100 wins in the books

Southeast’s Chase Lovercheck has more than 100 wins, but is looking for four more

Erick Starkey
Posted 2/23/18

Southeast Cyclone wrestler Chase Lovercheck picked up his 100th win in the first weekend of the season this year, but has his sights set on four more wins this weekend, in his hunt for a state title.

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100 wins in the books

Southeast’s Chase Lovercheck has more than 100 wins, but is looking for four more

Posted

YODER – Southeast Cyclone wrestler Chase Lovercheck picked up his 100th win in the first weekend of the season this year, but has his sights set on four more wins this weekend, in his hunt for a state title.

Lovercheck first got into wrestling in sixth grade, when he was waffling between wrestling and basketball. He admitted that he knew nothing about wrestling before getting into the sport and one of the reasons he started wrestling was because his friends were also going out for the sport.

“It ended up being a really good season,” the Southeast senior said of his inaugural winter on the mats. “That might have been the season that really changed everything for me. It was the first individual sport that I had done and I liked being able to take accountability for everything.”

After his middle school wrestling career, Lovercheck decided to continue his time on the mats at the high school level. Coming in as a freshman, he posted a record of 26-19 and finished sixth at 120 pounds at the state tournament. He upped his weight and his wins as a sophomore, taking fifth at 132 pounds at the state tournament, finishing with a record of 32-13.

Lovercheck put together an even better season last winter, finishing fourth at the state tournament at 145 pounds with a 37-10 record. Despite improving on his placing at the state tournament, Lovercheck still had a sour taste in his mouth.

“Especially when you don’t win in your placing match, like I didn’t win in my placing match last year, then you know that there are people that are a lot better than you that are winning matches after you,” Lovecheck said. “It’s tough to swallow the fact those guys have worked harder than you and they’re better than you.

“Getting on the podium has motivated me to get a better spot each year and make it deeper into the tournament each year,” he added. “It’s definitely pushed me to want the state title a lot more.”

Entering his senior season with 95 wins, Lovercheck picked up five-straight wins at the Lusk Invitational on Dec. 8, giving him the century mark in wins.

“It’s a really big thing for everyone’s family, but being so early in the season, it was like ‘It happened here, but I’m only 5-0 right now. I’m going to have to win a lot more matches to get where I want to be,’” Lovercheck said.

Since his 100th win in Lusk, Lovercheck has added 31 wins to his total, putting him at 36-7 this winter. He flirted with the Southeast High School record of all-time wins, which is at 137, but it would take a loss at the state tournament for Lovercheck to have enough matches to beat that mark, becuase that loss would send him to the loser’s bracket, where he has the possibility for more matches on the weekend.

On top of the individual wins coming in, Lovercheck and the rest of the Cyclones have turned heads this winter as a team, reaching the podium as a team at several invitationals. Lovercheck is one of five seniors on this year’s roster, many of which have wrestled all four years for Southeast. He said there is a greater emphasis on the team standings this year, instead of just individual marks.

“I feel like my class and myself have done a really good job of building the program and getting us to where we are now,” Lovercheck said. “Everyone is really together as a group rather than wrestling for themselves. This season it’s been about winning the match and scoring as many points as possible for the team.”

Lovercheck will be looking to rack up team points as he works his way through the 152-pound weight class at the state tournament, but it will not be easy. The Cyclone currently sits fourth in the WyoWrestling rankings behind Cordell Viehwig (Cokeville), Isak Elisson (Glenrock) and Casey DeLong (Moorcroft). Fifth-ranked Adam Wiloughby (Big Piney) also joins Lovercheck as a tough wrestler at 152 pounds. The top-five guys have a combined record of 165-50.

“This year it’s a really even playing field for all the guys at the top of the rankings. We have all beat each other multiple times,” said Lovercheck, who is entering the tournament as the third seed from the east. “The benefit for me is that nobody is going to see me coming… going into the state tournament I may be overlooked a little bit, but coming in as the underdog is a good thing for me.”

Ellison, who Lovercheck could have to face in the semi’s, has had the Cyclones’ number twice this winter, beating him by an 8-6 decision (Feb. 3) and by pin late in the third period (Feb. 17).

“This time I’m hoping it’s mine,” Lovercheck said of the potential semi-final matchup against Ellison. “Then I would go into the state championship and see what I can do against the other side of the bracket.”

Lovercheck’s potential run to the state championship begins with a first round matchup against Big Piney’s Derik Smith. The action kicks off for all local wrestlers at 9 a.m. in Casper. For Lovercheck, he hopes that when the dust settles Saturday night, he hopes his hand is the last one raised.

“After getting beat by everyone that stands in my way already and knowing exactly what I have to do going in and preparing for this select group of guys that I know are going to be tough, a state championship would definitely be a great way to go out,” Lovercheck said.