Mental toughness key for varsity wrestlers

The Saratoga Panther wrestlers proved once more they can hold their own against any team. Head coach Jared Mason commended the boys on a successful weekend once more at the Bridgerland Duals in Lyman.

Thatcher Spiering, Bradley Bifano and Jaxon King were all undefeated at the duals, a tournament where teams in their entirety go head to head against one another in each weight class. With a small team, the Panthers ended up with several forfeits because they do not have a wrestler for every weight class the other team did. Still, they won three of five matches.

Spiering snagged a win against Taylor Chapin, a state champion from last year, so he left the duals on a high note. Thomas Ingraham and Daynon Mowry were both 4-1 last weekend. "I'm not one to make excuses, but they've been pretty sick," Mason said, adding that the losses were a learning experience for how much proper health and conditioning contribute to success for the boys.

This tournament came after a night of light competition that Mason described as a practice and exhibition in Saratoga. The Panthers hosted North Park and Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow, where former Panther wrestler Anthony Samson showed up to wrestle Spiering. Spiering took a win against the veteran player, and Mason was happy to see Samson show up and get on the mat after all these years.

Each of the JV wrestlers, Tristan Gray, Trezdon Martinez and Andrew Everett, took home a win over the weekend, which Mason was glad to see from the youngest generation of high school Panther wrestlers. Mason continued that he sees the same potential, success and dedication from them in years to come that he sees from the upperclassmen now, but it just takes time.

"It's just a sport that requires confidence," Mason said. "If you walk on the mat thinking you're going to lose, you're going to lose." It's hard for the freshmen to come out in their first year with the same confidence as their older teammates that they will do well. Mason said the spirit needed to be a champion comes from practices and mat time, both of which the upperclassmen have accrued in plenty.

When it comes to high school wrestling, Mason said it's important for the grapplers to believe in themselves and feel comfortable that they will get on the mat and win. Physical strength and fitness is vital, but the mental toughness is right along there with it.

Both physical and mental aptitudes will be put to the test this weekend at Ron Thon in Riverton this weekend, a tournament that describes itself as "the best of the best." Mason called it the biggest and toughest tournament of the year, with all schools from 1A to 4A represented. "If you place at Ron Thon, you are definitely a quality wrestler in the state of Wyoming," Mason said.

The grapplers will travel to Riverton on Friday for Ron Thon, where they'll see how they stack up against other wrestlers that they'll see at states in just a few weeks.