Three Wrestlers Place for the Mustangs at the Cowboy Invite

The Malta Mustang grapplers were in Miles City last Friday and Saturday, January 14-15, for the 63rd Annual Cowboy Invitational.

“That is a tough tournament,” said Head Coach Jake French. “It’s an all-class tournament, so we’re going to get some really tough competition.”

The Mustangs were led by Wrestler of the Week Spencer Gibbs. Gibbs went 4-1 over the weekend and placed 3rd in the 170 lb weight class.

Gibbs won his first match by pinfall over Tommy Predonzan of Hettinger/Scranton, ND. His second match was a win by major decision 11-1 over Collin Lindemann from Cody, WY. He lost his match in the semis by decision 0-5 to Wylee Lindeen from Huntley Project.

“In that match, I don’t think Spencer got outwrestled as much as he just made a couple of mistakes and gave the points away,” said Coach French. “We have watched the video on it and I think Spencer sees where he needed to be.”

In Gibbs’ fourth match, he beat Easton DeJong from Miles City by decision 3-1 in what the Mustang Coaches considered the Most Exciting Match of the tournament.

“That was a nail-biter,” said French. “He just squeaked that one out.”

In the third-place match, Gibbs defeated Dylan Campbell from Cody, WY by decision 6-5.

“This was a really good meet for Spencer,” French said. “Being injured last year, he didn’t get the criteria needed coming into this year, so his draws at these meets have been really tough. He got a decent draw this meet and it will give him some good criteria going into next year.”

Two other Mustangs placed at the meet, both getting 5th place.

Camryn “Reggie” Mears took 5th in the 182 lb. class going 3-2 in his matches, and Tye Jones took 5th in the 285 lb. class going 4-2 including the Quick Pin of the tournament for the Mustangs. Jones pinned Zach Barton from Cody, WY in his first match of the tournament in 22 seconds.

“I was pumped to go to a new meet. It was a chance to wrestle in a different place, against some tough competition and kids from other states,” said French. “I can see glimpses of all of our wrestlers starting to get what they need to do. I was happy with how the tourney went. We didn’t have anyone in the finals, but it was a really good chance to learn what our weaknesses are and what we need to work on. Hopefully, our guys can look at it that way too. It’s much better to learn those things now rather than at Divisionals.”

The Mustangs head to Chinook for a mixer on Friday, January 21, and then to Harlem on Saturday, January 22, for the Harlem Tournament. The following weekend they play host for the Malta Duals/Mixer on Friday, also Senior Night, January 28, and the Malta Tournament on Saturday, January 29.