Wrestlers compete at national tourney

In-coming Hot Springs County High School sophomore and state champion wrestler Lilly Quintanilla, made an impressive showing at the largest wrestling tournament in the world.

Wrapping up her amazing freshman year at the US Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals, Lilly wrestled in the 16U Girls Division. Having placed 4th in a loaded bracket of 90 women from around the nation, Lilly is the first ever wrestler from Thermopolis to place at this tournament, and the first ever to gain All-American status.

In a remarkable freshman year, Lilly qualified for the championships by placing 7th at the National Recruiting Tournament, in Las Vegas in April. She also won high school state, junior state freestyle and junior state greco - the first Lady Cat to ever reach such distinction. Additionally, she won the Governor's Award for the junior division at this year's WAWA State Championships. 

 Detailing the events, coach Travis McDermott stated:

"Lilly began her run on Saturday as the number 22 seed in the tournament, and started off the first round with a quick 10-0 technical fall in 34 seconds, over Shaefer of Minnesota. She wowed the crowd with a beautiful throw out of bounds, that was scored for 4 points."

"In the second round, she again won by a 10-0 technical fall over Antes of Massachusetts. In the third round, she met the #11 seed from Washington, Eva Reinitz. Lilly persevered and pinned Reinitz in the 2nd period with an 11-2 lead at the time. Also in the third round, Lilly faced #27 seed, Jacianna Beltran of Arizona, and again secured a pin in the second period with a 5-1 lead."

"In the quarter-finals, Lilly faced Maggie Cornish of California, to secure an All-American spot. In a tight match, Lilly showed poise, and wrestled a smart match against an opponent with many upper body weapons. She came out with a 4-1 victory in her closest match of the day. That win put her in the semi-finals on Sunday, and secured a top 6 spot in the tournament, with All-American honors."

"On Sunday, Lilly faced the #2 Seed, and the eventual champion, Charlie Wylie from New Jersey. Wiley was the #3 ranked wrestler in the nation this high school season. Wiley came out moving fast, and got in shots early. Lilly kept competing, but came up short, against a very impressive wrestler, with a 12-1 loss."

"Lilly bounced back quickly in the consolation semi-finals against #9 seed Nevada Daniels of Texas. Lilly got to her offense, and scored 9-2, ending with a pin in the second period to put her into the 3rd-4th place match."

"In her final match of the tournament, Lilly faced the #5 seed Nakayla Dawson of Michigan. Dawson was the #9 ranked wrestler at 110lbs this season, and she came out fast, with several gut-wrenches, taking the win with an 11-0 victory."

Looking back over Lilly's most impressive freshman campaign, coach McDermott commente, "Lilly continues to impress, and to grow as a wrestler, and we are all so proud of all of her accomplishments this year. It can't be overstated, the magnitude of placing at this tournament. While we, as coaches, knew she was capable, it is amazing for her to actually complete it."

"The improvements that Lilly made in her off-season, since February, have been incredible. While she wrestled well early at Virginia Beach, and at Spokane, we saw a hunger and a growth in her practices, that made a huge difference when she competed at Las Vegas - where she placed 7th, and I think broke the ice nationally. With that placing, she gained confidence, and began working like a national competitor on her technique. The maturation in tough matches from April to July is evident in how she managed her quarter-final match at Fargo. To become a competitor at this level takes some God given talent, but it also takes a tenacity to improve every day on the mat, and to not be complacent as the best in Wyoming."