Miners send four to State

“Regionals went very well. I was very pleased with our outcome,” Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School wrestling head coach Robert Riddle said. “We had four of our five wrestlers qualify for State.”

The HEM wrestler who didn’t make it was Howard Bame who is in the extremely tough weight class of 132. Bame has been out for almost all the season for injury and has only been back the last two weeks.

“Howard had only had three or four matches before going into regionals so he was a bit behind,” Riddle said. “There were 12 kids in his division and State only takes the top eight. Howard wrestled well but it is hard to go and win after being out so long. He has the heart and his work ethic is there, but it wasn’t meant to happen this year.”

In the very tough weight division of 145, Tom Wagner placed 3rd.

“Tom was actually two seconds away from placing 1st or 2nd,” Riddle said. “I am highly impressed with Tom considering his injuries he has been battling to get to this point. He went 3-1 and continues to improve.”

Jared Nelson just missed placing, Riddle said.

“He did well in a very tough weight class. He wrestled at 138,” Riddle said. “He was just out of placing because he wasn’t quite strong enough to get past his last opponent.”

In weight the class of 106 the Miners have two wrestlers. McKaylee Widdison and Anthony Solaas both grapple in this division.

“McKaylee came 6th and Anthony came in 4th,” Riddle said. “It was weird. McKaylee beat the wrestler that Anthony lost to in the placing round and Anthony beat McKaylee.”

Riddle is very happy for the team and he feels they have been improving since the season began.

“We are stronger and there is good energy coming from the wrestlers,” Riddle said. “I feel good about the week.”

The team leaves for State on Thursday and will be at the tournament February 25-26.