Westlake enjoyed a successful week as the team approaches the start of the postseason.

The Chaps earned a 51-36 win at District 26 rival Leander Jan. 20. Junior Curtis Loeffel got the Chaps started with a first-period pin in the heavyweight division. Loeffel, the normal 215 pounder, wrestled up to give the visitors a better chance to win the dual.

“Curtis is wrestling great given the fact that he got a late start due to football,” Chap coach Patrick O’Harra said.

After the two teams exchanged forfeits in the next four weight classes, senior co-captain Chase Betzer continued his domination in Austin with another first-period fall for the Chaps at 130 pounds. Leander picked up two pins at 135 and 140, but three Westlake seniors put together a string of victories that put the match out of reach. Jim Gianakopoulos pinned at 145 pounds, co-captain Peyton Burns earned a decision at 152 pounds, and co-captain Sawyer Morris pinned at 160 pounds.

Pins by Trevor Hershey and Richmond Howard iced the win for Westlake.

At last weekend’s prestigious Jay Hancock Invitational in Yukon, Okla., the Chaps proved they were up to the test by posting a top 10 finish with only eight wrestlers competing.

Morris was the lone Chap wrestler to win gold, claiming the title at 160 pounds. The Indiana University prospect faced off against Bobby Impson from Jenks, who is ranked third in Oklahoma. The wrestlers were evenly matched on their feet, as neither could score a takedown, forcing the match into double overtime. Morris was able to escape from Impson to earn a point, and then rode his opponent for the final 30 seconds to earn the one-point victory.

“It was a really gutty performance by Sawyer,” O’Harra said. “He got banged up in the quarterfinals but pushed through it against some very tough competition. Once again, he proved he can wrestle with anyone in the country.”

Burns also reached the championship finals at 152 pounds where he faced Impson’s training partner at Jenks, Justin DeAngelis. DeAngelis, ranked fifth nationally, is headed to perennial wrestling power Oklahoma State. The senior put on an impressive flurry of takedowns, but Burns gave him everything he could handle before falling 13-3.

“That was one of the best matches Peyton has wrestled all year,” O’Harra said. “He made DeAngelis work as hard as he has all season and did not give up any back points. Very few go the distance with that kid.”

Two other Chap wrestlers brought home bronze medals. Betzer placed third after suffering a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals, but the veteran bounced back to win his next two matches to earn the bronze.

“As he has done all year, Chase was the aggressor in every match,” O’Harra said. “I feel the ref should have made his opponent wrestle more in the semifinal match, but it did not turn out that way. I think Chase deserved better.”

Hershey had a terrific tournament at 171 pounds. After missing the early part of January with a shoulder injury, the junior appeared to be back to form with his third-place finish. Hershey faced the top seed in the semifinal round and was tied late in the third period before the eventual champ from Muskogee got a takedown to win 3-1. Hershey shrugged off the setback to pin his next opponent, and then dominated the third-place match against Hayden Reeder of Sandite Springs, Okla., 12-6.

“Trevor looked as good as I have seen him all year,” O’Harra said. “If he wrestles like that in February, he will be making some noise at the state tournament.”

The Chaps travel to Cedar Park Thursday for the final dual meet of the season and host the District 26 tournament Feb. 6.