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THERMOPOLIS - The Hot Springs County High School wrestling team capped their final week of the regular season with impressive dual performances against 3A No. 4-ranked Worland High School and Glenrock High School.

The Bobcats lost 40-30 to the Worland Warriors on Feb. 7 at Worland High School lost to the Glenrock Herders 48-36 at Glenrock on Feb. 8.

Against the Warriors, HSCHS wrestling coach Travis McDermott was very impressed with his team's effort.

Even though they lost to the Warriors, the 'Cats effort was truly outstanding. Of the night's many standouts, 132-pound Joe Hagen, 126-pound Wyatt McDermott and 285-pound Remington Ferree really stood out.

Hagen wrestles in the 132-pound weight class but the team needed someone to wrestle at 152 and he answered the call. He then went out and pinned Worland's Ralph Moreno. The last time Ferree faced Worland's Brody Hernandez was during the Lander Invitational on Jan. 18-19. Hernandez pinned Ferree but since then Ferree has caught fire, his confidence growing with each week.

Ferree's growing confidence and skill as a wrestler was evident in his match against Hernandez as he bested the Warrior in a 4-2 decision.

Freshman Wyatt McDermott wrestled against Warrior senior Adam Bankert, the two had met earlier in the season at the Ron Thon tournament on Jan. 25-26. McDermott upset the 2018 All-State selection by a 3-2 decision. The rematch was just as competitive as Bankert nearly pinned McDermott early in the first period but after weathering that storm, McDermott battled back and eventually won by a 6-4 decision.

"We spotted them [Worland] 18 points with open weights and still came within 10, we also had some unexpected wins," said coach McDermott. "Jon Hagen is a 132 guy but wrestled at 152 and got a pin for us. Wyatt, his match was a toss-up, we gave the edge to Bankert being a senior and being at home, so that was another big win for us. Remington beat Brody [Hernandez] that was a big win because Brody pinned him in Lander. It just shows the turnaround he's made, his confidence has grown and he knows that he can wrestle now. It's a lot of fun to watch."

Added coach McDermott, "We mixed it up some to just get matches for as many guys as we could. These guys really rise up for duals, they know where they're at and they are fun. We've had a lot of fun with these duals."

The 'Cats head to Kemmerer for the 2A West regional meet on Friday and Saturday at Kemmerer High School. The 2A West field will be a tough one to navigate as four of the top five ranked teams, according to wyowrestling.com, reside in the West, those teams being, No. 1 Kemmerer, No. 3 Thermopolis, No. 4 Lovell and No. 5 Cokeville.

As tough as regionals will be, the 'Cats do have the firepower to make a run at the regional title. Having eight ranked wrestlers in their respective weight-classes certainly helps that cause. Austin Ireland ranks second in the 113-pound class, Wyatt McDermott ranks third in the 126-pound class, Jeffery VanAntwerp is fifth in the 145-pound class, Jon Harvey is fourth in the 160-pound class, Riley Shaffer is third in the 170-pound class, Chance Watt is fifth in the 195-pound class, Logan Cole is second in the 220-pound class and Remington Ferree is third in the 285-pound class.

It will be a tough road to a regional title for the 'Cats but if they keep showing the marked improvement as they have over the past several weeks. Bringing home some hardware is well within question.