Wrestlers take on best in the nation

The Wyoming National wrestling teams competed at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national team duals in Des Moines Iowa over the weekend. Along the way the teams supported by Wyoming wrestling families and friends took a trailer full of supplies to the Omaha relief center to help out with flood-damaged areas in eastern Nebraska. The teams stopped and helped unload the supplies on their way to competition.

"These wrestlers have been busy on the mat past there regular season," coach Travis McDermott said. "Three of our wrestlers were recognized with All-American awards."

Among the four that were on the Wyoming National team that competed at the AAU national team duals were Roedy Farrell on the Middle School brown team, who went 8-0 and earned All-American Gold status at 135 pounds. The Brown team ended up eighth in the Gold bracket. "Roedy had an incredible tournament and was dominant in some of the best competition in the country," McDermott said. "Roedy qualified by winning a State Championship at Middle School State in December held in Thermopolis."

Among Farrell's wins were a 2:37 fall over Jesse Brawley of Montana Maroon in Match 1, a 7-5 sudden victory over Jarret Roos of Legends of the Gold in Match 2, a 2:12 fall over Evan Meadows of Iowa White in Match 3, a 7-4 decision over Logan Peyton of Iowa Black in Match 4, a 2:07 fall over Tance Wagner of South Dakota Silver in Match 5, all in Pool 1

In the Gold Bracket, Farrell's wins were a 3:24 fall over Malachi Bennett of Tennessee Black in the Quarterfinal, a 2:56 fall over Hayden Russman of Nebraska Red in the Consolation Semifinal and a 1:26 fall over Kadon Wenig of Nebraska Blue in the seventh place match.

The Freshman-Sophmore team included Logan Cole at 220 pounds on the Wyoming Brown team. Cole went 5-1 on the weekend and received All-American bronze award. Cole placed third in both Freestyle and Greco at Junior State held early in March to go along with his 2A state championship.

In Pool 1, Cole won by a 2:47 fall over Collin Graves of South Dakota in Match 1, by a 16-0 tech fall over Eli Huot of South Dakota Tundra in Match 2 and by a 11-2 major decision over Kazz Hyson of Nebraska Silver in Match 3, and lost by a 6-2 decision to Kobe Simon of Iowa Black in Match 4.

In the Silver Bracket, Cole won by a 2:49 fall over Keaton Pouliot over Montana Maroon in Match 1 and by a 5-0 decision over Kam Stevenson of Iowa Red in Match 3.

Remington Ferree was on the Wyoming Gold team and went 5-2. He was also awarded All-American bronze. Ferree won both Freestyle and Greco state championships at Junior State to go along with his State Runner-up finish at the Wyoming High School state championship.

In Pool 3, Ferree lost by a 3:39 fall to Drake Peed of South Dakota Blue in Match 1 and by a 3:39 fall to Togeh Deseh of Iowa Red in Match 2, and won by a 2-0 decision over Austin McClue of Tennessee Blue in Match 3, by a 49-second fall over Brian Sweeney of Montana Maroon in Match 4 and by a 2-0 decision over Wyatt Winter of Mitchell South Dakota in Match 5.

In the Bronze Bracket, Ferree won by an 8-3 decision over Winter in Match 2 and by a 1:15 fall over Geoff Dunkelberger of South Dakota Red in Match 3.

Wyatt McDermott at 126 on the Wyoming Brown team went 4-4. McDermott placed second in Freestyle and fourth in Greco at Junior State to go along with his State runner-up at Wyoming High School State Championships.

In Pool 1, McDermott won by a 2-0 decision over Thomas Powell of South Dakota Red in Match 1, lost by a 1:53 fall to Kaden Keiser of South Dakota Tundra in Match 2, by a 17-0 tech fall to Daniel Derosier of Nebraska Silver in Match 3 and by a 2:38 fall to Beau Klingensmith of Iowa Black in Match 4, and won by a 1:33 fall over Tripp Miller of Iowa White in Match 5.

In the Silver Bracket, he won by a 6-0 decision over Roman Sparks of Montana Maroon in Match 1, lost by a 3-0 decision to Kyle McCagan of Team Vision Quest in Match 2 and won by a 1:17 fall over Elijah Broesder of Iowa Red in Match 3.

The wrestlers expressed their appreciation to the community for their support in buying raffle tickets to pay for the students' way on this trip.