Wrestling teams are confident for the new season

The Green River High School Boys and Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Wrestling teams started practice for the 2025 season this past week on Monday, November 25. Green River, Evanston and Riverton have all been moved up to 4A and will compete in the 4A West Division along with Natrona, Kelly Walsh, Jackson, Star Valley and Rock Springs. The Wolves' first meet of the season will be the always-tough Wasatch Duals in Heber City, Utah on December 13 and 14.

Head Wrestling Coach Josh Wisniewski expressed that he is excited to get started. Wisniewski indicated that they lost some great seniors last year, but still have a strong team.

"We are very confident in the wrestlers we have returning and the new freshman coming in," he said. "It's a fantastic group of hardworking individuals who love wrestling!"

As for the off-season, the coach added, "we accomplished quite a bit in the off-season. We took the team to Laramie again for the Cowboy Wrestling Camps and had summer duals in June."

Wisniewski went on to say that the group was able to get a lot of matches in. He also noted that many of the wrestlers participated in football and other fall sports and that they had good numbers for open mat, all of which led to a productive off-season that has prepared the team for this season.

The Coach expressed his view that "our culture and leadership are our greatest strengths. These wrestlers are not only great people but excellent leaders who embrace the hard work required to excel and want nothing but the best for their teammates and the wrestling program."

He further exclaimed that "it really is like a family," and concluded that "we have a good mix of wrestlers across each grade level."

In speaking about a weakness, Coach indicated that "we lost a returning state champion, James Herwaldt, to a football injury," which results in "huge shoes to fill," but he noted that the team will "keep working, taking it one day at a time, and striving to improve," noting that they are "always focused on building our culture and never satisfied."

As for the team's goals for the season, they "aim to be great people, get better every day, and wrestle our best" by the time they reach Regionals and State in late February.

In relation to the Boys Varsity team, the Wolves have three returning State Champions with Seniors James Herwaldt, Lucas Todd and Junior Maddux Hintz. They also have seven returning State placers, from sophomores to seniors, with Bentley Johnson, Kaleb Clar, Kaleb Gunter, Jakob Lloyd, Tavin Vendetti, Jaydon Walther and Ashton Lucero.

All in all for the Boys Varsity, Coach Wisniewski believes that "we should have good depth throughout the lineup, and it is encouraging to see that we have quite a few big wrestlers in the room this season."

For the Girls team, there are two returning State placers, Bianca Maez and Lily Harris, who are both looking to have strong seasons. There should also be a bigger Girls team this season, and the Coach finds this growth encouraging. Wisniewski concluded as to the Girls team that "it is cool to see Lily, Bianca and Adia Price grow into that leadership role as we build the Girls program."

Finally the coach exclaimed that he "can't wait to get the season going."