Tom Stockwell

Saratoga wrestling capped off a great season by placing six of their own at the State Championship, which was held at the Casper Events Center on Friday and Saturday.

Senior Tom Stockwell led the Panther grapplers by taking the state championship at 112 pounds.

“Since Tom never placed in the top four at regionals, he was drawn into the state bracket in a very tough spot,” Head Coach Jared Mason said.

Stockwell started strong by pinning Cody Armstrong, of Kaycee, and then followed with a win by way of a 13-5 decision against Jesse Basset of Lovell.

“Jesse was the number one seed in the tournament,” Mason said.

In another major decision, Stockwell defeated Travis Gaukel, of Lusk, in a semi-final match.

Stockwell would now face Zane Mackey, of Southeast, an opponent who Stockwell had already met once before in the season.

“He (Stockwell) beat Zane at the Carbon (County) Invite, and they match up well,” Mason said after Stockwell’s semi-final match.

With championship matches held on Saturday afternoon, Stockwell again faced Mackey.

Stockwell defeated his Southeast opponent in a 3-2 decision to take the state championship.

Panthers Ryley Giacometto and Hayden Davidson both took third place in back-to-back weight classes 171 and 189.

At 171, Giacometto started with two pins against opponents Dylan Wyse, of Southeast, and Tyler Arnett, of Lingle.

Giacometto then hit a rough patch with a loss to Ryne Baier, of Hulett, in the semi-final match.

Baier went on to win the individual championship at 171 pounds.

After a good wrestle-back, Giacometto finished third, by defeating Cassidy French, of Wright, and Tony Rodriguez, of Lovell.

With a bye for the first round, Davidson started out on Friday afternoon, by pinning Zack Rosencranz, of Sundance.

Davidson then lost a 7-2 decision to Bob Anderson, of Greybull, in a semi-final match at 189.

“He (Davidson) got behind early, and could not catch up,” Mason said after the match.

Anderson went on to claim the championship at 189.

Davidson wrestled back, and first pinned Casey Pickett, of Rocky Mountain, before winning a 10-1 decision against Ethan Dirks, of Hulett, in the third place match.

Despite a first-round loss by pin to Jackson Bassett, of Lovell, Jake Hubbs went on to claim fifth place with some tough wrestling.

Hubbs had two pins against opponents from Hulett and Moorcroft, before winning a close 16-15 decision over Roy Winder, of Wright.

Representing the 130 and 135 pound weights were Corson Kerbs and Berto Soto. Both ended up placing sixth.

“This was the first time either of these two young men earned a state medal. For Corson, as a sophomore, this was a step in the right direction, and for Berto, a senior, this was a great way to end his career after only his second year of wrestling,” Mason wrote in a press release.

Freshman Lionzo Escobedo, and sophomore Anthony Samson also competed for the Panthers, and both won a single match at the tournament.