Kemmerer sophomore Carson Carlson claims victory over Cokeville’s Lochlyn Teichert in the 132-pound class at the 2A West Regional tournament in Ethete on Saturday, Feb. 17. (COURTESY PHOTO / Dave Julian)

The Kemmerer Rangers wrestling team took home first place at the 2A west regional tournament at Wyoming Indian High School on Saturday, Feb. 17.

The Rangers finished first with 198 points. The Cokeville Panthers finished second with 169 points, and Big Piney pulled off third place with 147 points.

Kemmerer filled ten weights of the 14 at regionals and placed in all ten. The Rangers had five wrestlers earn first place in their weight divisions.

Coach Darrell Bullington and Coach Cody Hartung are very proud of the way this team is wrestling. This was a great regionals for the team. The Rangers do not ever quit battling. They head to state this week intent on winning it all —  a tall order for sure, but the Rangers don’t let anyone tell them they can’t. They are the little team that can.

Sophomore Dawson Schramm was unstoppable as he pinned his way through the 120-pound class. Schramm earned first place, beating Shoshoni’s James Knigge in the championship match.

Sophomore Colter Julian won a tough 126-pound class, beating Rocky Mountain’s Trent Lytle in the championship match. Julian wrestled smart and very aggressive.

Carson Carlson earned first place in the 132-pound class, beating Cokeville’s Lochlyn Teichert in the championship match. Carlson won a very exciting championship match against Cokeville’s Lochlyn Teichert.

Carlson won in overtime with a great double leg takedown. His match had all the fans on their feet cheering him on.

Donny Proffit (138) won the championship match against Cokeville’s Wes Teichert. Proffit did what he has done all year, pinning every single opponent on his way to the top.

Hayden Walker (170) beat Cokeville’s Brayden Johnson to win his division. Hayden Walker overwhelmed all of his opponents, pinning his way to first in the 170-pound weight class. Walker was flat-out better than anybody he wrestled, and should be exciting to watch at state as he looks to defend his title.

Juniors Jeydon Boyd (195) and Josh Thatcher (145) each earned second place in their respective weight classes. Thatcher wrestled well and is peaking at just the right time of the season. and looks to make a run on a state title this week. Boyd came up just a little short in his championship match, but a strong performance at state can be expected of him.   

Lowell Ellis (152) beat Big Piney’s Calder Taylor to earn third place. After losing his first match, Ellis wrestled like a man on a mission and earned that third place in a hard-fought battle. Kylee Smith (106) beat Saratoga’s Joey Gonzalez to earn third place. Smith had a great tournament,  pinning all her opponents except one en route to her third place finish.

Hayden Julander (160) earned fourth place in his division. Julander is coming on strong again after being sidelined with a injury.

Cayson Smith (152) and Andres Vega (126) finished in seventh place, and Brendan Miller (138) finished in eighth place. These wrestlers’ wins are extremely valuable for this team and will be at state.

State meet

The Ranger wrestlers head to the 2A state wrestling tournament in Casper this weekend. The first round of state wrestling matches begins on Friday, Feb. 23, at 9:00 a.m. in the Casper Events Center.

The Rangers earned third place at the 2017 state meet, and hope to continue that success at this state tournament. At last season’s state meet, Hayden Walker, Donny Proffit, Dawson Schramm and Gavin Julander (KHS Class of 2017) all took home state titles.

Kylee Smith (106) will face off against Big Piney’s Braxton Smith for her first match of the state tournament. Dawson Schramm (120) wrestles Southeast’s Wyatt Lackman for his first match. Colter Julian (126) has Saratoga’s Andrew Everett as his first opponent at state. Andres Vega (126) wrestles Kyle Laird of Wind River first. Carson Carlson (132) faces Wyoming Indian’s David Blackbird first on Friday. Donny Proffit (138) wrestles Glenrock’s Adrian Mass for his first state match this season. Brendan Miller (138) has Shoshoni’s Tryston Truempler. Josh Thatcher (145) will wrestle Glenrock’s Syler Fleck first. Lowell Ellis (152) will have his first match against Glenrock’s Jonah Young. Hayden Julander (160) wrestles Rocky Mountain’s Wyatt Horrocks first. Hayden Walker (170) faces off against Hulett’s Joseph Kennah first. Jeydon Boyd (195) will wrestle Ben Banville of Burns-Pine Bluffs first.