Lady Miner wrestler takes first

Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School Miner wrestling team went to the Don Runner Memorial wrestling meet in Wind River and had one of its wrestlers place 1st.

The tournament had girls wrestling along with boys wrestling. 

Alaina McNees, a freshman, won.

Head Wrestling Coach Robert Riddle was very pleased. 

“Alaina did take 1st in the 115 pound girls division and she continues to look strong and she moves very naturally for a wrestler,” Riddle said. 

The other wrestlers on the HEM team did not have as good a showing.

“We had no other placers at the tournament,” Riddle said. “Sam (Ramirez) struggled towards the end of the tournament.”

Riddle said he had wrestlers that didn’t make placing rounds, but still did well.  

“Jared (Nelsen) wrestled strong but came up two rounds short for placing rounds,” Riddle said.  “Darius (Seager) continues to get better, he just needs more mat time to have a better feel for what to do and when to do it.”

Nelsen wrestled at 145 pounds and Seager wrestled at 126 pounds. Riddle sees his 106 pound wrestler Anthony Solaas doing well, but he still finds himself matched against heavier opponents.

“Anthony is looking better and better,” Riddle said.  “He is still giving up some weight to his opponents and he is not quite strong enough yet to overcome the weight differential.”

HEM did have another girl wrestling. Destiny Demary wrestled at 125 pounds. 

“Destiny is still learning the sport,” Riddle said. “She did better each match but still has a lot to learn.”

The Miner wrestling team will travel to Lingle on Saturday to compete in the Dogger invite.