Submitted 2/25/08 at 10:48 a.m. by anonymous / debo

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I would like to commend all the wrestlers from all across the state on an awesome tournament. If you didnt like the drama that unfolded all the way doen to the last match then you should try a different sport. SV gave the Camels all they could handle all weekend. WOW!

Submitted 2/25/08 at 12:25 p.m. by anonymous / 6xnostopfor7

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great job camels next year you should be over 300 havin 8 juniors on varsity comin back good luck and congrats to all wrestlers!!!!!!!!

Submitted 2/25/08 at 3:06 p.m. by anonymous / gscottn

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Thanks to the Casper Star Tribune for some unique and innovative coverage of the Wyoming State Wrestling Tournament. It definitely was state of the art in online coverage for a Wyoming high school state championship event.
Go to http://www.trib.com/wrestling for online video of the championship final matches. It takes a while to load but it is worth the wait.

Congratulations to all teams, participants, coaches, cheerleaders, workers, organizers and the CEC for a job well done. It couldn't have happened without all your assistance and perservance.

Submitted 2/25/08 at 6:57 p.m. by anonymous / sportsfan

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This years state tourney was a great one no doubt about it!! A few of the matches were lacking one thing, a cage around it.

Submitted 2/25/08 at 10:05 p.m. by anonymous / svdomination

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First of all, I would love to commend all teams on their victories and congratulate every single wrestler that competed. Wrestling takes so much toughness and dedication, so I commend them for that.

But I believe Star Valley had the championship stolen from them by bad calls by the officials.
When Brady Burgess threw Jimmy Owens it should have been called as illegal or intentional... the championship would have been Star Valley's if this call had not been made.

I realize calls are never perfect all the time. But I thought it was a cheap shot. And I was pretty disturbed by the fans. Star Valley fans NEVER boo another team, ever. Nor make up cheers like 'Back to 3A'... as if they hadn't just won the title by the skin of their teeth. It was highly inappropriate.

But then again if you think about it, for a school with 750 kids competing against schools still twice their size I am so proud of our boys. Its our first year at 4A.
Watch your backs next year is all I will say. Things can only go up.

Submitted 2/25/08 at 11:42 p.m. by anonymous / DWU_wrestling

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First of all, I would like to tell you that my father is alright and it wasn't a heartatack. He is back home and everything is alright. I'm just glad that they didn't have to stop any wrestling. And what Tyler Cox went through, was amazing. He was standing right next to my father as it happened and went out and kicked butt. All the kids that were in the finals from Gillette was around and still went out like nothing happened. That takes a lot of guts to do what they were able to do. They were able to put that behind them and still compete.

Second, what happened in the Owens and Burgess match was a total fluke. The chances of that happening in the finals match is slim to none. You can take nothing away from Burgess because he was just doing a move that he does all the time. The officials made the right call. And can you honestly say that the officials made a call that went for Gillette? You can't say that because if anything, if you think a official would make a call like that, they would go with the home team. So that had nothing to do with it. They made the right decision and the right judgement. Burgess is the better wrestler and it went the way it was suppose to; best man came out on top. Just please give the kid credit for wrestling good. He never wanted to go out there and hurt him.

Next, WELCOME TO 4A. Booing has been going on in 4A for a long time. Casper and Gillette has been going at it for a while and Gillette and Green River went at it before that. But Gillette is a very competitive town and loves to win. We are just living up to our reputation since you all think that we are bad sports.

Also, why do you keep bringing up that you are a small school? Does it really matter? You were ready for the challenge, and you got it. Maybe if you would have won more matches in the finals, you would have won state. I was cheering for Ricky and really wanted him to win because he is a friend of mine and I really like him. I'm very sad that he lost. And I'm very impressed and proud of the way that SV wrestled. For what happened to them earlier in the year, they did awesome... and gave us a run for our money. But being a smaller school has nothing to do with it. You are a very good wrestling team, don't have any excuses.

All in all, the wrestling was amazing. And I want to thank all of you for your prayers for my father and everything. But SV wrestled well and don't have any excuses for why you didn't win. You had it wrapped up, and couldn't finish it off. Gillette has shown this year that they can win even when they are behind as well as being ahead. They have been challenged and didn't fail. That is a GOOD wrestling team. They are a well coached team as well as SV. Next year should be a good one too. Good job to all the wrestlers!

