Upton and Newcastle Wrestlers Battle on Final Day at State Tournament
(This story was prepared by NLJ Publisher Bob Bonnar with the assistance of artificial intelligence.)
The final day of the Wyoming State Wrestling Championships at the Ford Wyoming Center saw Upton's wrestlers deliver strong performances, highlighted by two championship match appearances and a third-place finish. The Bobcats finished eighth in the 2A team standings with 102.5 points, while Newcastle fell short of their goals in 3A, placing 16th with 20.5 points.
In the 2A division, Moorcroft claimed the state title with an impressive 211.5 points, followed by Kemmerer with 187.5 and Thermopolis with 184.0. Cokeville (144.5) and Greybull/Riverside (128.5) rounded out the top five.
The Bobcats had plenty to cheer for in Saturday’s medal rounds. Upton's Haven Vrana (120 lbs.) advanced to the championship match after a dominant tournament run, but fell to four-time state champion Nathan Fish of Lingle-Ft. Laramie/Southeast. Vrana put up a strong fight, but Fish secured the title with a fall at the 5:42 mark. Vrana’s runner-up finish earned Upton 22 team points and solidified his place as one of the top wrestlers in his class.
In the 132-pound final, Trey Schneider engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth battle with Cannon Boren of Thermopolis. The match remained tight throughout regulation, ultimately pushing into sudden victory, where Boren edged Schneider with a 10-7 win. Despite the heartbreaking finish, Schneider’s performance showcased his skill and determination, contributing 23 points to Upton’s team total.
One of the biggest highlights for Upton came at 126 pounds, where Jackson East fought his way to a third-place finish. After losing earlier in the tournament, East responded with two consecutive wins by fall, including a third-place match pin over Brody Shepard of Shoshoni in 3:30. His resilience and ability to bounce back proved crucial in adding 21 points to Upton’s score.
Several other Upton wrestlers earned podium finishes. Cullen Davis (150 lbs.) had an impressive tournament run, finishing 4th. In the consolation semifinals, Davis pinned Noah Parks of Kemmerer in just one minute, securing his spot in the third-place match. However, he fell to Flint Linford of Cokeville by pin at the 3:43 mark, capping off a strong showing.
Cayden Vrana (106 lbs.) placed 6th, battling hard in the consolation rounds but dropping his final two matches. After losing to Danner Wiseman of Moorcroft in the consolation semifinals, Vrana faced Ricky Schneider of Kemmerer in the fifth-place match but was defeated by major decision, 14-5.
At 132 pounds, Landon Norman also secured a 6th-place finish. Norman faced a tough opponent in Zavier Clifford of Big Piney in the consolation semifinals, losing a close 5-2 decision. In his fifth-place match, he was pinned by Bennett Sanford of Greybull/Riverside in under a minute.
Newcastle had a tougher tournament, finishing 16th in 3A with 20.5 points. Their lone medalist was Scott Larson (285 lbs.), who placed sixth after falling in both his consolation semifinal and fifth-place match. In the semis, he lost by tech fall to Carston Bartlett of Rawlins, and in his fifth-place match, Bridger Herring of Rawlins pinned him at 3:46.
The 3A team title was claimed by Powell with a dominant 227.0 points, followed by Pinedale with 200.0 and Cody with 198.5. Torrington (137.0) and Rawlins (134.5) completed the top five in the team standings.
On the girls' side, Star Valley emerged as the top team with 207.5 points, while Sheridan (119.0) and Kemmerer (97.0) rounded out the top three. Cheyenne East (93.5) and Pinedale (76.5) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Brylee Caster (32-25) of Newcastle secured a 6th-place finish, helping Newcastle’s girls tie for 28th overall. Caster lost her consolation semifinal by fall to Hallie Fuller of Lingle-Ft. Laramie/Southeast and was later pinned by Bailey Mueller of Natrona County in the fifth-place match.
Upton’s Alexis Savage was the school’s lone female representative but was eliminated in the consolation rounds on Friday, leading the Lady Bobcats to a tie for 44th in the final standings.