When Park High wrestlers returned to Livingston Feb. 11 accompanied by a firetruck and police escort, they also brought home one state champion and three state placers.
Senior Danyk Jacobsen placed first in the 152 weight class. “I had wrestled my opponent three times prior to our finals match. All of which I won, so I had a lot of confidence going into the match,” he said.
Going into the tournament at Metra Park in Billings, the team had aspirations of placing top ten or better. The team previously took seventh in 2022, with one state champion and six state placers.This year, they placed tenth.
Following the first day of competition, five Park wrestlers continued into Saturday’s competition, with two dropping out. Colter Fleming and Tucker Shepardson fell just short of placing on the second day , with Trae DeSavuer and Gage McGillvary taking fourth and fifth in their respective weight classes.
On the girl’s side, eighth-grader Bailee Shepardson placed sixth in her weight class. In all, she went 5-3 for the weekend.
DeSavuer, a senior from Sweet Grass County High School, placed fourth with a record of 3-2 for the weekend.
Senior McGillvary, also of SGCHS, took fifth with a record of 4-2.
Coach Ben Hahn said, “I was very impressed with the team’s effort.” Hahn also stated that “if the tournament was played ten times over, there would be completely different results.”