Wrestling fans turn out to support, honor state tournament team
By Per Peterson
It was a weekend of firsts for the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove wrestling team, which was welcomed home from the State Wrestling Tournament on Sunday with a fire truck escort through town. The team departed their bus at the high school to cheers from their fans as they made their way to the gym, where they were honored for their fourth-place finish.
But it’s what the individuals did at the tournament that made history. A record five individuals earned a medal by finishing in the top six, including Trevor Eisfeld, who became the first wrestler in the 70-year school history of the program to win an individual state title.
“We had six up there last year, we medaled four; two years ago, we had six and we medaled one,” TMB/WWG coach Karl Campbell said. “We had a fantastic tournament. Yah, there’s highs and lows and things don’t always go how you want them to, but I’m proud of the way these guys battled.”
At Sunday’s welcome home ceremony, Campbell noted how Sawyer Schwartz and Ayden Horner each wrestled nine matches. Levi Ellingson had eight himself.
“A lot of people don’t understand what a disadvantage it is for the individual kids who have to make weight and wrestle three grinding matches on Thursday and then have to go on Friday, make weight again, survive Friday morning, come back and wrestle again Friday night, come back and make weight again on Saturday morning.”
Campbell also noted how the team has compiled over 90 team duals over the last three years.
“That’s a phenomenal accomplishment by this group,” he said. “I can’t say how proud I am of how these guys battled last week.”
Special edition – 20-page section honors the Panther wrestling team (Pick up a Headlight Herald or subscribe to view.)