Saratoga grapplers a force among elite competition

Thatcher Spiering grappled his way to first place in the 152 pound weight class last weekend, disrupting top Greybull wrestler Cole Hill’s undefeated season.

Spiering won against the tough competition in double overtime, going into the match knowing that if it went into overtime, he would take the win. Head coach Jared Mason described the match as “really exciting,” especially considering it had been a goal of theirs to defeat Hill after losing to him the week before.

Five Saratoga wrestlers placed at the Moorcroft Mixer, and Mason commended his boys for competing against some of the toughest schools they have seen. Colstrip, Mont. took first place, and the Panthers had a few losses to the team. However, even losing against that kind of competition makes the grapplers better, Mason said.

Bradley Bifano (138) placed second, falling to a wrestler from Colstrip. The Montana team, who won the tournament easily, was a set of new faces for the Panthers. Mason insisted that despite their sweeping win, the way the Panthers held their own against the team was impressive and good experience. Overall, the Saratoga team took sixth place.

Daynon Mowry (126) had an unfortunate draw against a tough wrestler from Colstrip, but made it to third place. Mowry was “‘that close’ to winning a belt” last weekend, Mason said, but lost in overtime.

Thomas Ingraham (145), who took home fourth, lost in the third place match to Wyatt Rising, a wrestler from Moorcroft who has been ranked number one in the weight class all year. Jaxon King (120), placing fifth, also ended up against tough Moorcroft competition.

Mason finds the weekend was overall a success. Even though some losses were suffered, they were losses against some of the best wrestlers the boys will see all season and they still put up a fight.

On Thursday, Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow (HEM), Rawlins, Laramie and hopefully Middlepark, Colo. will come for a night of competition in Saratoga. This quadrangular is the only meet to happen in the Saratoga gym this season. Wrestling begins at 5:30 p.m.

On Friday, the team will take off to Lyman for the Bridgerland Duals. Cokeville and Kemmerer are teams that come to mind with some really quality 2A wrestlers that the boys will see this weekend, Mason said, adding he is always looking forward to the state tourney.