One hundred plus wins for Mason

Hunter Mason claimed his 100th career win this weekend, which included seven victories at the Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow (HEM) match and the Dual Invite in Cokeville.

Mason was also recognized by his team as Panther Wrestler of the Week.

"All in all it was a great couple of days of wrestling for the Saratoga team, with many impressive individual performances," Panthers head coach Jared Mason said.

With the exception of "sportsmanship" losses, Jaxon King, H. Mason, Thomas Ingraham, Chaze Wiant and Thatcher Spiering returned as undefeated over the weekend.

"In surprising fashion, Chaze Wiant lost his final match with Kenny Wohl, of HEM, by fall in three seconds," coach Mason said. "These young men have wrestled since their freshman year; have formed a unique friendship through wrestling, and Chaze made a final lasting impression of amazing sportsmanship to end the night."

In the HEM Triangular, Wiant won by a fall against Blayden Fletcher, of North Park and Jason Nelson, of HEM, before being taken down by Wohl.

This weekend, the wrestlers will compete at the most challenging match in the state, according to coach Mason. "These are the best of the best," Mason said. He has never taken the whole team to compete. In the past he took top performers Corson Kerbs and Anthony Samson when they were seniors and they didn't not place at the match.

"Ron Thon, is harder than state," Mason said. "It includes 2A, 3A, 4A and is a tough one for sure."

The team will have one more conference match before Regionals, the Carbon County Classic hosted by Saratoga.

The Cokeville meet presented some challenges for the team, since they don't have a wrestler in the higher weight classes, but the Panthers made up for it in the head to head matches five to three, Mason said.

In the first round, Saratoga lost to Lyman 26-42, with Jaxon King, H. Mason, Thomas Ingraham, Wiant and Spiering all had victories in against Lyman.

Saratoga won over Cokeville 31-30, with King, Daynon Mowry, H. Mason, Imgraham, Wiant and Spiering winning individual matches.

"This was an exiting win for Saratoga as not many teams go into Cokeville and beat them head to head," coach Mason said. "Most of Cokeville's points were scored through forfeits at the upper weights with Saratoga Winning the matches wrestled head to head five to two."

Over Big Piney, King, Mowry, H. Mason, Ingraham, Wiant, Bartlett, Spiering and Marshal Hill all took a win with 48-30.

"Saratoga scored the maximum points possible with only eight wrestlers during round three, winning every single match that was wrestled head to head with pins," coach Mason said. "The 30 points scored by Big Piney were all through forfeits at the weights where Saratoga was open."

Saratoga and Pinedale didn't pair up many head-to-head matches, as Saratoga filled more of the lighter weights compared to the heavier weights filled by Pinedale, coach Mason said.

Saratoga scored 48 points with only eight wrestlers compared to Pinedale's 24. "The Panthers also won every head to head match wrestled by way of pin," coach Mason said.

Mason said it was exciting to see the Panthers can compete and give their best effort.

"This time of year injury and sickness are our only concerns," coach Mason said of winding down the regular season. Bradley Bifano suffered a broken bone in his hand during practice last week, and will most likely be out for the rest of the season, coach Mason said.

Saturday, the Panthers travel to Riverton for the Ron Thon meet.