The girls’ and boys’ wrestling teams took to the mats at the Casper Event Center, February 26-29, for the Wyoming High School State Championship Tournament. This three-day event is exciting for both the wrestlers and spectators but behind every match, medal, and moment, there’s a lot more happening than fans realize. This year, SVHS brought home five state champions, marking one of the strongest performances in school history.
For many wrestlers, the road to state is packed with intense practices, early mornings and late nights, and mental preparation that doesn’t show when they walk onto the mat. The work done long before the spotlight is what makes those moments possible. Freshman wrestler Sophia Bauer described the moment she qualified for state as something she had hoped for but never expected this early in her high school career. “It feels like I accomplished a lot, and I feel so grateful that I made it this far because not a lot of freshman make it,” Bauer said.
For some athletes, the experience wasn’t just about competing, it was about defending or building on a legacy. SVHS celebrated Tel Parry’s fourth state title, making him the first four-time state champion in school history. His achievement added even more meaning to his last state tournament. “[Winning was] really cool because I’m excited to have the chance to be first at something and make history for our school,” Parry said ” We’ve had people close, but I feel honored to be the first one.”
But Parry wasn’t the only Braves wrestler bringing home a title. His brother, Kimball Parry, who is a junior, secured his third title, while freshman Caleb Lawrence earned his first. On the girls’ side, Cara Andrews and Remi Aullman both claimed their second titles, with Andrews becoming the first four-time state finalist in the girls’ program. Each win added to an already historic weekend for SVHS and showed the talent across both teams.
Beyond the titles and records, the tournament carried emotional weight for many wrestlers. The emotions shift for upperclassmen wrestlers who have been to state before but still feel the pressure. Senior wrestler Brooke Schwab, who fought her way to the finals, said the moment didn’t feel real at first. “It feels like I’ve finally proved myself,” Schwab said.
Even with all the wins and losses, some wrestlers say the environment itself is the most exciting part of the tournament. Junior Calvin Green shared that nothing compares to the energy inside the arena and said “the atmosphere of wrestling in front of all those people” was his favorite part of the event.
In the end, the results only tell part of the story. From freshman experiencing their first big moment to seniors securing their place in school history, this year’s state tournament highlighted more than just the action. It represents the wrestlers journey, the preparation, and the hard work paying off at the biggest tournament of the season.
