3 state champions crowned

Three Green River wrestlers were crowned state champs during the state wrestling tournament in Casper over the weekend.

Green River took second at the tournament, earning 204 points. The Wolves were edged out by the Kelly Walsh team, which scored 223 points and its first state title in the school's history. Rock Springs took fifth with 186.5 points.

Clayson Mele took first at 106 pounds, followed by Dominic Martinez also taking first at 113 pounds and Payton Tucker taking first at 182 pounds. Others placing at state were Kade Flores taking third at 120 pounds, Kade Knezovich placed fourth at 126 pounds, with Garrett Harris also placing fourth in his 145-pound division.

Placing fifth were Jacob Weipert at 132 pounds, Jon Ty Leininger at 160 pounds and Kzden Lloyd at 170 pounds. Justin Flores placed sixth at 138 pounds, while Tanner Adam also took sixth at 152 pounds.

Head wrestling coach Josh Wisniewski is proud of the team's performance at State, saying the tournament hosted a number of teams with great depth to their rosters. The Wolves were contenders for the state title throughout the weekend, despite not having competitors in the 220 or the heavyweight divisions.

"We just didn't win enough matches," he said.

He hopes the experience will keep the returning wrestlers hungry for a state title next season.

The team will lose three seniors to graduation: J. Flores, Adam and Harris. Wisniewski said the three provided valuable leadership to other members of the team, as well as were some of the hardest workers for the Wolves.

"If you look up the word 'student athlete' in the dictionary, a picture of those three would be there," Wisniewski said.

For the coach, his favorite aspect of the season was watching the wrestlers grow and come together in a brotherhood. He said the wrestlers showed a willingness to work hard and wanted to live up to the strong wrestling tradition Green River High School has.

"They really came together," Wisniewski said.