Two take first

The Saratoga wrestling team had a good tournament overall in Kremmling, Colo., despite some illnesses over the week.

Bradley Bifano and Thatcher Spiering both took first place in their weight classes, 145 pounds and 160 pounds respectively. Jaxon King and Thomas Ingraham brought home second place each, at 120 and 152 pounds, respectively. Daynon Mowry was fourth in the 132 pounds category.

Because of the illness circulating in the team, the grapplers were not pressured to cut weight, instead to compete the best they could, head coach Jared Mason said. The team was scheduled to compete at a quadrangular event last Thursday in Hanna, however it was canceled due to weather.

Mason said Bifano and Spiering had “a dominating day” in Kremmling, having nearly a whole high school career to practice and know what works for them. The seniors show a lot of different moves and techniques in the room and those are things that you notice, Mason said, as opposed to minute improvements from week to week. Mason is satisfied with the wrestlers, saying that they go out every week and prove themselves competitive against all opponents.

The grapplers had a fun-filled practice yesterday, but as the school holiday has started they have this week off. Practices return again next week. Their preparedness for the next tournament in Douglas will be based on how much home training and practice the boys are willing to put in over break. “You get out what you put into it. Most of the time champions are putting in something extra,” Mason said.

Once school resumes, the wrestlers will compete in the Shane Shatto Memorial Invite in Douglas on Jan. 8 and 9.