The Lyman High School wrestling teams competed at the first of what will be back-to-back tournaments in Fremont County over the weekend, with the Lady Eagles placing sixth and the Eagles placing 14th at the Lander Invitational.

The two teams combined to place six wrestlers on the podium, including two champions: Karly Sabey (130 pounds) for the girls, and Max Gregory (215 pounds) for the boys.

Lady Eagles

On the girls’ side, Pinedale won the team title in the 24-team field with 178.5 points, followed by Thunder Ridge with 162.5 points. Kemmerer was third with 115.5 points, followed by Wind River with 107 points and Powell with 97 points; Lyman was sixth, with 83.5 points.

“I felt that we had a good tournament — still have a long way to go, but the girls are progressing each week, and that’s all that I can ask for,” said LHS head coach Damon Mele. “Being down 12 girls with only 10 competing last week was rough for me as a coach, because I hate to see when my kids get injured — especially when some of these injuries take them out for the rest of the season. We should have six girls that will be able to return either this week or hopefully before regionals.”

Four Lady Eagles earned a spot on the podium, led by champion Karly Sabey at 130 pounds. Sabey posted a 4-0 record for the tournament, pinning her first three opponents — Lander’s Alli Wahl, Wind River’s Keely Walker and Greybull/Riverside’s Rihanna Gaytan — to earn a spot in the championship match.

Squaring off against Lander’s Jordan Nielsen in the 130-pound title match, Sabey won a 10-2 major decision to bring home the championship.

“Karly had a great weekend for sure,” Mele said. “She came into the tournament as the No. 2- seed, and was able to pin her opponents all the way to the finals, where she met the No. 1- seed and [top-ranked] girl in the state at 130 pounds, Jordan Nielsen, who she beat 10-2.”

Gracelynn Allen also had an outstanding tournament at 125 pounds, though it got off to an inauspicious start. After losing her opening round match to Torrington’s Catherine Hendricks, Allen battled her way back through the consolation rounds, pinning her next three opponents — including Pinedale’s Matazi Landers in the consolation semifinals — to earn a spot in the 3rd-place match. There, Allen won a 7-0 decision over Rawlins’ Oliviana McMahn to finish third.

“Gracelynn is on her second year of wrestling,” Mele said. “Last year, she made it to state, but came up short of placing. This year she is 10 pounds heavier, but it’s straight muscle. For her — at this point of the season — I feel that her determination to help her teammates succeed has given her that extra boost she has needed to place higher and higher throughout the season. Plus the girl is dang near incapable of being pinned. The flexibility she has, and strength, gives her a big advantage over her opponents.”

Alicia Aleman placed fourth at 190 pounds, posting a 2-2 record. After pinning Thunder Ridge’s Sophie Thoman in the quarterfinals, Aleman fell to Thunder Ridge’s Shauna Anderson in the semifinals to drop to the consolation rounds. Aleman pinned Pine Bluffs’ Jesselee Jackson to advance to the 3rd-place match, but lost to Big Piney’s Kamia Runyan in her quest to finish Top 3.

“This is Alicia’s first year of wrestling, and she’s a freshman to boot,” Mele said. “Her attitude and willingness to listen to what we tell her has helped her get to this point. Plus that girl is super strong.”

Kelsie Nebeker finished sixth at 120 pounds, posting a 3-3 record. After losing in the quarterfinals, Nebeker won her first two matches in the consolation round, winning by tech fall over teammate Mya Brewer and pinning Evanston’s Charlie Bybee. A loss in the consolation semis dropped Nebeker to the 5th-place match; a loss to Pinedale’s Evelyn Shivers secured her the sixth spot on the podium.

“Kelsie is another one of my captains and also the second of my only two seniors on the team,” Mele said. “For her at this point, it’s all about reaching her goals. Last year, her first season, was a little rough. But this year she’s placing at tournaments and determined to make it to state.”

Other Lady Eagles who competed included Tana Williams at 100 pounds (0-2, wrestling in her first tournament), Julia Roundy at 105 pounds (2-2, just missed the medal rounds), Mia Brewer at 120 pounds (0-2, with a bye), Addison Lyman at 120 pounds (0-2), Karina Santiago at 135 pounds (0-2, with a bye) and Amellia France at 140 pounds (1-2).

The Lady Eagles will head back over South Pass this week for the Ron Thon Memorial Tournament at Riverton, one of the premier tournaments in the state.

“This week these girls are going to be working on mentality,” Mele explained. “They know the moves that are going to help them succeed. I want them to go into the Ron Thon confident knowing these things, and I want them to believe in themselves. This team is extremely young and new. Like I mentioned earlier, we have had a lot of injuries, and I don’t want that to interfere with how the rest of the team performs.”

Eagles

On the boys’ side, Max Gregory posted a 4-0 record at 215 pounds, en route to the championship.

After an opening round bye, Gregory pinned Torrington’s Moses Lopez and Thermop’s Haeden Blair to advance to the semifinals. Squaring off against Powell’s Denton Wainscott for a spot in the title match, Gregory won a hard-fought 14-9 decision to advance.

In the championship match, Gregory made short work of Cody’s Anker Stewart, pinning Stewart in the first round.

Treyson Henderson also had an outstanding tournament, beating Powell’s Talon Nuss in sudden victory in the quarterfinals and winning a 19-7 major decision to advance to the championship match at 106 pounds. Against Evanston’s Tayson Moon, Henderson lost by pin in the final round to finish second.

Eagles who won matches included Braxton Hinton at 132 pounds (1-2), Timber Van Gieson at 144 pounds (3-2), Cash Platts at 150 pounds (1-2) and Marshall Hatch at 175 pounds (1-2).