Senior Tate Stinson takes down a North Park competitor at the Saratoga Quadrangular. Stinson, and fellow senior Jacob Wells, were also recognized at the meet for their hard work and effort.
Saratoga High School wrestling supporters got their first taste of home competition this season at the Saratoga Quadrangular Thursday evening.
Head coach Jared Mason said the one home meet of the season was mostly practice for the boys, and though no specific placings were given, Saratoga won 11 of the 16 matches. Four other teams were originally planned for the quadrangular, but only Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow and North Park were able to attend.
In between wrestling action, Gary Maki, one of Saratoga's first state wrestling champions, was acknowledged in front of the crowd for his achievement. Maki, along with Norm Perue and Dave Edington, each received a first place for Platte Valley High School at the 1958 Wyoming State Wrestling Tournament.
The current Saratoga wrestling team's seniors, which include Tate Stinson, Jacob Wells and managers Harley Klemola and Nikki Pacheco, were also presented with flowers alongside their parents at Thursday's meet.
"Overall it was a good night, and it was light not having Laramie or Rawlins there and that level of competition we were looking for," Mason said. "It is what it is, and we got to wrestle at home. With Laramie we had a schedule mishap, and Rawlins is fighting the flu and sickness. We just couldn't get it to work tonight."
Mason said he was impressed with several matches, and appreciated having the practice for future larger competitions.
"Thatcher had a good match against TJ Richards, and Kyle and Tate got good matches with him too, even though we came out on the short end the next times," he said. "It was good practice and we wrestled quality competition. It was great to see Jacob getting to wrestle equal caliber at the heavyweight division."
Although the meet was more for team practice, Mason said what mattered was letting the local townsfolk watch their boys compete in Saratoga.
"Our other guys didn't get pushed much, but we got to wrestle at home," he said. "Instead of having to beat on your own guys all the time, they got to show off for the crowd."
The Panthers will now face off at the Southeast Duals in Yoder, starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Mason said he was excited for the following Carbon County Invite, which takes place Feb. 14-15 in Hanna.
"Southeast Duals will be nice to wrestle as a team, and then Carbon County Invite is always exciting while being at home, basically," he said. "It gives us a good feel of where everybody's at right before regionals. It's exciting and hopefully we can get them to peak just right there at regionals and state."
Following the Carbon County Invite is the regional meet at Lusk Feb. 21-22, and the season ends with the state meet in Casper Feb. 28-March 1.
Saratoga Quadrangular Results:
120 lbs: Daynon Mowry, won by pin over Jason Nelson (HEM) at 0:50
126 lbs: Bradley Bifano, won by pin over Travis Wolf (HEM) at 0:46
138 lbs: Thatcher Spiering, won by decision over TJ Richard (North Park) (Dec 12-3)
145 lbs: Tate Stinson, won by pin over Wyatt Sabata (North Park) at 1:33
220 lbs: Jacob Wells, lost by pin from Adrian Cereceres (North Park) at 1:50
126 lbs: Chaze Wiant, lost by pin from Kenny Wohl (HEM) at 3:17
126 lbs: Bradley Bifano, won by pin over Jason Nelson (HEM) at 1:35
126 lbs: Thomas Ingleby, won by pin over Travis Wolf (HEM) at 4:45
145 lbs: Tate Stinson, lost by technical fall from TJ Richard (North Park) (Tech fall 17-2)
113 lbs: Daynon Mowry, won by decision over Kenny Wohl (HEM) (Dec 25-19)
126 lbs: Chaze Wiant, won pin over Jason Nelson (HEM) at 1:55
126 lbs: Hunter Mason, won by pin over Travis Wolf (HEM) at 1:36
138 lbs: Kyle Bartlett, lost by pin from TJ Richard (North Park) at 3:36
138 lbs: Thatcher Spiering, won by pin over Wyatt Sabata (North Park) at 1:30
160 lbs: Tate Stinson, won by pin over Devin McMartin (HEM) at 2:33
220 lbs: Jacob Wells, lost by pin from Adrian Cereceres (North Park) at 5:36
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