Coach ready to make believers

In his first year as HSCHS head wrestling coach, Travis McDermott, brings impressive credentials to the task. The homegrown 1991 graduate of HSCHS was a Wyoming state champion in 1990 and followed that by becoming the only Bobcat ever to win the premier Wyoming wrestling tournament, the Ron Thon, in 1992. He followed these honors by being a three time NAIA and Div. II NCAA All-American at Chadron State.

Coach McDermott has been involved in local wrestling programs for many years and most recently at the mid-school level for the last 5 years. He has escorted wrestlers to camps in the summer and coached the USA program locally for several years.

He is convinced that the Bobcats can have a program as successful as the two 2A powers, Cokeville and Moorcroft.

“There is no reason to believe that the Bobcats can’t compete with anyone in the state in our class. The first task is to make believers from our own wrestlers.”

Returning seniors to the program are state placer Austen Ireland, Chase White, Jeff VanAntwerp, and Jon Harvey. Other seniors committing to the oncoming season are Chance Watt, Chandler Maddock, Jon Hagan, and Tyson Tobar.

Juniors Aiden Osman, Blake Williams, Hunter Mounts, Josh Lackey, and Riley Shaffer represent the largest number of juniors in the program in several years, but at present only two sophomores, Remington Ferree and state placer Logan Cole, are on the roster.

Incoming freshmen include Austin Barral, Cole Christianson, Jarek Sorensen, Matt Music, Lee Grimm, and Wyatt McDermott.

This roster marks the first time in more than a decade the number initially committing to wrestling is more than 20 athletes. Practice for the 2018-19 season began on Nov. 19 and the first action of the year, the Powell Invitational, will be Dec. 7 & 8.