In an event that emphasizes victory in its title, Moffat County wrestlers showed they knew how to win this past weekend.

MCHS grappling teams saw a collective 13 athletes climb the podium Saturday during the multi-state Tournament of Champions in Vernal, Utah.

Taking the highest spot of the weekend for the Bulldogs was junior Kayla Deaton, who continued her undefeated streak from the past two tournaments into another week, pinning five consecutive competitors to win the girls 120-pound class.

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Gaining the bronze were MoCo senior HayLee Staker and Hayden freshman Emily Hockaday, each of whom rebounded from a first-round defeat to go 4-1 with all wins by fall, Staker at 130 and Hockaday at 190.

Steamboat Springs junior Amanaki George took sixth at 140 due to a medical forfeit, while MCHS juniors Miriam Jimenez and Kearra Cicchini each went 3-2 and placed seventh at 125 and 235, respectively.

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Head coach Ashlee Griffiths Ripka noted that while all her athletes did well, she was especially impressed by Abi Clay, who took fifth in the 100 class with a 4-2 win and two pins.

The MCHS coach said that while Clay didn’t win a match last season, she “has made some serious strides” this winter.

“She has continually gotten better every week,” Griffiths Ripka said.

In the boys category at TOC, senior Kaeden Martinez fought his way to fourth place in the 150 weight, his W’s coming from one pin, a 12-6 decision, a 14-5 major decision and a dominant 15-0 technical fall.

Senior Colt Call made it to placement with eighth in the 157 division, 4-3 for the weekend with three pins and a 9-4 decision.

Back in the action was senior Zach Hedman, whose first two bouts of the season saw him take early wins by fall before he fell in the next two matches in the 175 class.

Many of the Bulldogs wound up in Saturday’s Second Chance event, which gave wrestlers defeated in Friday’s double-elimination brackets another shot to show their toughness.

Taking third in the girls’ second day tourney were Sydney Brazeal and Niyla Ennis, while Ryleigh Hedman (115) and Sydney Preston (120) got the Second Chance gold with 3-0 and 4-0 runs, respectively.

With a mix of schools from Colorado, Wyoming and Utah at TOC, the large-scale format is a positive one for Craig wrestlers, Griffiths Ripka said.

With a group finish of sixth place in Vernal, her team is coming off a team title in West Grand a week prior.

“The multi state events are huge in getting the best competition for the girls, but I do believe it is good for mindset to go to a couple smaller competitions to build confidence,” she said.

MCHS teams have another busy week in store, with boys attending a triangular dual Wednesday in Steamboat Springs between the Bulldogs, Sailors and Rifle Bears.

Both teams will be in Casper, Wyoming this weekend at separate events — boys will compete at Kelly Walsh’s Trojan Border War and girls at Natrona County’s Jerry Quinlan Memorial Tournament.