Bobcat wrestlers perform well

The Hot Springs County High School Bobcat wrestling teams traveled south last week, commencing with a dual against Glenrock on January 4 and then on to Douglas for the Shane Shatto Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Lady Cats

The Lady Cats had just two matches in Glenrock, coming away with a win, and a loss. Lilly Quintanilla extended her win streak by pinning Gillian Holman (a state placer last year) in the first period. Kailey Allen performed well in her match, losing by a score of 5 to 2.

In Douglas, the Lady Cats finished 10th out of 25 teams competing, racking up an impressive list of points, with a squad of just five wrestlers. The team finished with two champions, the first time the Lady Cats had accomplished that feat. The ladies went 4 for 5 in the opening round.

Lilly Quintanilla continued her unbeaten streak, going 3 and 0 for the tournament (all by pins), and bringing her season to a very impressive 14 and 0. Her performance included pins against last year’s state runner up (Guzman) in the semi-final match, and against Vroman of Cheyenne Central in the final.

Kaitlin Barral worked her way through the bracket, pinning all of her opponents, and gaining pins in the finals against Tolaya of Natrona; Marquez of Campbell County and Dickinson of Natrona.

Alix Sorensen went 3 and 2 for the tournament, finishing in 4th place.

Freshman, Summer Galovich, started with a win, and then ran into some tough competition.

Senior, Kailey Allen, had a difficult round one, but made strides in her technique, and won her next two matches.

Up next for the Lady Cats will be another challenging tournament in Green River.

Bobcats

Last Thursday, the boys team trampled all over Glenrock’s Senior Night, coming away with a win, scoring 60 points to Glenrock’s 12.

The Cats had only one lost match, winning all others by pins.

Coach Travis McDermott said, “I was really impressed with our guys keeping their heads in the beginning, when we had quite a few wrestlers give up the first takedown. It showed maturity being able to come right back and get after them.”

Moving on to Douglas, the Cats scored 105 points, and finished tied for 8th place (with Laramie), out of 28 teams competing – including nine 4A teams, and two teams from out of state.

“Friday was a great day for the boys, as they went up against some stiff competition and knocked off several ranked wrestlers. Everyone came out wrestling with no fear or reservation, and they were focused on each match. It was impressive to see this kind of wrestling out of this group,” said coach McDermott.

For his first match, Cannon Boren (120lbs.), as an unseeded wrestler, drew the number 3 seed - a 4A state runner-up from last year. Tromble, the senior from Natrona, came out aggressively, and had some early takedowns, however, Boren put him away in the second period. Boren then pinned Norman of Upton, to move on to day two. In the semi-final, Boren was up against another senior, Dunham of Sheridan, who was a 3rd place finisher last year in class 4A. While Dunham had some initial success, Boren eventually came away with a pin, to move on to the finals. There, Boren took on two-time state champion Nathan Fish, a junior from Lingle-Ft. Laramie. Battling the entire match, Boren finished with a loss, taking 2nd place in the tournament. “It was an outstanding week for Cannon, and he is putting himself right where he needs to be in February,” said coach McDermott.

Brody Sorensen (165lbs.) had a fine tournament, working his way into the semifinals, where he faced last year’s state champion, Crow of Sheridan. In a good match, Sorensen lost in a tough 6-3 decision, but fought his way back to a 3rd place finish.

Will Ward (144lbs.) finished in 4th place, pinning his way to the semi-final match, where he drew Brothwell of Lingle-Ft. Laramie, a two-time state champion. Ward battled hard, but was eventually pinned in the 3rd period.

Sam Skelton made a drop in weight this week, to 157 lbs., and had one of the best matches of his career on Friday, winning over Cheyenne Central and Natrona County wrestlers to make the semi-finals. Saturday proved to bit more difficult, however, resulting in a 6th place finish for the tournament.

Brothers, Dalton and Colter Price (both wrestling at 132lbs.), each had two wins. Dalton with impressive wins over Medina of Cheyenne Central and Grubbs of Torrington, and Colter finishing in 5th Place with a 4-2 record.

Jessen Basse (138lbs.) made it to the second day, and ended with a 2-2 record.  

 The JV team had a good weekend, ending with a champion, and two others finishing as placers. Dyllan Myers (106lbs.) dominated his weight class with 2 pins and 3 major decisions to take the title.

Ethan Yarrington (138lbs.) made it to the championship match, coming up just short, and finishing 2nd.

Haeden Blair (132lbs.) battled for a 3rd place finish: Tannen Birdsley (120lbs.) went 3-2; Daniel Blair (132lbs.) went 4-2, and Lance Axtell (132lbs.) went 2-2. 

 Up next, the Cats travel to Pavillion for the Don Runner Tournament.