Submitted 2/26/08 at 1:16 a.m. by anonymous / sportsfan

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Hey DWU_wrestling have you gone to the web site that gscottn posted and watched the ILLEGAL return to the mat?? I'm pretty sure that you havn't or else you would see that it was illegal. You can not pinn an opponent's arm to his side and then slam him to the mat. Also both wrestler's feet left the mat when that happens the rule book states that the one who does the lifting must land first.

If you remember 6 years ago a Powell wrestler was and still is paralized from a simalar throw. Regaurdless of intentions or not it is still illegal and it is the job of the referee to protect the wrestlers.

I was in Riverton and watched one of Gillette's wrestler's get slammed but not knocked out(Storbeck). Boy did the Gillette people yell about that and rightly so it was another illegal return and the other wrestler was dinged a point, had Storbeck been totally out and not been able to continue he would of won the match. At the same tourny a Star Valley wrestler (Dana)was also thrown to the matt illegaly he was knocked out and couldn't finish his match.

We just need the ref's to do their part. After all they are getting paid to do a job and protecting the kids is part of their job.

Yes Gillette had a great tourny so did Cokeville and so did Powell. Congrats to the two 4 timers that is very impressive. I expect that Cox will be next!

Submitted 2/26/08 at 1:25 a.m. by anonymous / DickinsonStateWrestler

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DWU I got to say I was a little freaked out by your father. Im glad to know he is doing quite well. Also for the record Tyler Cox and the rest of the Gillette boys did their job this weekend even when there were distractions. The Gillette wrestlers and all the others wrestled extremely well. Probably one of the best events I have been too.

DWU is right. In 4A it has always been some sort of booing by either Natrona, Green River, or Gillette. Welcome to 4A Star Valley.

Finally I knew that this was going to happen. Star Valley has a double edge sword. If Star Valley wins they could say hey were smaller and yet we still won or if they lose they can say hey were smaller Gillette has more kids. Im sick of people saying because they are smaller than Gillette that they cant win. Of course you can win Star Valley should have won. By winning one more of their last 8 matches!

Anyway Congrats to all the wrestlers and teams. Star Valley welcome to 4A the rivalry has just begun!

Submitted 2/26/08 at 9:55 a.m. by anonymous / debo

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Great now we are using bad reffing as an excuse. Next it will be "OH NO" someone poisened our wrestlers before the finals. Give it a rest. SV gave it a great run but couldnt finish the job. End of story. They have already started threatening about next year. WOW! next year Gillette will be evn stronger.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 10:55 a.m. by anonymous / SVBraves

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Let's not even go there guys! Think about it. If the call had went the other way and SV had won. You would feel the same. In many ways everyone was cheated in this. There will be many lingering questions for years. Excuses the Braves have none. Was this a questionable deal? YES! No one not even a Camel fan can dispute that.

Was it a slam? Look at the video, then the rule book then decide for yourself. Are the Braves fans upset? Would you be? I can bet you would.

Let's leave the young man from Powell out of this, his situation wasn't even close to this one. I saw it. It haunts me still.

Was this the best tourney ever? Yes it was. Too bad there is a cloud over it and always will be. You can't deny it. If the call had went either way it would cause that.

Don't forget the young man from Casper that was denied his opportunity to compete. If he was a a Camel, how would you feel?

Before you sling to much mud. Remember that the character displayed by both teams needs to be honored. Don't dismiss that, those boys deserve that. Both teams are class acts, work hard, and bring honor to their schools and communities. Let's not ruin it.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 1:39 p.m. by anonymous / WrestlingsBiggestFan

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Let's all quit with the holier that thow attitude! First you are all being bad sports. Did you hear the Gillette fans boo the "ref" when T.O was knocked out and unable to compete? No we stood to our feet and applauded that he was ok. I guess it's ok if after the fact you say you were booing the ref because I am sure the refs and the kids on the mat know your intentions right?

Secondly I belive without Brady's match the tournament would have ended in a tie. You would not have won the tournament. But it doesn't matter how Gillette would have won state you had the excuses rolling before you ever made it to the events center. You had it set up so you were the state hereos with your small school beating all the "big 4A schools" how great you would be, but if you loose it's because you come from such a small school.

You had some very talented wrestlers on that team as does all the 4A schools. So how about we celebrate a GREAT state tournament instead of crying about what you wanted to happen and trying to belittle a kids state title. He won THE END.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 1:59 p.m. by anonymous / DWU_wrestling

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If you look at that video, Mr. Burgess does indeed land on the mat first. His right knee lands first on the mat before Mr. Owens lands. Legal. If I recall right, the main reason they stopped that match was because Mr. Owens hit is head in an earlier match and thought that he was already wrestling with a concusion. But anyway, Mr. Owens landed on his shoulder and not directly on his head. It's not a illegal slam or throw.

