CASPER — The state wrestling tournament in Casper is where the tough-meets-the-tough, and Lyman Eagle Sefton Douglass proved he was top of the 106 weight class in the 3A conference.

Douglass has had a good year on the mat, and the state meet was the icing-on-the-cake for his season this year. He took the championship in the match by proving he was the toughest when he beat Nycholas Melchor of Douglas by a fall 3:48.

This level also propelled Douglass to earn All State honors, as wrestlers have to make it to the championship bout to earn the honor.

Chaz Condos, another Lyman Eagle, also wrestled in this weight. A loss sent him to the back of the bracket to wrestle for third and fourth where he lost to Jason Guild of Star Valley.

The state wrestling tournament, held last week, Feb. 22-23, at the Casper Events Center, was a fitting venue for the large numbers of wrestlers who would compete.

The Star Valley Braves, a 3-time defender of the state championship, earned their fourth by over 100 points due to their depth. Although they graduated four gold medalists from last year’s team, they had 26 state qualifiers with eight of the wrestlers finishing on the podium.

Douglas came in with 193.5 points for a distant second place at the tournament. Powell was third and Pinedale fourth with 130 points.

Tate Stoddard of Glenrock and Donny Proffit of Kemmerer are now 4-time champs following the state tournament.

A lack of depth hurt both of the teams from Lyman High School and Mountain View High School.

Other Valley wrestlers who placed include:

• 138 – Hagen Lamoreaux, LHS, won his first two matches, lost his third to Gabriel Munoz of Rawlins who went on to take second place. This loss sent Lamoreux to the back of the bracket where he wrestled and took third place over Tristen Lungren of Worland by a decision 6-0.
• 160 – Mark Walker, MVHS, won his first match and then lost which sent Walker to back where he overcame his opponents and was headed to wrestle for third and fourth but was beaten out and sent to wrestle for fifth and sixth. He ended up in sixth place by loosing to Seth Horton of Powell on a fall 0:38.
• 220 – Matt Wolfard, LHS, won his first match and lost his second, which sent him to the back of the bracket where he wrestled for third and fourth. He got fourth after losing to Kadar Kriddle of Pinedale by a fall, 0:54.

MVHS Buff Tyson Condos also wrestled in this weight class and took fifth over Aaron Williams of Buffalo.