Grapplers go up against top competition, come away with four medals

In their first tournament after the winter break, the Saratoga High School Wrestling team had some pretty tough competition going up against some of the best 3A and 4A wrestlers in the state. Four wrestlers returned with medals.

Head coach Jared Mason said he was pleased with the performance of his boys at the meet, because the losses they took were against 3A, 4A and out-of-state wrestlers.

“It’s definitely a tough tournament,” Mason said.

Freshmen Jaxon King and Wyatt Carricato wrestled in the junior varsity tournament. King, who has placed first in other tournaments wrestled his way to a first place finish in the JV tourney.

Carricato placed for the first time in his short high school career. Mason said Carricato was pretty excited to place fifth in the JV tournament. “It was nice to see him get a medal hung around his neck at the end of the day,” Mason said.

Mason likes the Shane Shatto Invite in Douglas because they have a junior varsity tournament and it allows his younger grapplers to be more evenly paired.

Thatcher Spiering placed third in the varsity tournament with Hunter Mason placing sixth.

“The competition level was extreme and maybe we were humbled a little bit, which is good,” coach Mason said.

Competing at this level makes the boys work harder to improve themselves, Mason said.

Chaze Wiant and Daynon Mowry were both a round away from placing, Mason said. Mowry went up against the 4A No. 1 seed in the state, who was then beat by a grappler from Natrona County.

H. Mason had a good first day, but not such a good second day. “He made it to the semi-finals, won his next two and ran up against the eventual first place winner,” coach Mason said. In the first period against the No. 1 4A wrestler, H. Mason was 0-0, but then got on the bottom and was pinned.

“This will make us better,” coach Mason said. “It gives them a mind set that they are not unbeatable and helps them refocus and push themselves even further.”

The Shane Shatto Invite is named in honor of one of the University of Wyoming track team members who was killed by a drunk driver several years ago. The Invite awards wrestlers who demonstrate good sportsmanship. Chaze Wiant received a plaque for his sportsmanship, coach Mason said. “(Chaze) always has a positive attitude.

Coach Mason said he is looking forward to the Don Runner Invite in Pavillion and the Dogger Invite in Lingle because the team will be matched up with other 2A teams.

Saratoga ranked 18 out of 24 teams. Coach Mason is okay with that, considering Rawlins, a 3A team placed last.