By looking at the rule book, since I am a certified official, what happened in that match doesn't fit into the thing as a slam. Mr. Burgess landed first and his chest didn't follow his action. What he did is what every high school and college coach teaches their kids. If you look at that throw, it was a perfect throw with perfect technique. Actually, Mr. Burgess only brought one leg up, which is what everyone is taught, and did land on his right knee first. So really, the refs did do their job.

Also, he wasn't denied his opportunity to compete. He did compete, and made the finals match. If he had got the take down first, he wouldn't have been on bottom. If he got away quicker, it wouldn't have happened. A person can do this all day long and it doesn't make a difference. They were both out there wrestling and no one wanted to hurt anyone. It was just one of those freak accidents that no one could handle. But like I said above, it wasn't the first time in the tournament that Mr. Owens landed on his head. The most important thing about a stand up, which is what Owens did, is to make sure you get your arm free and he did not do that. Every wrestler has been thrown like that in matches and in practice so don't say that it was a slam.

Don't say there will be a cloud over this tournament because if SV would have done better, they would have won. They had the championship in their hands the whole tournament. They pretty much handed the trophy to Gillette. You can't take anything from Gillette because they did what they needed to do and never gave up. It wasn't because of one match, it's because they won more matches in the finals and placing matches than SV did. So that means that you, SV, need to stop living in the past and making excuses. You are the one who gave it away. It all came down to who wanted it more, and look who got it. The best team won and you know it. Not only did Gillette beat SV at state, they also beat them at the Ron Thon and in Gillette.

So before you tell me to not "SLING TOO MUCH MUD", think about what you wrote. All you are doing is making excuses for why you lost. It's not because of that one match, it's not because Gillette only has one school, it's not because SV has fewer students, it's because Gillette proved they are the best wrestling team. So take those excuses and shove them right back into your pie hole. Wrestling is a mans sport. If you don't want to get hurt, join swimming or basketball. It is a contact sport, what do you expect to happen?

Submitted 2/26/08 at 3:11 p.m. by anonymous / SVBraves

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Look again! Locked hands prior to the "slam." Then the arm is trapped. If the arm isn't trapped you are right. Then it is text book technique. The arm is trapped making it a slam regardless of who gets to the mat first. Look in the case book as well. You are a ref, you should have one. It will make us all brush up a bit on the rule. The rule doesn't talk about intent of the wrestler. (We know this wasn't intentional.)

I wasn't meaning it the way you took it. I am saying look at both sides of the situation. How would you feel on the other side of the fence? Every coin has two sides. We aren't making excuses. Just saying you might feel differently had things been different. You are only seeing your side look at the other side.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 3:52 p.m. by anonymous / mikeyJ

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Give me a break, refs make a bad call and Gillette benefits from it? It was not a slam, there were two refs at matside who discussed it and decided it wasn't so the call stands. Those of us who were around Brady after the match know how upset he was that it ended the way it did. Nobody wants to win or lose that way but it happened, Brady didn't make the call to end it the medical staff did. Brady was a true sport and deserves credit for winning another state title. SV would love it the other way,because Brady would have beat Owings had it continued, he has beat him all year and was winning at the time he injury defaulted.
As for SV excuses, coach Clark showed his class by spelling it out, Gillette got it done ,SV did not. It was not one match that lost it for you it was the other 7 of 8 matches. The beauty of wrestling is you can't blame anyone but yourself when you lose. You guys have been talking smack for years about how you wished you could wrestle against Gillette and you have yet to beat us !!! As for next year? Get used to the second step on the podium because we will be stronger next year having some very talented 8th graders who could have placed pretty high this year!
One last thing , Gillette will split into two schools when we become the largest 4a school, I believe we are 3rd now. Maybe the other two can split first !!

Submitted 2/26/08 at 3:54 p.m. by anonymous / DWU_wrestling

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I did look at it the other side. If we wrestled like SV did in the finls and placing, we deserved to loose.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 5:06 p.m. by anonymous / debo

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Coach Clark also said in the Casper Star tribune that his kids needed to go to work to get better. He said nothing about the bad call made in the Burgess match. That guy has class. The bottom line is SV had 5 kids in the finals and won one championship. Gillette had 6 in the finals and won five championships. This and only this is what erased the 14 point lead and gave Gillette the 4 point win.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 5:18 p.m. by anonymous / SVBraves

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I guess it really boils down to this. The SV fans will see this one way the Gillette fans the other. Could SV have done better? Yes, they could have. It was still a great tourney. This tourney will be talked about for many years. G-town is stacked for next year. Green River, Natrona & Rock Springs bring back a lot as well. SV will have to work hard to get back in it next year.

