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Wrestlers battle at Ron Thon

A busy week saw the Bobcat wrestlers entertain the Buffalo Bison at home Thursday in a dual that wasn't that entertaining for the Bobcats. Bright spots were provided for the home fans by the return to action of Cullen Becher and the continued improvement of Chase White. Becher used an impressive double leg takedown in a first period pin of his opponent while White overpowered his Bison foe also in the first period with a 1:34 pin. The 45-30 loss was made respectable more by the forfeits given up by Buffalo due to open weights than Bobcat efforts.

Coach Scholl was disappointed with the effort and attributed the performance in part to jitters caused by performing before a hometown crowd for the first time this season. "This wasn't the team we see in the practice room," he lamented, "and, maybe they were looking forward to tomorrow wrestling on a much bigger stage at the Ron Thon Invitational. Whatever the cause, I hope we put it together better in Riverton than we did tonight!"

For the uninitiated, the Ron Thon in Riverton is largest and most respected tournament in Wyoming. The prestige of being a Ron Thon champion exceeds even being a state champion since there are always three state champs in each weight class every year...but only one at the Ron Thon because there is no class competition. The belief is that if you win the Ron Thon, you are the best wrestler in the state at your weight.

In what is called a JV tournament, a second tournament is held for those wrestlers for a variety of reasons not judged eligible or ready for the "varsity" action. This year, like years past, many of those competitors were state placers, varsity wrestlers from smaller schools, or newcomers to that level of competition. The Bobcats entered seven wrestlers in each tournament.

In "varsity" action, four Bobcats earned victories and team points - Jeff VanAntwerp (3), Koy Meyers (17), Jon Harvey (6), and Logan Cole (10). Two Bobcats medaled - Myers and Cole.

VanAntwerp scored a third period fall in his second match to earn his contribution to the Bobcats' total.

Myers wrestled to a 4-3 tournament record, recording three pins and a cliffhanger decision 5-4 over Greybull/Riverside's Tanner Adam. Following the pattern he has set of working for the pin, sometimes includes taking risks he is willing to take, but his record (19-9) and team points leadership prove him to be effective in accomplishing that goal.

Jon Harvey unintentionally filled in for reinjured Cullen Becher at 152 lbs. with two victories to earn a well-deserved six team points. Harvey wrestled by far his best performances of the season defeating Oiler of Cody 13-10 and scoring a third period fall over Sheridan's Quarterman.

Cole's 3-3 performance was marred by a double overtime loss for 4th/5th due to a stalling call registered during regular time while Cole was leading 1-0 over Cheyenne East's Jason Fogg evening the score and leading to the overtime defeat.

The Bobcats' 36-point total and 25th placing in the 39 entrants were a substantial improvement from 2017 when they were nearly last and finished with only 6 points. That they did this without Becher's anticipated points speaks well of their progress.

In the adjacent "JV" tournament, Riley Shaffer scored more than half of the 40 points registered by the Bobcats on his way to the second place medal in the 160 lb. class scoring two impressive wins before being caught in a sudden pinning combination in the finals.

Also scoring points for the Bobcats were Chase White (6), Hunter Mounts (5), and Jaxson Jensen (5).

Next action for Thermopolis wrestlers will be at the Greybull/Riverside invite on Saturday, Feb. 3.

 

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