Wrestlers post wins at regionals

The Hot Springs County High School Bobcats Wrestling Teams each competed in Regional Events this past weekend - with the girls in Riverton, and the boys in Shoshoni.

Both teams qualified wrestlers for the State Championship Event, which will be held at the Ford Center in Casper. The three-day event will commence on Thursday, February 22.

LADY CATS

At the 4A West Regionals in Riverton, the Lady Cats competed in the first ever regional event for lady wrestlers. Lady wrestlers competed in a single class tournament, in two regions.

The Lady Cats had a very successful event - tying for 9th place out of 23 teams appearing. The team qualified 5 of its 6 wrestlers for the State Tournament. The Lady Cats have made history throughout the season, and the Regional Tournament proved no exception - with two Lady Cats becoming first ever, Regional Champions.

 Outstanding freshman, Lilly Quintanilla, extended her amazing freshman campaign - pinning all four of her competitors, and extending her remarkable record to 31 and 0. With overpowering domination, Lilly pinned her first three opponents, in the first period of each match – accumulating less than 3 minutes total on the mat for those three matches.

Coach Travis McDermott said, "In her finals match, Smith of Star Valley, pushed Lilly to her longest match of the year. Smith's long reach kept Lilly working to score, and caused several tough scrambles. Lilly found herself in an unusual situation after the 1st period - being tied at four points each. She kept her head, and started racking up the points in the 2nd period - turning Smith for 5 back-points. Lilly then attacked on top in the 3rd period, and patiently got the fall early in that period. I thought Lilly showed what a great competitor she is by fighting through adversity, and keeping her head, when being challenged. She moves into the State Tournament as the #1 ranked wrestler, with an unblemished record."

Sophomore, Alix Sorensen, also dominated the field - with 3 pins on the weekend. "Alix showed great tenacity in her semi-final and final matches, dominating in each match, against top competitors. In her Finals Match she faced Eddy of Rock Springs - a tough competitor who tried to put Alix on her heals. Alix pushed her record to 27 and 4 on the season, and will be a top contender for a state title this week," said coach McDermott.

Additionally, seniors, Kailey Allen and Kaitlin Barral each qualified for the State Tournament. Kailey went 2 and 2 in the opening rounds, and then battled through illness to qualify. Kaitlin faced a familiar opponent from Dubois in the semi-finals, wrestled well, and came up just short in an even match. "Both ladies will culminate their very successful high school careers at state, and will have a very good chance of reaching the podium on Saturday," said coach McDermott.

First year wrestler, Ava Dafoe, also qualified for state - with a win in the consolation round, to make the consolation semi-finals, where she lost in a close 4 to 2 match, on a disputed takedown.

Freshman, Summer Galovich found herself in the largest, and one of the toughest, brackets in the tournament. She had a tough road to qualify, but came up just short. Coach McDermott said, "Summer has made so many improvements as a wrestler this year. She is going to be a force - as she is a hard worker, that has found the love of wrestling, and is such a tough competitor."

He added, "All six of the girls have put so much work in this season, and they deserve everything that they have achieved - on and off the mat. The culminating event this week will not only be a test of their skills, but also of their mental capacity to perform at the premier Wyoming tournament. I have no doubt we will see history made again for the Lady Cats."

BOBCATS

The Boys team made a great showing at the 2A West Regionals in Shoshoni – bringing home a 2nd place finish. Scoring 178.5 points, the Cats nearly eclipsed their team record for points at regionals. The record was set in 2019 with 186 points. Kemmerer, Big Piney, and Thermopolis competed throughout the day for top team honors, and following the semi-final rounds, it was to a two team race – between Thermopolis and defending state champion Kemmerer.

Coach McDermott commented, "Throughout the day we swung back and forth, but the open weights for us kept us off the top of the podium. Kemmerer ended up winning with 193.5 points. Big Piney finished 3rd with 156.5 points. The Cats had two Champions - with five wrestlers in the Championship rounds, and had 8 top 4 place finishes overall."