Should be fun watching!!

Submitted 2/26/08 at 8:06 p.m. by anonymous / WyoFan

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Let us please stop talking about school size... It is rediculous. Over the years, Green River did just fine as one of the smaller 4a schools. Coach Seamans can have a winning team at a small 4a school or a large 4a school. Torrington always gave SV good competition at state in the 3a, and they were about half their size. Coach Clark did fine as a huge 3a school and a small 4a school. Cokeville has won the 2a for three years in a row now, and I'm not sure on this but I think they are pretty much the smallest school with a wrestling team in the state. Some 2a schools are probably almost 4 times their size, and they don't complain about it when they lose or boast about it when they beat the big schools. They just go compete their best, like Gillette and Star Valley and all good wrestling teams do, regardless of size. Gillette, please stop hassling Star Valley and just thank Coach Seamans for a job well done. Star Valley, please stop arguing with Gillette about it. Coach Eddie Clark runs the program, he is a class act, he doesn't complain. Follow his example. It is making this discussion rediculous. You both gave a great showing at state... You are the best two teams in the state and represesnt Wyoming wrestling. Whoever is commenting on here in your teams behalf, whether it be wrestlers, fans, parents, etc., you are both acting without much class now. Represent Wyoming better.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 8:47 p.m. by anonymous / DWU_wrestling

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First of all, this is an open blog and we can say whatever we want. It's not a fist fight or anything. It's all just words. Secondly, we are just stating our opinions on what happened. It's not serious or anything. If I were to see the same people on the streets, I wouldn't say a word about it. But this open blog is just one way for a person to let out what they think and no one being able to know who it is, or it getting around and it being a big deal. Everyone on here loves wrestling and respects everyone on here. Wrestling is one big family, we are able to talk about this stuff and not get really heated up about it. So keep on talking, or don't. It really doesn't matter to me.

School size will be an issue for a long time. Most of it doesn't even have to do with sports. A lot of people in Gillette want it to happen so they can have smaller class sizes.

All in all, keep talking on here and let your opinions out. Welcome to the real world where everything isn't "peachy". Everything said on here isn't out of control, it's the same as striking a conversation. It also gives me something to do.

If you think that the stuff on here is out of control, don't read it. No one is making you read anything on here.

We do represent Wyoming well. I know a lot of people that are in these blogs and they are wrestlers, former wrestlers, coaches, and GREAT parents. What we say on here, stays on here and goes no place else. What is wrong with that?

Submitted 2/26/08 at 8:49 p.m. by anonymous / New2Wrestling

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Alright, forgive me if I'm mistaken. I'm sure there are many of you out there that will set me straight. For several months now all I have heard and read about is the fact that Star Valley is a small school and Gillette is a big school. As I sat at the Casper Events Center this weekend I carefully looked at the program. I noticed that Gillette brought 23 wrestlers and Star valley brought 24. If a varsity team consists of 14 weights and each school filled those weights, how can anyone complain about the size of school these wrestlers come from? Going through the weights I also noticed that each team had some weights without back ups, (Star Valley with three and Gillette with 5)not because Gillette didn't qualify them at regionals, but because those weights weren't as stacked as most may think. It's not like the whole school participates in wrestling, big or small. The numbers for each team across the state has to be the same. I have watched Star Valley, Natrona, Kelly Walsh, and Gillette for many years and I know that Gillette has a great if not amazing youth program. They have many dedicated parents, coaches and volunteers that are commited to bringing the youth of Gillette to the level they are expected to be at when they hit high school. I applaud the Camels for their victory, but I also cheer for the other teams that were close. It was a great and memorable state from my point of view and I'm sure many of you would agree. So instead of complaining about the size of school a wrestler comes from maybe your community should get more involved with getting the youth started at a young age so by the time they have gone through a feeder program they are at level with the rest of the state.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 9:11 p.m. by anonymous / CoachK

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Good Call WyoFan..its time for SOME people on both sides of this Gillette vs Star Valley to stop commenting you are not representing your school or community very well.

