The Torrington High School Blazers posted solid performances at the 2A State Wrestling Championships over the weekend, culminating in four grapplers medaling.
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hool Blazers wrestling team continued its postseason momentum with eight grapplers advancing to the quarterfinals and four earning semifinal berths at the 2024 Wyoming Wrestling Championships in Casper on February 22-24.
Torrington rounded out the season-culminating tournament with an 11th place finish, posting 63 team points and beating six other programs in a challenging 3A division.
“I was pleased overall with our performance this weekend,” coach Cody Grant said. “There were ups and downs, and we wish some matches turned out differently. But having four wrestlers medal at state is great – a lot of guys had to get some big wins to medal. I feel like we peaked at the right time. The younger guys had some success at the tournament and wrestled hard and I am excited about the future."
Junior Barrett Eichenberger battled through three days of rounds to snag fourth place in the 132-pound bracket. Eichenberger won the quarterfinals against Evanston’s Ryder Wilson by a 4-3 decision. The junior fell in the semifinals before rallying in the consolation semifinals to defeat Casey Matthews, of Newcastle, in a close contest by a 2-1 decision.
“Barrett carried over his success from Regionals and had a great tournament at state with hard-fought matches,” Grand said.
Junior Tyler Nicolay (120 pounds), sophomore Ty Albaugh (138 pounds), sophomore Colby Sandusky (144 pounds), junior Kaden Romig (150 pounds), sophomore Brendan Woodard (150 pounds), junior Hunter Massie (157 pounds) and senior Bryce Hager (175 pounds) each won the opening round at state and progressed to the quarterfinals on Friday.
Sophomore Colby Sandusky won the opening round of the 144-pound bracket to move up to the quarterfinals where he pinned Evanston’s Kyson Hamilton midway into the second period. Sandusky ultimately placed sixth in his weight bracket.
“In the quarterfinals, Colby knocked off the No. 2-ranked wrestler from Evanston to ensure a medal,” Grant added.
Woodard earned sixth place in the 150-pound division. Woodward fought his way back up through the consolation bracket, pinning Buffalo’s Brody Behrend 44 seconds into the first wrestle back and defeating teammate Kaden Romig at 1:40 in the second consolation round.
“Brendan had a hard-fought weekend,” Grant said. “The blood round against Kaden Romig was tough for the team and coaches, but it is the nature of wrestling. The 150-weight class was one of the tougher brackets at the tournament.”
At 175 pounds, Hager snapped up sixth place. The senior pinned Douglas’ Gabe Lopez at 4:38 in the quarterfinals.
“Bryce wrestled hard and knocked off the No. 2 wrestler from Pinedale (Cale Dauwen) in the first round to propel in to sixth place,” Grant said.
Albaugh scored seven team points with both Nicolay and Massie contributing four.
