Wrestlers finish strong at tourney

On Jan. 5 and 6, the Bobcat wrestlers competed in the tough Shane Shatto Memorial tournament with 25 other teams in Douglas. Finishing 15th with a respectable 61.0 points, Thermopolis wrestlers recorded wins by every Bobcat entered in the varsity brackets. Three Bobcats, Cullen Becher (4th), Austin Ireland (6th), and Logan Cole (6th), proved they could compete at the highest level with wrestlers from all classes and three states

Six Bobcats wrestled 33 matches in the varsity brackets and ended up with 21 victories (which included six pins) for a team winning percentage of nearly 67 percent. Seven filled out the JV pools and brackets with 26 matches winning 13 times.

Becher earned the semifinals in the championship bracket with three convincing decisions 8-4, 14-0, and 11-8. Jake Warterson of Buffalo ended the run as he pinned Becher at 4:55. Bouncing back, Becher was on his way to third when he was slammed by Sheridan’s number one seed, Chance Quarterman, who was disqualified for the foul. Becher forfeited the consolation finals on a medical basis.

Junior Austin Ireland had a great Friday as he used a bye, a fall, and a major decision to gain the championship bracket semi-finals. Saturday was a disappointment for him as he lost by pin in the consolation semis, and then by 1 point in the match for 5-6.

Freshman Logan Cole used two byes and a pin to get to the quarterfinals against Douglas’ Cody Pinkerton. After previously defeating Cole convincingly, Pinkerton eked out a 7-5 decision which was anything but convincing, but showed the freshman’s inexperience as the third period was memorable mostly by the lack of action. In the consolation bracket, Cole won two matches to earn the semi finals but lost by decision in his last two matches.

Though the three Bobcats mentioned were standouts for Thermopolis, Coach C.J. Scholl was liberal with his praise for the whole team, varsity and JV.

“We were tough on Friday. Everyone went onto the mat ready to wrestle. The results were encouraging, but Saturday we looked tired and a little beat up. Never-the-less, I don’t think Thermopolis has done as well as this team did last weekend in this tournament for a long time if ever.”

Friday and Saturday will see the Bobcats competing in Pavillion at the Don Runner Tournament without the services of Cullen Becher. The task of a high finish will be much more difficult, but it would not be wise for anyone to underestimate this bunch of Bobcats.