MOORCROFT – Niobrara County High School had a busy weekend on the mats as they traveled to Moorcroft on Friday and Kelly Walsh on Saturday.

Senior James Cushman continues to recover from an injury and a few others were unable to make the trips, leaving the Tigers with just a handful of competitors.

Against the home team, the Tigers got a 9-1 decision from Jasper Caldera and an 11-2 decision from David West. Colton Coffman pinned his opponent and Miles Ashurst and Stanton Ricketts won by forfeit. Donovan Kruse and Gabe Matthews were defeated as the Tigers fell, 35-26.

Hulett defeated the Tigers 27-0, as there were ten open weight classes. Ashurst lost an 11-5 decision, and Ricketts was pinned. The Red Devils won by forfeit in three other weights.

Facing the Thunder Basin JV, Ashurst, Caldera, West and Coffman all took wins, yet Kruse and Matthews were defeated. Behind five forfeits the Bolts won 48-24.

In the final dual at the Dylan Humes Memorial, NCHS faced off against Wright, giving up forfeits in six weights. Coffman earned a quick pin and Caldera won by forfeit but West lost a 6-2 decision while Ashurst and Kruse were pinned in the 54-18 loss.

Saturday against the Kelly Walsh and Casper Natrona JV squads, veteran bus driver Barb Rapp took the team to and from in difficult travel conditions.

West was the only Tiger to capture a win while Caldera lost a 6-5 decision. Matthews, Kruse, Ashurst all were beaten, and the other nine weights were open as the Trojans won 23-6. In a handful of unscored matches Kruse split his two while West lost by pin fall and Ashurst made quick work of his opponent.

Facing the Mustangs West lost and Ashurst won a 10-8 decision, while all other weight groups were open. NC won 6-3.

This week the Tiger grapplers go to Glenrock on Friday and Saturday they visit Wright.