Jeppson 2nd 113lbs Kimball Carter 2nd 120lbs Zane Komrofske 2nd 120lbs Chase Martin 3rd 132lbs Sam Willie 1st 132lbs Cael Seaomons 3rd 138lbs Gabe Hooste 1st 138lbs Cam Bingham 2nd 138lbs Roper Higley 3rd 170lbs Rydon Montgomery 2nd 182lbs Lex Driskel 2nd 195lbs Mayson Bree 1st LADY DRAGON RESULTS

107lbs Braylee Price 5th 120lbs Rylee Neilson 4th 152lbs Cambree Howe 3rd 152lbs Cale Carter 8th VARSITY RESULTS

98lbs Jack Willie 4th 106lbs Jace Potter 4th 113lbs Tommy Angell 2nd 120lbs Trevor Mills 1st 152lbs Kole Willie 2nd 152lbs Ruston Tubbs 4th 160lbs Hunter Wray 5th 170lbs Blaiz Wright 3rd 220lbs Caleb Mathews 6th

The MHS wrestling room has been abuzz for several weeks as the Malad athletes have settled in the groove of the 2022-2023 season. One exciting change for the Dragon wrestlers this year is a sanctioned girls team, competing in the new ISHAA sport for female wrestlers.

As the state’s new program began last year, Malad had just a few girl wrestlers step onto the mat. This season the team has added more athletes and coaches and hope to continue to recruit and grow the MHS girls wrestling program. With the new all girls league, many have been curious what the sport is looking like for the Lady Dragon wrestlers.

In most regards, girls wrestling is the same as their counterpart, boys wrestling. As the name implies, it is girls only wrestling. Any females that had wanted to wrestle in previous years were required to join boys teams. When they could, coaches would set up brackets of all girls but in some instances it wasn’t an option and the only matches the female wrestlers would have would be against boys. For some this only option was okay, but for many it seemed awkward, mismatched and even crass.

The all-girl league has opened up doors and interest for female wrestlers across the state with the result of girl wrestling programs taking off in highschools throughout all divisions. The change has brought a different atmosphere and attitude to girls wrestling and in turn has helped it gain a lot of support to the program in Malad as well. From coaches to athletes to community fans, Malad has rallied around the small girls wrestling team. The experience and skill found throughout the valley has been a great benefit to helping the program get off the ground.

The few differences between girls wrestling and boys wrestling mostly accounts to the smaller numbers of participants involved. As the sport is just taking off, there are still low numbers which leads to fewer weight classes. Time, growth and more participants will add more weights over the upcoming seasons. Malad’s Lady Dragons have a different district as not all schools within the boys district have girls programs.

The girls have a different schedule as well, trying to hit up the various girls tournaments. When the opportunities allow, the girls team will tag on as many duels with boys teams that have female wrestlers. Regardless of how or when their matches will line up, the MHS girls wrestling is looking to have a full season of matches and time on the mat.

The Lady Dragon wrestling team has just five team members this year- Braylee Price (107lbs ), Rylee Neilson (120lbs), Dezirae Haven (120lbs), Cambree Howe (152 lbs) and Cale Carter (152 lbs). With a few of them wrestling in the same weights, they are trying to shuffle girls around and see if they can’t cover more classes.

Dezirae Haven is the only returning wrestler from the 2021-2022 season. Despite being a very young and inexperienced team, the MHS lady wrestlers are learning fast and gaining ground as they do. Their coaches have commented that these athletes are eager to learn and hungry to succeed, claiming that every time they hit the mat they bring intensity, aggression and athleticism. “These girls didn't know how to get into a basic wrestling stance just a few weeks ago. Now they look like they've been doing it for a long time. They are hitting college level throws and moves like it's no big deal.“ After just a few weeks, various teams and opponents have recognized that Malad is a team to be reckoned with.

The girls have a good handful of matches, duels, and tournaments and throughout them all have had some moments to truly be proud of. The girls’ coaches shared, “We've had every girl throw some amazing moves, and throws resulting in big points or pins. Many have gone undefeated in a tournament, gut it out three hard rounds for a win or come from behind with a throw and win it. You just don't know how it's going to end until it's over.”

This weekend the Lady Dragon wrestlers will be going to Ririe for a girls only tournament where they will be up against athletes and teams from 5A to 1A schools. The girls and coaches hope this tournament will be a good opportunity to see how Malad will stack up and compete with other girls across the state.

The Idaho All-State Team for 2A was just recently released and included some of Malad’s own Lady Dragon volleyball players. Junior outside hitter Hallie Horsley was named on the first team with Sophomore outside hitter Riglee Peterson given an honorable mention. A full list of the 2A All-State is as follows: Coach of the Year:

Curtis Johnson, Melba

Player of the Year:

Abby Fuller - MH/OH, sr., West Side

First team

Laney Beckstead - S, sr., West Side Tariah Carter - OH/RS, so., Melba Kendall Clark - OH, sr., Melba Hallie Horsley -OH, jr., Malad Ellie Johnson - S, fr., Melba Brianna Scott - OH, sr., Ririe Keylee Wilson - MH/OH, sr., Melba Second team

Madi Andreasen - L, sr., Ririe

Hallie Arnold - MH, sr., Melba

Karly Clark - OH, jr., Cole Valley Christian

Hadley Fraas - MH, sr. Cole Valley Christian

Viola Hayes - OH, jr., Ririe

Sara Mariscal-Weinert - MH/OH, jr., West Side

Meya Young - OH/OPP, sr., Melba Honorable Mention

Kennidee Anderson - OPP, sr., Ririe

Grace Beardin - MB, sr., Orofino

Makinley Bond - MB, sr., Ririe

Madison Cheney - S/RS/MH, jr., Kellogg

Rylee Nielson - MH/OH, sr., Firth

Riglee Peterson -OH, so., Malad

Ella Stosich - OH, jr., Melba

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