Here is my take on the state tournament this year. This was my first year here in the state and I enjoyed the atmosphere very much. I live in Lander so I have no horse involved in the 4A grudge. With regards to the slam/non slam at D4 160 it looked to me like a slam (and I and 99% percent of coaches would argue for it including Coach Seamans and Coach Clark) but in the end it was not called so you have to move on. As I followed the team point race both of the crowds from Gillette and SV were in it 100% which was awesome to see. There was some booing which happens everywhere but I think most of it is generated towards calls that go against your own teams and not directed at any one wrestler.

It went right to the end and in the end the title went to the team that wrestled best in the medal rounds on the final day. What is sad is to see adults from both sides catcall each other ANONYMOUSLY with clever witty sayings like "they started it first" or "told you so" like some grade school kid. I was particularly upset by a so-called referee listed above who said "shut your pie hole". That is simply over the line and if you are a ref it is extremely unprofessional.

Class is how you act whether you win or lose. How do you set examples for the young athlete? It certainly isn't from the majority of what I read above.

Enough venting...the rest of the tournament was excellent. Things ran on time, nice seating, plenty of bathrooms and eating places..I didn't eat donuuts. The breaks between rounds were perfect so if you needed to go out to eat there was just enough time before the next round. PLenty of parking. Everything ran smoothly until awards time when there was a cluster of people on the stairs..that needs to be fixed for at least a safety reason.

One thing I felt a little preterbed about was while on the floor during the awards ceremony a few parents/supporters of D4 programs were commenting basically "if that kid was in D4 he wouldn't have placed/qualified, he's lucky he was in D3/D2". Wrestling is a super tough sport and no matter what division an athlete is in they all need to be congratulated for their accomplishments and efforts.

But overall a very fun experience for my whole family as none of us missed a single round. We met a lot of nice people from all over the state and I look forward to next years season already.

To not be a hypocrite or a hit and run poster, my name is Todd Klopp of Lander, Wyoming and like the politicians say I stand behind my words.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 9:42 p.m. by anonymous / DickinsonStateWrestler

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Haha well DWU wrestler I know you and if I saw you on the streets I would talk about this with you. Anyway enough joking around. I would have to agree with DWU Wrestler not because I know him but the so called slam was not a slam. Burgess knee acually did touch first before Owens. Yet Owens did come down on his shoulder which then led to his head bouncing off the mat. Again it is not illigal to trap an arm and return a wrestler to the mat.

As for Todd Klopp congrats to your son on an undefeated season and a state championship. I wish him all the luck next year and hopefully we will get to see a rematch of Burgess and Klopp at the Ron Thon. Also welcome to the state of Wyoming where the fans have nothing to do but bicker at eachother. But your adding to this forum and bickering with us. The fans for Wyoming have nothing else to do but this. It just gives us a way to begin the rivalry for next year. You have been in Wyoming for most people there is nothing to do.

Finally you will never hear Coach Seamans or Coach Clark say anything like that. They may think that it was a slam but they will never reveal what they think. The ref is god out on the mat. His decision is final and he said it was not a slam. Therefor it was not a Slam.

Submitted 2/26/08 at 10:05 p.m. by anonymous / DWU_wrestling

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Well Mr. Todd Klapp, welcome to Wyoming and Wyoming Wrestling. I would also like to congradulate you for your son. He had a real good season.

First of all, I never said "shut your pie hole". If you quote something, make sure that it is exact. What I said was take those excuses and shove them in your pie hole. Also knows as, take those excuses and put them back in your mouth. Also, if you read, I encouraged people to say what they want no matter what side they are on. Also since you make a comment, you are just as guilty as we are.

Please get it through your heads that everything said on here is just your opinion. It's nothing that we are going to fight about, it's just talk. I don't really know how to explain it. And since you are new to Wyoming, you will find that people from Gillette, both Casper schools, SV, Green River, and so on are friends. What we say on here doesn't affect our friendship. What it is, is people taking all of this the wrong way.

If you are going to name people in this, make sure that you heard that from their mouths. Since every coach knows the rules, there is no way that 99% of coaches are going to say that it was a slam. It's hard for me to believe that you talked to every coach and they all said that it wasn't a slam.

But like I said, we are all friends and a lot of my good friends wrestle for other schools. And since you want to get politicial, my name is Alan Stuber and if you don't like the way that I talk, feel free to e-mail me and we can settle that. But I have been an ref for a couple of years now. I don't ref high school, but I do junior high. I have been commented a lot on how good I am, and I would make that same call that was made at state.

So how is it you can bash on what we say or believe, but we can't do it? Like I said, if you don't like it, don't read it.

