Grappling with travel

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) high school wrestling team went to Walden, Colo. to wrestle with three teams and traveled to the Don Runner tournament on Jan. 11-12 in Wind River which had 16 teams attend.

“It was the busiest week of the season travel wise and competition,” Lyle Richardson, the head coach of the wrestling team, said. “Thursday night we went down to Walden to wrestle with North Park, West Grand and Middle Park and most of our kids got a couple matches.”

He said the coaching staff was seeing improvement in each tournament.

“Each week we see there is growth but we need to become more determined and mentally tough to achieve the next level of our success,” Richardson said. “Charlee Solaas, Josh Curtis and David Cruz continue to lead the way.”

He said Cruz did well at both tournaments and placed 5th in the 195 weight class at Don Runner.

“David got a hard fought win in Walden against a Middle Park wrestler and another win in Wind River,” Richardson said. “David leads our team with five wins.”

Richardson had praise for Curtis’ efforts at the tournaments.

“Josh wrestled up a weight class this week at 152 and got a nice confidence boosting win at Wind River in the exhibition matches,” Richardson said. “He now has three wins.”

Solaas, the only female wrestler on the team and in Carbon County District No. 2, is coming along said Richardson.

“Charlee got some good mat time in Walden,” Richardson said. “She is a tough kid and works super hard.”

He said Adrian King and Dade Thackston had not yet gotten a win, but that they were gaining more confidence as they got more time on the mats.

Richardson said the past week, several wrestlers on the team could not make it to either tournament due to various reasons.

“We travel to the Dogger Invite and I hope to have more numbers and a healthier team,” Richardson said.

The next scheduled meet is on Jan 19 in Lingle for the Dogger Invite.