YODER – The combined Lingle-Fort Laramie/Southeast (LFL/SE) boys’ and girls’ wrestling teams dominated the mats at the 2024 Southeast Duals in Yoder on Saturday, February 3.

Leaving it all on the mats, the LFL/SE boys captured first place out of 15 teams primarily from Wyoming and Nebraska. The LFL/SE girls battled through their bracket to snag first place out of a field of six teams from Wyoming.

“I was really happy with the way our wrestlers performed this weekend,” head coach Brandon Gifford said. “To come away with team titles for both the boys and girls is a testament to the work they have all put in this season. It was nice affirmation that we are continuing on the right track to be where we want to be in a couple of weeks. We are now in the phase of our training cycle where we are working situationally to correct certain areas. Other than that, it’s about staying healthy and feeling our best for regionals.”

The LFL/SE boys’ varsity squad opened the tournament in Pool “A” by crushing Sydney, Nebraska, 60-17, before overwhelming Crawford, Nebraska, 72-9.

Advancing to the semifinals, LFL/SE squared off in a dual against Chadron, the first-place team from the “D” Pool. Showing no mercy, LFL/SE handily defeated Chadron, 66-18.

Progressing to the finals, LFL/SE battled a tough squad from Mitchell, Nebraska. The dual was neck-and-neck until LFL/SE pulled ahead in several decisive matches to beat Mitchell, 45-34.

Six  LFL/SE grapplers posted undefeated records in the boys’ duals, led by the upperclassmen. Seniors Wyatt Sylvester (126 pounds), William Feyereisen (138), Kaleb Brothwell (144) and Tiegen Thompson (175) tallied 4-0 records.

Juniors Nathan Fish (120 pounds) and Louden Bremer (150) also went undefeated.

Senior Mason Sorensen (132 pounds), junior Emmett Coxbill (215) and sophomores Gideon Boyd (106) and Colter McFarlin (215) each finished the tournament with 3-1 records. Senior Lance York (157) and junior Carter Blevins (190) both went 2-2.

In the first-place dual against Mitchell, Feyereisen, Brothwell and Thompson each pinned their opponents. York also won by fall, battling his opponent through three close periods to pin his rival with 16 seconds remaining.

Fish defeated Ace Hobbs by a 5-1 decision.

Southeast Girls Duals

The LFL/SE girls’ team swept the competition at the Southeast Girls’ Duals, capturing first place out of a field of six teams from Wyoming.

Kicking off the tournament with a big 48-18 victory against Wheatland, LFL/SE went on to defeat a combined team from Burns and Pine Bluffs by an overwhelming 42-16 margin. 

In the final dual, LFL/SE beat Glenrock, 48-18.

Six LFL/SE athletes on the girls’ team posted undefeated, 3-0 records: senior Josie Houk (155 pounds), junior Grace Gibson (105) and sophomores Kennedi Blevins (110), Laney Grubbs (125), Avery VanGundy (135) and Hallie Fuller (140).

Sophomore Kaiten Schilreff (130 pounds) and freshman KayDee Gladson (170) both went 2-1.

Senior Isabella Spears snagged a win by fall in the first dual.