Welcome to Wyoming where we say what is on our mind. We may bicker a lot, but we have some of the best wrestlers, fans, and high schools around! I say we represent well!

Please e-mail me if you have any problems... alstuber@dwu.edu

Submitted 2/26/08 at 10:33 p.m. by anonymous / mikeyJ

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99% OF What coaches think that was a slam on Burgess vs Owings? I have seen coach Russell over the years when he thought his wrestler was on the recieving end of a bad call and watched him passionatly fight for his wrestler,he never questioned this call period. Don't you think that for a state championship he would argue a little??
new2 wrestling hit it right on the head, size of town has nothing to do with winning. Everyone entered regions with opportunity to bring 28 to state. Natrona brought the most with 24 or 25?? Gillette & SV bringing 23.How can it be more even than that? If Gillette brought 28 and SV brought 12 because thats all they had in their room that would be different. Also our youth programs are second to none and our kids grow into champions young because we have this little thing here called TRADITION ! Everybody coming up wants to be the next Tyler Cox, Tyler Juby, Brady Burgess, Tellbe Storbeck,and RJ Boylan. Its something that we as coaches bring up to our young wrestlers and when they hit high school they are ready to step in and contribute right away. Plus we have had great high school coaches, Pat Weede,Bill Peters, Jim Coca, Tom Krogman, and now Tom Seamans WOW!!! Very fortunate for us! We will be strong for along time no doubt! Congrats to Tom Seamans and to the Camel Wrestling team, what a ride and you are the PRIDE OF GILLETTE !!

Submitted 2/26/08 at 11:46 p.m. by anonymous / sportsfan

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It's not having a full line up that matters, its having a bigger school thus more athletes to choose from to make your line up stronger.

If size doesn't matter then why don't Jr. Colleges compete at division 1 levels??

However a good coach can help make up for smaller school size just as Coach Clark has done and Coach Linford from Cokeville and many other schools from around the state.

Submitted 2/27/08 at 12:30 a.m. by anonymous / DWU_wrestling

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Since I am at the college level, I can honestly say that coaching matters. Good coaching gets the numbers out and gets the program strong. If you have a good coach, you will get the numbers and have a good program. If you have a bad coach, your program won't get the numbers because it won't be strong. Coaching is the #1 part of wrestling.

Also being at the college level, all everyone thinks about is the D1 schools. What people don't think about is the JC and the NAIA. People just think that these schools are small. SIZE DOESN'T MATTER!!! NAIA schools beat NCAA schools all the time. JC schools beat the NCAA and NAIA schools all the time. Get on the web and look up tournament results.

By looking at the college schools, size doesn't matter. Most of the best NAIA, JC, and NCAA II and III schools are very small and still are good in wrestling. Look at Dickinson for example, they are a very small school and can beat some D1 schools.

Most importantly, it starts with coaches. Gillette has been fortunate with getting good coaches. Look at the top programs in the state like Gillette, SV, and Natrona. All three of those coaches are the best around. I praise Coach Seamans and Coach Clark. If you ask me, either one of those coaches could be at the college level but we need them to stay in Wyoming.

Wyoming doesn't have a big population, but at national events, we do darn good. Just because we don't have millions of people doesn't mean we can't compete as a state at national events. That right there proves that size doesn't matter.

I'm so proud to be from Wyoming. We have the best fans, wrestlers, and coaches that a state could ask for. I know we may not be a Minnesota or Iowa, but we are getting there. The JC wrestling colleges in Wyoming are amazing and UW is getting better. Look at the best wrestlers on that team; they are from Wyoming.

Praise all the coaches when you can. Praise the assistant coaches because without them, the head coaches job would be "hell". Praise the managers who have to put up with the boys. Praise the parents who travel, support, and put up with us when we are cutting weight. This right here is what keeps wrestling alive.

Submitted 2/27/08 at 12:17 p.m. by anonymous / 6xnostopfor7

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did anyone look at thp pics they were takin burgess's knees were on the mat before owens hit the mat also owens has had six or seven concussions so he is prone to them think before you talk people and know the facts THANK YOU CASPER!!!!!!!!

Submitted 2/27/08 at 12:49 p.m. by anonymous / GilletteSportsFan

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Thankyou 6xnostopfor7 for thanking Casper Natrona and Casper Kelly Walsh on their wins against SV if that is what you were doing. We should also be thanking GR on their win against SV because if it werent for those 3 schools wrestlers win over SV the outcome of the tournament would have been different. Lets also be thankful that nobody got hurt any worse than what they did. As the Gillette NewsRecord reads, there is more to life than sports.

