*This year's wrestling team included 16 members that stuck with the long, intense season. Of those 16 team members, 9 of them were brand new to the team with many of those 9 never having wrestled before. For those new wrestlers, the season was one of learning, growing, tears, victories, and losses. What the new experience for them did not lack, was a sense of camaraderie. A wrestling team is unlike many other sports teams and the relationships you build as you grow with your team and feel their joy in their wins and their heartache in their losses, cannot be compared to many other teams. Of the 9 new members, two of them were female, and this year proved to be a big year for Wyoming female wrestlers as the state has made big moves to sanction girls wrestling. Jazlynne and Chloe each played their own individual parts in helping to move Wyoming forward with both of them placing in the girl's division at Ron Thon this year. Chloe was also successful in claiming a Champion title as she won her bracket at the Casper Showdown in Memory of Sarah Tolin, which served as the first Girl's High School State Tournament.
Throughout the season, the team struggled to come home with dual wins due to a couple of factors - new members to the team who were learning and building their skills, as well as having a smaller team in comparison to many of the other opposing teams. However, despite this, the team showed diligence in practices, heart in giving their all at every event, and desire to continue to grow and improve. When Wheatland was more evenly matched with smaller schools, the team was successful in capturing the wins. At tournaments, individuals did well and held their own despite a handful of the team enduring injuries throughout the season, some of which were season ending for a couple of wrestlers. The grit the team showed was admirable. Memorable wins from the season included Devin placing 2nd and Jake placing 4th at Ron Thon, which is the largest all class tournament in the state during the season. At the Shane Shatto tournament, Jay placed 3rd in the JV tournament while Devin placed 3rd, Jake placed 2nd and Maxx placed 5th in the Varsity tournament. At the Dylan Humes Memorial Mixer, Maxx placed 3rd as did Chloe. Regionals secured 10 wrestlers a trip to State - Caden, Maxx and Jack each placed 3rd and Devin and Jake placed 2nd. At State, Devin got 3rd place as did Jazlynne while Jake & Chloe each came home as State Champions. Jake was the first state champ for the program in 12 years.
The three seniors of the season are Devin, Jake & Chloe. Coaches Colt Goff and Blaine Eppel both poured their hearts and souls into coaching this year's team, as they do every year, and it is always bittersweet when the season comes to an end. As a parent, and a coaches' wife, I can appreciate all the endless hours of practicing, coaching on and off the mat, encouragement outside of practices and matches, check-ins pre and post season, and the heart that both of these coaches put into their roles. Coaches do not receive nearly enough credit for all they do and I greatly appreciate both of them for all they do for each of their athletes.
Credit is also due to manager, Savanna Metz, she is just as important of a team member always making sure to lug around a med bag, stats books, ipads for filming and every other thing that the team needs her to carry for them. She wears many hats on the team, and she wore each of them with ease and more than earned her keep on the team. She also doesn't get the credit she deserves, but she is very appreciated.
We cannot go without giving credit to the bus drivers who made sure that our athletes arrived both to their destinations and back home safely each time, also supporting the team at each of their events.
*Photos and Article Courtesy of Danette Eppel
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