Lady Cat wrestlers bring home championships

The Lady Cats wrestlers had two meets last week, beginning on Thursday night, at home for a Dual with Glenrock, and then moving on to the Clash at the Crossroads Tournament in Shoshoni on Friday/Saturday. The Lady Cats team defeated Glenrock 17 to 6, and finished in second place at Shoshoni, with a team score of 118, to Shoshoni’s 131.

With small teams for each of the Glenrock and Thermopolis schools, there were just four matches on Thursday night, with the home team taking wins in three of the four.

Freshman, Izzie Hetzel, bumped up two weight classes, and grabbed the nights first win, by a tech fall over Ticknor. Sophomore and State Champion, Lilly Quintanilla, also bumped up a weight, to follow up with another win over Holman, in a first period fall. Sophomore Summer Galovich took a win by a fall against Schenck. Sophomore Ava Dafoe also had to bump up a class, but was unable to defeat state ranked Harris. Junior Alix Sorensen was left without an opponent.

Ten schools were in competition at Shoshoni over the weekend, and with just five wrestlers, the Lady Cat were able to achieve a second place finish in the team standings – second only to the home team, Shoshoni. The Lady Cats put four wrestlers into the championships on Saturday, and brought home three Spartan Helmets as Champions.

True to form, sophomore Lilly Quintanilla went four for four, to claim her Helmet. Coach Travis McDermott said, “Lilly continues to dominate, and we keep looking for competition to push her.”

Junior Alix Sorensen, also went undefeated, with a five for five record to take her first championship of the season. “Alix has been a top wrestler in the state all season, and she continued her dominance this weekend.”

Competing in just her second tournament this season,sophomore Ava Dafoe had a tough day on Friday, battling in a combined weight, but did well. She finished the weekend at her regular weight defeating Ramage of Shoshoni in an eight to seven victory. “That was one of the most exciting matches of the tournament. Ava really had to gut out the championship match, and showed her character, outlasting her opponent.”

“Freshman Izzie Hetze lcontinues to shine on the mat. She went four and two on the weekend, to get a runner-up finish to Arnold of Shoshoni. The two have met four times in the last two weeks. Izzie is continuing to make progress, and is hungry to compete every time.”

“Sophomore Summer Galovich had a good day Friday, going three and one, but had a tough Saturday, losing a couple of tough matches. Summer is getting better every week, and is a fierce competitor, who continues to grow as a wrestler.”

Up next, the Lady Cats will take on Cody at home on Thursday for Senior Night, and then will travel to Lander this weekend.