Submitted 2/27/08 at 9:55 p.m. by anonymous / RSFan

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First of all,props to the wrestlers who competed at the state championships.

Now,I have to say,as proud as I am of the wrestlers,I am just as ashamed at a lot of the fans.svdomination can say that SV never booes,but we all know better.They booed at regionals too.In fact,all day Saturday at regionals I had to listen to SV fans boo and dissent call after call that were made by the refs.It's one thing to get involved in your own kids match because your own kid is always the one who should have won:-)but it seems like there are a dozen or so SV fans who had a kid in every single match.

I heard one SV..gentleman?..behind me scream"How's his arm now ref?His arm looks okay now ref!"at least 10 times during a match after the ref stopped the match for a dangerous position.Of course it was a SV wrestler who was twisting that arm,so it couldn't have been dangerous right?Maybe the refs should wait till the rotator cuff tears before they stop the match,that way there'd be no question whether it was dangerous right?

Those same fans booed a green river wrestler for riding his opponent to a win in the fourth round of the fourth period.Maybe I don't understand how overtime works but I thought that was how you won in the fourth round of the fourth period. Since it was a SV wrestler who was on bottom,I guess the rules were different for that match.

Beyond that, I felt that the visiting fans in SV at the regionals were treated with complete disrespect.Apparently SVs gym is more important than every other gym in the state because the visiting fans can't have food or drink in the gym.The SV wrestlers did.The SV chearleaders did.The SV table workers did.Even the lady who policed the crowd and told my friend she couldn't have her sunflower seeds was eating in the stands later on.But the visiting fans,wrestlers,and cheerleaders were out of luck. This isn't basketball where we watch a game for an hour then go home.This was two solid nonstop days of being stuck in a gym without food or drinks.(Oh, we could go to the commons area and get nachos with cold cheese...yummm!)

Then SV and CC booed at state.They booed every time someone lost to one of the other teams wrestlers.I don't care that there has been booing in the past,it doesn't make it any less ridiculous now. The fans of both teams should be ashamed of themselves.The guys standing up yelling at each other to come over to each others side so they could do violent things to each other should be ashamed of themselves. The fans that leaned over the rails and screamed obscenities at refs who made calls they didn't like should be ashamed of themselves.

Moreover, it is one thing to cheer for a win, it is something else entirely to cheer for someones loss. It is pathetic how Wyoming wrestlers were treated this weekend by so called Wyoming fans. I don't care what town a wrestler comes from, these are all our kids and deserve better.

-Island Richards Sr.
Rock Springs.

Submitted 2/28/08 at 11:29 a.m. by anonymous / wyogal

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Todd Klopp, I agree. I am Maria Baca, from Cheyenne Central. Congrats to all. It was a fun tournament. I know there has always been booing, and always will be. However, not from the Baca family. There were some bad calls, I even believe for my own son. However, that is sports. Let's move on. As adults, let's be good examples of what being mature is all about. Win or lose, be respectful and remember....it's wrestling. Now that the season is over, let's make sure our wrestlers are back in the books, where it really counts!! I am so proud of all the wrestlers. I have so much respect for them. They ALL work so very hard. See you all next year.

Submitted 2/28/08 at 2:24 p.m. by anonymous / sss5910

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Congrats to all competitors at State.

School size does not matter as much as support form all areas, including school administration. To many schools have little or no admin support for wrestling. Look at the unfortunate events at Univ of Northern Colo. New A.D. who does not like wrestling and therefore the gym is off limits to any wrestling activities. Star Valley has incredible support from all areas and therefore has a very strong program. They probably get more kids out than any other school in the state. It will be interesting when South High starts in Cheyenne in 2010. Both East and Central now only get 25-30 kids out and when that gets divided for South, none of the 3 teams may come close to filling a team, let alone be competitive. There has been talk of the three being moved to 3A. Although Team Braves club is doing well to try to pump up numbers of competitive wrestlers, as they have won WAWA State Folkstyle 2 out of the last 3 years. Speaking of WAWA, I notice very few Star Valley wrestlers. How does SV work with the youth to produce such a strong program?

