Support your local wrestlers

Thursday night, the Saratoga Panther Wrestlers will be competing in their own gym. This happens usually once during their season.

If you have been reading the sports section, then you know the Panthers have been having a winning season. This past weekend, they returned with a second place finish at the Dogger Invite in Lingle.

Nine wrestlers competed against much bigger teams to earn the points for a second place finish. That is pretty impressive.

The Panther wrestling team is one of the smallest teams to compete in the Doggett Invite, with many teams having more than 20 wrestlers. Teams in the Invite included several 3A and 4A teams in Wyoming six larger Nebraska schools.

What is even more impressive, the wrestlers who placed high enough to earn the team points were beating their own teammates to score those points.

Most of the wrestlers have been in wrestling since they were old enough to join U.S.A Wrestling.

They are fortunate enough to have passionate coaches like head coach Jared Mason and assistant coach Sterling Arnold.

This week Mason named the Wrestler of the Week as the whole team. Not only does that say something about the team, it says a lot about the coach who recognizes a team that works together.

Thursday, Panther fans have an opportunity to support their wrestlers, including the lone Tiger, Jacob Wells, who wears the Panther uniform to wrestle.

For the last several years, Mason has been bringing home state champions at the end of the season. We expect he will do the same this year.

Take time Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. to support a team that rarely gets to show off in their hometown.

We’ll see you at the match.