Wrestlers top point earners

Thermopolis wrestlers started their season at the Powell Invitational Friday and Saturday on a high note. The twenty-team tournament featured an all-class make-up, and was led by Casper Natrona. The real story for the Bobcats though was leading all class 2A teams with 112 points and nine wrestlers in the top six of their weight bracket.

Led by Jon Harvey, champion at 170, and Logan Cole, runner-up at 220, the Bobcats had their best tournament Saturday in a good long while.

"I was not encouraged by what appeared to be a slow start at the beginning of the weekend, but they finished strong on Saturday," head coach Travis McDermott commented. "Jon (Harvey) was the standout for us for the weekend. Now, we have to continue to get better as the season moves into next year."

The Bobcats will have as many as seven matches this coming week with a dual with Greybull/Riverside and the Battle of the Bighorns Tournament in Worland, but then they're off for Christmas vacation and won't resume until the Jan. 4.

Thermopolis wrestlers earning team points at Powell: Jon Harvey (170) - 1st place, 25 points; Logan Cole (220) - 2nd, 20 points; Hunter Mount (145) - 4th, 11 points; Austin Barral (JV, 182) - 4th, 11 points; Wyatt McDermott (126) - 5th, 10 points; Blake Williams (132) - 5th, 10 points; Chandler Maddock (160) - 5th, 8 points; Chance Watt (196) - 5th, 7 points; Jeff VanAntwerp (152) - 5th, 3 points; Riley Shaffer (182) - 6th, 6 points; and Jarek Sorensen (JV, 160) - 8th, 1 point.

Vying for a tournament championship, Harvey went into the third period trailing his Powell opponent, C. Schmidt, 3-2, but in short order scored a pin in 47 seconds of the period. Cole was less fortunate as a last second attempt at victory by way of a lateral throw resulted in his suffering a pin in the last few seconds of the finals match with Natrona's Yahav Shraiber.

There was excitement and pride on Bobcat faces for their efforts, and rightfully so as they are the first to bring home a first place trophy in wrestling in the 21st century. The reaction gives good reason to believe that this year's Bobcats are on a path to a memorable season. The Battle of the Big Horns will reveal how memorable.