Antonio Avila of Thunder Basin Roars to 4th State Wrestling Crown

Thunder Basin wrestler Antonio Avila is as good as it gets with four State Championships to his credit. He's one of 30 grapplers to join this elite club and has honed his skills with valuable experience in big national tournaments.

At the Wyoming State Tournament over the weekend in Casper, Avila won the 4A 144-pound weight class with an 8-0 win over Dylan Gross of Sheridan. Avila wrestled 39 matches this season and won them all. He's a no-nonsense guy on the mat and cruised through the State Tournament with 2 pins and a technical fall.

Avila was unbeaten last season too with 46 wins and the 4A 138-pound State Championship with 3 pins and a TF on the way to the top of the podium. He posted a record of 42-5 in his sophomore year as he won the 4A crown at 126 with 2 pins and 2 technical falls at the 2022 State Tournament.

In his freshman year, Avila won his first state title as he prevailed at 113 pounds in 4A with an overall record of 30-1. He'll go down as one of the finest wrestlers in Wyoming history. We caught up with him after his championship victory at the Ford Center in Casper and it wasn't as easy as it looked.