Submitted 2/28/08 at 2:29 p.m. by anonymous / SVwrestling

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How is the Owens kid if he is that prone to concussions why is he still wrestling? We all have to remember there is life after wrestling. Nobody beat Star Valley we beat ourselves. Along with great wrestlers from all over the state. Congrats to all look forward to next year. But lets not forget the USA season is just getting started hope to have a big showing from Wyoming at the regionals in Pocatello and Nationals in Salt Lake it doesnt get any closer. Again good luck to all and hopefully we can have just a tournament next year.

Submitted 2/28/08 at 8:38 p.m. by anonymous / RSathletics

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Good job to all wrestlers and i think noone can rewind what happened at state the scores say gilette won so that day they must have been the better team

Submitted 3/01/08 at 9:40 a.m. by anonymous / debo

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The WAWA tournament at the events center was a great one. Camel Kids won the team points by almost 400 over second place Laramie. If they continue to have this tournament in the events center the day after high school state this could become the biggest tournament in the state.

Submitted 3/02/08 at 11:15 p.m. by anonymous / SVBraves

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If anyone one is interested in what neutral people thought of the 160 match. The video was sent into the officials forum with the NFHS. Many officials from all over the country have chimed in and the have no idea the importance of the match or who was in it. This way we can all be better educated from open discussion among coaches and officials for next season. #1 Priority protect kids.

Here is the website: http://www.nfhs.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.c...

Submitted 3/03/08 at 7:23 p.m. by anonymous / wtgbrvs

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From the looks of what the National Federation thinks it was a slam. I agree we need to protect our wrestlers.

Submitted 3/03/08 at 7:33 p.m. by anonymous / Mosbon

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I enjoy reading all the comments on wyoPreps I thought it was a great state tounament. Congrats to all state champs. Jorden Osbon from worland was 3A 119 pound state champ which makes him a 3rd genaration state champ in wyoming. Grandfather Scott Caturia 1960(powell) and Uncle Kade Caturia 1999 and 2000(Lovell). I was wondering if that has ever happened in the state of wyoming. Thanks

Submitted 3/04/08 at 11:10 a.m. by anonymous / mikeyJ

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SVBraves, how about we send all of the videos from every match wrestled in the tournament to this site until we find someway for you to win ??? If we do this there are several "Bad Calls " that would have gone Gillette's way and changed the outcome of the points race ! As for the comment that Gillette didn't win the tournament, you lost it ?? Well I disagree, Gillette never quit wrestling hard and did everything they had to do to have a chance to win. They won this tournament and deserve the credit. You should have known that they would never quit, they did this same thing at the Ron Thon two weeks before, SV should be commended for a hard fought tournament but lets not forget there is no almost first in wrestling. Welcome to 4A wrestling and we welcome the challenge from a good wrestling program but give up the excuses and the whining about the 160lb match, Brady Burgess is a darn good wrestler and had beat Owings every time they wrestled, what makes any of you think this would have ended any different ? Just as you don't want to see a kid win like that , you shouldn't want Burgess to lose that way. Burgess has used this move all year long and he controlled the return to the mat, his knee is clearly down before Owings shoulder hits {his head doesnt hit first }. The refs made the call quit questioning them,it is easy to look at a video but these refs didn't have that luxury they called it as they saw it. If you can do better than them perhaps you should quit complaining and put on the stripes and show us the "SUPER REF " that you think you are !!!! Instead of living on yesterday perhaps you should be getting a stadegy on how you will compete with us next year, because I doubt it will be close next year !

Submitted 3/04/08 at 5:07 p.m. by anonymous / Wrestling

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I just want to say thank you to all the 3A fans.

Submitted 5/03/08 at 10:42 p.m. by anonymous / svdomination

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dear mikeyj:
you accuse us of whining when you are just as bad. you gloat and are full of crap! seriously. First of all it was Jimmy OWENS not Owings. Der. And there have always been upsets in wrestling, its a proven thought. No one knows FOR SURE that Burgess would have won. For example, Zack Walker was never "supposed" to win last year. But with an amazing amount of flexability and hard work he achieved a first place at 135.
The refs agree that the arm was trapped. Weirder things have happened is all I'm trying to say. Owens may have beat him. And so what if he was prone to head injuries. He kept going because he loved wrestling. He put forth TONS of effort and hard work to make it to the finals. I just feel bad that his chance at taking state was taken from him.
Its not even an SV Gillette war anymore. It's a matter of a clear slam. Yeah sure, some bad calls were made. But a slam that decided the STATE TOURNAMENT that was BLATANT should have been handled a bit differently.
I can see maybe a hand hold or other bad calls... but not something so big as a slam that resulted in a knock out that was the deciding factor of the ENTIRE tournament.

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