Wrestlers fight illness

The Thermopolis Bobcat Wrestlers went to the Battle of the Big Horns with the numbers not on their side as 10 wrestlers were not able to participate due to illness. 

The thirteen wrestlers that were able to attend had three duals on Friday winning against Buffalo and the #2 seated Warriors. 

The Bobcats lost to Pinedale on Friday who ended up with 2nd in the Gold bracket against Star Valley. 

Saturday the Bobcats were in the gold bracket and with the missing wrestlers they ended up missing five weights. 

The Bobcats lost to Worland and Newcastle and came back to beat Cody whose team also suffered from illnesses.

“We could definitely tell that illness affected even the kids we did have wrestling.” said coach Travis McDermot about the Bobcats. 

Bobcat wrestler Wyatt McDermott won the best of the best at 145 lbs. reaching his career milestone of his 100th win.  Wyatt ended the tournament with a record of 5-1. 

Will Ward at 113 lbs., still showing that he is going to be a contender in the state, made it to the semifinal round losing a tough match to Rawlins. Will ended the tournament with a record of 2-2 and top 4 in best of the best. 

Roedy Farrell lost on Friday to Madole of Pinedale in a tough back and forth match, this loss seeded him in the semifinals against Madole and with wrestling previously the match automatically went to Madole.  Roedy was unable to wrestle for the Championship.  Roedy at 160 lbs. finished the tournament with a record of 4-1. 

Coach McDermott wrapped up with “Overall I like the toughness of our kids, fighting through illness and finishing the first half of the season strong.”

The remaining team stats from the Battle of the Big Horns are as follows:

Colter Price at 120 lbs. had a record of 3-3.  Ethan Crow at 126. lbs. 3-3.  Dalton Price at 132 lbs. 3-3.  Daniel Blair at 132 lbs. 1-4.  Jessen Basse at 138 lbs. 1-4. Samuel Skelton at 152 lbs. 1-4.  Mason Reese at 170 lbs. 1-4 and   Austin Barral at 195 lbs. 2-0.  

The Bobcat wrestlers will return after the Christmas break with the varsity wrestlers traveling to Douglas on January 7 and 8 and the JV wrestlers traveling to Cody.