Wolves wrestling team takes 4th at State tournament

Series: Knezovich earns state title | Story 1

The Wolves wrestling team capped their season by placing fourth at the State wrestling tournament over the weekend.

Star Valley won the title with 228 points, while Douglas took second with 202 points and Worland placed third with 165.5 points. Green River finished the event with 148.5 points.

The Wolves had two wrestlers earn All State recognition as well. Kale Knezovich, a freshman who won the state title in the 106 division, and Conner Todd, who placed second at 132.

For Knezovich, head coach Josh Wisniewski said he worked hard throughout the season, with that work paying off in his first state championship. Overall, Wieniewski said the team wrestled through adversity.

“My heart breaks for (Todd,)” Wisniewski said. During Todd’s final match with Pinedale’s Colton Gehlheausen, Wieniewski said Todd was leading well into the third period until he was thrown to his back.

The Wolves had four other top four finishers. Dominic Martinez took third at 113, Thomas Dalton placed third at 120, Zach Weipert placed third at 152 and Deylin Miller placed fourth at 220.

He said the wrestlers who didn’t place still worked hard to earn points for the team and credited that dedication to earning fourth with six wrestlers placing at State. Wisniewski said Flores showed leadership through adversity after losing his semifinal match towards what he hoped to be his fourth state title. Flores fought hard to take third despite that setback. Wisniewski also was impressed with Kade Florez, who took second at Regionals after coming back from an injury. Florez continued wrestling and persevering for the team at State until another injury sidelined him.

“I’m proud of that kid,” Wisniewski said.

Wisniewski said the team’s large group of freshmen and sophomores will make them more competitive in future. He said some of the wrestlers will be competing in off-season meets through the Green River Grapplers program, focusing on freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Wisniewski said the two styles differ from the collegiate wrestling emphasized in the high school, but said the mat time will help them gain more confidence and improve skills that transfer into collegiate wrestling.

Losing the team’s four seniors is a bittersweet moment for Wisniewski as they helped provide leadership to the younger wrestlers.

“They set the tone for the guys in the room,” he said.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/24/2024 12:25