"We qualified 15 of our 17 wrestlers for the State Championships. The 2A Class looks to be the most competitive class this year, for a team race, with five teams showing potential - with Kemmerer, Thermopolis and Big Piney from the West, and Moorcroft and Lingle/Fort Laramie/Southeast all in the mix. Of those teams, we are the dark horse, and have our work cut out for us, with three open weights. This team has shown they can compete with anyone all season long, but It will take a complete team effort to accomplish the goals this team has set out at State," said coach McDermott.

Freshman Cannon Boren (120lbs) and junior Will Ward (144lbs) each brought home championships Saturday. Cannon pinned his first match, then got a technical fall in the 2nd match. In the championship match, Cannon faced defending state champion, Meador of Big Piney.

Coach McDermott, said "Cannon controlled most of the match, and defended everything that Meador could throw at him. Finishing with a 7 and 3 win, Cannon goes into the state championship with a 35 and 7 record – ranked number 2 in the state, behind only two-time state champion Fish of LFLS."

Junior Will Ward was dominant, pinning his way through the tournament, and making quick work in the championship match against Kemmerer's Symons with a one-minute pin.

Coach McDermott said, "Will goes into the state championship with a 35 and 8 record, and is also the 2nd ranked wrestler in the state - behind two-time state champion Brothwell of LFLS."

Senior Seth Needham (150lbs.), junior Sam Skelton (157lbs.) and junior, Brody Sorensen (165lbs.) also appeared in championship matches.

"All three had good tournaments and battled hard in their championship matches, coming up just short, to make runner-up finishes. Seth Needham, with a 15 and 12 record, overcame some nerve issues from the regular season, to give his best performance of the year, and of his career. Sam Skelton has made incredible strides in his wrestling this season, to become a top ranked wrestler this year. Brody Sorensen with a 19 and 7 record, will have something to prove at state, and will have to bring his best wrestling to claim a title," said coach McDermott.

Two seniors claimed 3rd place finishes - Jessen Basse (138lbs.) and Mason Reese (190lbs.)

Coach McDermott said, "Jessen with a 17 and 12 record, lost a close semi-final match to the eventual runner-up, but also brought his best wrestling of his career to the tournament. Jessen is also a top contender for a title next weekend. Mason, with a 19 and 15 record, dropped a tough match in his semi-final, but bounced back to get some good team points - with two falls to claim 3rd place. Mason will need to put together his best wrestling to make a championship at state."

Freshma, Dyllan Myers (106lbs.) made it known that he is a contender, by knocking off the #2 seed, Delacruz of Lovell.

"Dyllan dropped his next match to state placer Cyrus of Dubois, but fought back to get a 4th place finish. Dyllan has made great mental improvements over the last month, and is definitely a threat at state," said coach McDermott.

Also qualifying for state were Tannen Birdsley (120lbs.), Colter Price (126lbs.), Dalton Price (132lbs.), Ethan Crow (132lbs.), Haeden Blair (144lbs.), Ryan Axtell (165lbs.) and Blevins Little (175lbs.)

"Everyone added to the team result, and will also have to do the same next week, to compete for a State title," said coach McDermott.

Junior Lance Axtell and senior Daniel Blair wrapped up their seasons at regionals. Coach McDermott was complimentary stating, "Both of those guys are contributors to the team, in the practice room as well as throughout all the teams success this season. Wrestling is filled with great highs, and terrible heartbreaks, that make it the toughest sport."

He added, "Lance has been, and will be, a great leader - both in the classroom and in the community. He is one of the hardest working kids on our team, year in and year out. Daniel has been a team player, by filling many weights for his team throughout his four year career. Daniel was a two-time state qualifier in his career."

The Wyoming State Championships will be a three-day Tournament - with 1st round championship and consolations on Thursday. Friday will see the quarter-finals in the morning and then the semi-finals, and March of state Champions, later in the day. Saturday will hold placing rounds, and will end with the state championship matches.