TMS wrestlers bring home three championships

Coach Toby Emery stated the team has been working the past couple weeks on technique, intensity while drilling and overall conditioning, and planned to approach the conference with a "nothing to lose attitude, leaving it all on the mat with no regrets.

"At this level, we strive to teach our athletes the importance of work ethic, discipline, and the importance of team. We, as coaches, have seen a positive change in each of these areas. We practice together; we compete together; and we have fun together!"

Emery was hopeful "to see each wrestler end their season on a good note, beating someone they have lost to in previous weeks or placing and earning a medal for their hard work and dedication.

"I'm extremely pleased with the overall performance our wrestlers displayed this weekend! They definitely showed up to wrestle."

Thermopolis placed fifth out of the nine conference teams and crowned three champs overall - Roedy Farrell ended his eighth grade season undefeated and conference champ in A Division 132. Farrell received a bye in the Quarterfinal, won by a 17-0 tech fall over Chase Johnson of Worland in the Semifinal and won by a 17-second fall over Keenan Wenzel of Powell.

Elijah Skelton in A Division 115 and Seth Needham in B Division 84 were also conference champions.

Skelton received a bye a Championship Round 1, won by an 11-2 major decision over AnnaBeth Bornhoft of Riverton in the Quarterfinal, won in sudden victory over Jeff Kordonowy of Worland in the Semifinal and won in sudden victory over Issac Gardner of Lander in the first place match.

Needham won by a 45-second fall over Demetrious Noriega of Lander in the Quarterfinal, won by a 6-2 decision over Koby Heil of Lander in the Semifinal and won by a 16-0 tech fall over Macix Rothleutner of Cody in the first place match.

Place winners were Brody Sorensen - second in A Division 105 - and Ethan Music - fourth in A Division 126.

Sorensen won by a 26-second fall over Jakob Hampton of Riverton in Championship Round 1, won by a 10-0 major decision over Klayton Baugh of Worland in the Quarterfinal, won by a 1:39 fall over Vinny Timmons of Powell in the Seminfinal and lost by a 1:38 fall to Ross Goncalves of Worland in the first place match.

Music lost by a 1:20 fall to Jake Schlattman of Greybull-Cloud Peak in the Quarterfinal, won by a 4-3 decision in Consolation Round 1, won by a 1:34 fall over Ghavin Vance of Cody in the Consolation Semifinal and lost by a 12-5 decision to Isac Rose of Worland in the third place match.

"Overall," Emery said, "we had a lot of kids step up their intensity offensively and grind out some close matches. We have been preaching week in and week out, 'Good position, constant motion and attack, attack, attack.' Most of our boys stuck to the plan and followed through; it was a fun tournament to watch. The team ended the season on a positive note and I couldn't be more proud!"

"Winning is certainly not everything, but feeling like you've succeeded certainly boosts a person's confidence ten-fold. I'm proud of the team and wish our eighth graders the best of luck transitioning to the high school next year. Our current sixth and seven graders will be stepping into a leadership role for next season being role models for upcoming teammates."

Emery also expressed his appreciation to all of the coaches, wrestling families and fans for the support they've shown the team this year.

In A Division 84, Colter Price won by a 1:40 fall over Scotty Riedinger of Powell in the Quarterfinal, lost by a 1:45 fall to Trey Smith of Cody in the Semifinal and lost in sudden victory to Jared Mangus of Lovell in the Consolation Semifinal.

In A Division 91, Trenton May lost by a 2:12 fall to Kobe Swain of Worland in Championship Round 1, received a bye in Consolation Round 1, won by a 1:40 fall over Creighton White of Lander in Consolation Round 2 and lost by a 5-2 decision to Tillman Burns of Worland in Consolation Round 3.

Also in the division, Dalton Price lost by a 2:06 fall to Will Spann of Rocky Mountain in Championship Round 1, received a bye in Consolation Round 1 and lost by a 12-9 decision to Talon Thoman of Riverton in Consolation Round 2.

In B Division 70, Joseph Crow lost by a 2:30 fall to Jaden Kuhn of Riverton in Round 2 and lost by an 8-0 major decision to Drake Ecker of Riverton in Round 3.

In B Division 77, Chris Bapst received a bye in the Quarterfinal, lost by a 45-second fall to Randon Wegner of Lovell in the Semifinal, won in sudden victory over Gavin Dighton of Lander in the Consolation Semifinal and won by an 8-4 decision over Trey Wagner of Worland in the third place match.

In the same division, Lance Axtell won by a 2:53 fall over Stetson Asay of Lovell in the Quarterfinal, lost by a two-minute fall to Lane Torczon of Cody in the Semifinal and lost by a 13-10 decision to Trey Wagner of Worland in the Consolation Semifinal.

In B Division 98, Samuel Skelton received a bye in Championship Round 1, won by a 3-2 decision over Kash Merritt of Cody in the Quarterfinal, won by a 3:45 fall over Ryan Deniz of Worland in the Semifinal and lost by a 7-1 decision to Corbin Richardson of Riverton in the first place match.

In B Division 105, Brody Potter lost by a 1:35 fall to Owen Page of Worland in the Quarterfinal, received a bye in Consolation Round 1, won by a 1:53 fall over Ira Croft of Worland in the Consolation Semifinal and won by a 40-second fall over Michael Munda of Riverton in the third place match.

Also in the division, Ryan Arends lost by a 1:40 fall to Croft in the Quarterfinal and lost by a 2:12 fall to Munda in Consolation Round 1

In B Division 126, Mason Reese lost by a 38-second fall to Kyler Reeves of Powell in the Quarterfinal, received a bye in Consolation Round 1 and lost by a #;54 fall to Jack VanNorman of Powell in the Consolation Semifinal.

In B Division 138, Ryan Dumas won by an 8-6 decision over Isabel Kuegeler of Riverton in Round 1 and lost by a 59-second fall to Logan Barton of Cody in Round 2

In B Division 155, Coalden Taylor lost by forfeit to Blaine Duzan of Powell in Round 1 and by forfeit to Kevin Benner of Powell in Round 2.

In B Division 165, Trenton Bledsoe lost by a 25-second fall to Cannon Cook of Greybull-Cloud Peak in Round 1 and lost by a 1:17 fall to Adam Flores of Powell in Round 2.