With five of its wrestlers going undefeated throughout the tournament, the Highland wrestling team walked away from the 2009 Dick Fleischmann Classic as champions on Saturday at Pocatello High.

As a team, the Rams went undefeated in seven duals and were never even challenged. Their closest margin of victory came against Kuna, which they beat 45-25.

Highland coach Travis Bell had nothing to complain about following that kind of success.

"Overall, we wrestled very well," he said. "From start to finish, we were doing great."

Brennan Bell, Anthony Esplin, Brenn Schiess, James Esplin and Gaylen Edmo each recorded perfect tournaments for the Rams.

Standing out in that group, Bell said, were Bell and Anthony Esplin. Bell won each of his matches by pin or technical fall. Anthony Esplin won each of his by pin or major decision.

Bell was also particularly proud of freshman heavyweight wrestler Gaylen Edmo.

"As a freshman, to come through undefeated against this competition is amazing," he said.

What made the difference for Highland as a team, though, was its middle-tier wrestlers. Just about everyone on the team finished the tournament with a winning record, and Tallen Bannister and Justin Allen each went 6-1.

"What was really nice, was the way our guys stepped up," Bell said. "Any time somebody got upset, the next guy in line won for us. We didn't have to rely on our usual guys. Everyone stepped up, and that helped us big in some of those close duals."

Pocatello also excelled throughout the tournament.

Pocatello finished right behind the Rams with a 6-1-1 record and had four of its wrestlers - Tyler Praska, Billy Potter, Abner Cook and Trevor Rupp - go undefeated.

Praska won the tournament's Co-Outstanding Wrestler honor by flying through the 112 weight class. But coach Todd Praska said Potter was just as good, if not better.

Because not only did Potter go 7-0, he won all of his matches by pin.

"He probably deserved the Outstanding Wrestler honor, too," Todd Praska said.

Potter, a 140-pound senior, cruised through his weight class with a head-lock move many on his team believe he has perfected.

"I came into this tournament and decided it was time to step up," Potter said. "My head lock was working, and I got most of my pins with it."

Todd Praska said that was good to see, because before this tournament, Potter was struggling a little bit.

"He got off to a slow start this year, but he's really coming on," he said. "He's always been good at that head lock, but he's starting to listen to his coaches and master it. He's doing the little things now, and he's becoming an expert."

Century also saw one of its wrestlers record a good tournament. Cully Hendricks, a 119-pound junior, went 6-1 and had three pins.

"And the only loss he had came to the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the state," Century coach Bill Clegg said. "He wrestled really well. If he keeps it up, I think there's a chance they could wrestle again at state."

With all the marquee regular-season matches completed, most local wrestlers are now turning their attention to the state tournament and the qualifying matches that can get them there.

If the Dick Fleischmann Classic is any indicator many of them will be there.