POCATELLO – MaLissa Barfuss could have breathed a sigh of relief.

Instead, she leapt off her seat in the bleachers of Holt Arena to applaud her son’s victory.

With Michael Barfuss' 9-4 consolation win over McCall-Donnelly’s Gideon Lowen in the 126-pound division Friday, the Barfuss brothers from North Gem advanced to the second day of the state wrestling tournament for the second consecutive season.

“I was scared,” Michael said. “I watched (Lowen) wrestle before. He’s pretty good. I had to get after it and be smart with my thinking out there.”

His brother, Dawson, went 2-0 Friday, moving on to the 2A 120-pound state semifinals to kickstart his final state appearance as a senior. The defending 113-pound state champion pinned New Plymouth’s Kyle Slagle in 1 minute, 21 seconds before pinning Timberline’s Andrew Anderson two seconds slower.

“Dawson’s wrestling style is pretty aggressive,” North Gem coach Justin Williams said. “He can look like he’ll be in trouble and come out on top.”

Michael lost his first match Friday to St. Maries’ Trysten Lockridge 5-2 before collecting himself and winning his next two matches, including a second-round pin of Challis’ Kasen Hohnstein in 2:16.

The sophomore can place third and leave with a consolation championship after finishing fourth in the 113-pound division last season. At least he will not have to face his brother like he did last season in the state semifinals.

After grappling countless times in their living room and throughout last season in the same weight class, Michael let his older brother win at state.

“I decided he was older and he needed to win more than I did," Michael said. "I had four years.”

In their recollection of Dawson’s state-title victory, each expressed as much happiness as the other. It was long awaited as Dawson placed second each of the previous two seasons. A showing of his nerves, Dawson puked before winning his championship match.

“It meant the world. You’re the best in the state,” said Dawson, who has scholarship offers from North Idaho College and Northwest College in Wyoming.

“It was the best thing to watch in my life,” said Michael, who joined his brother in dyeing his hair North Gem purple this week. “Family’s important. They come No. 1. Wrestling’s No. 2. Put those two things together, it’s just incredible.”

Michael and Dawson have a younger sister and two older brothers who will be at Holt on Saturday, including Mathew who won a wrestling state title as a sophomore in 2013. Plus, their father and mother, who twisted and turned as she watched the match Friday that would determine that they would see both brothers wrestle at state one last time.

Whatever Michael and Dawson accomplish Saturday and whenever they decide to stop wrestling, they will have more than medals to show for it, as Williams has been instilling lifelong values since he first coached them when they were 2 years old.

“He’s taught them humility. He’s taught them respect,” MaLissa said. “He’s taught them how to be the men they are today.”