Miners dig in for state

A total of nine grapplers from Hanna, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow (HEM) High School will be attending the State Wrestling Championship this weekend in Casper and will be represented across multiple weight classes following the regional tournament this past weekend.

Beginning with the 106 weight class, Howard Bame placed 8th in his class. Bame will begin the weekend by facing Rylie Payne of Cokeville on the mat. 

In the 120 weight class, HEM’s lone female wrestler Charlee Solaas scored 4 team points for the Miners and placed 5th. She will start out at State by facing Kemmerrer’s Conner Vickrey.

Thomas Wagner, in the 126 weight class, was able to bring in 4 points for the Miners as well. Wagner, however, will not be competing at the State Championship this weekend.

With two wrestlers in the 152 weight class, HEM saw Josh Curtis place 7th and garner 3 team points while Andrew Scott placed 8th over the weekend. 

Ayden Welk placed 4th in the 182 weight class and brought in a total of 11 team points for the Miners. Welk will get a bye for his first round at the State Championship.

In the 195 weight class, Joseph Bora placed 6th but did not get any points for HEM while at regionals. He will face Tate Carson of Southeast High School for his first match in Casper.

Declan Austin and David Cruz, in the 220 weight class, placed 4th and 6th respectively while at the regional tournament. Austin nabbed 9 team points for HEM over the weekend with his placing. Austin will face Johnathon Platt of Kemmerrer and Cruz will be facing Jessy Valentine of Lingle-Fort Laramie for their first matches.

The State Wrestling Championship will begin on February 28 at the Casper Events Center in Casper.