(Riverton, WY) – Riverton USA Wrestling officially concluded its competitive season. Leaving a trail of gold medals and podium finishes across the state of Wyoming. The seasoned competitors in the 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, and 16U and Junior ranks, Riverton athletes demonstrated exceptional skill, grit, and sportsmanship on the mat.
WAWA Kids/16U/Junior State Championships
The club carried that energy into the final major event of the year, the WAWA Kids/16U/Jr State Championships, held in Casper from April 10–12 at the Ford Wyoming Event Center. Facing the toughest competition in the state, Riverton wrestlers stepped up to the challenge, adding more hardware to the trophy case.
1st Place State Champions:
● Santiago Acebo 1st Place in both 12U Boys Freestyle-92 lbs and 12U Boys Folkstyle-92 lbs ● Prestyn O’Neal 8U Boys Folkstyle-85 lbs
● Addison Apodaca 14U Girls Freestyle-100 lbs and 2nd Place in both 14 U Girls Greco-100 lbs and 14U Girls Folkstyle-100 lbs
● Kam Larsen 10U Boys Freestyle-63 lbs and 5th in both 10U Boys Greco-63 lbs and 10U Boys Folkstyle-63lbs
● Caysen Long 12U Boys Freestyle-86 lbs and 3rd place in both 12U Boys reco-86 lbs and 12U Boys Folkstyle 86 lbs
● Jagger Barton-8U Boys Greco-56 lbs, also 3rd in both 8U Boys Freestyle-56 lbs and 8U Boys Folkstyle-56 lbs
● Zeplyn Blackburn– Triple Crown Winner taking first in all 3 styles of her bracket, 8U Girls Greco-74 lbs, 8U Girls Freestyle-74 lbs, and 8U Girls Folkstyle-74 lbs
Additional Podium Placers:
● Mollie Thompson 2nd Place in both 12U Girls Folkstyle-59 lbs and 12U Girls Freestyle-59 lbs ● Zeplyn Blackburn 2nd Place in both 8U Girls Freestyle-68-74 lbs and 8U Girls Greco-68-74 lbs and 3rd place in 8U Girls Folkstyle-74-85+ lbs
● Mia Hanger 2nd Place in 14U Girls Freestyle-85 lbs and 3rd Place in 14U Girls Folkstyle-85 lbs
● Tracen Barton 2nd Place in 14U Boys Greco-96 lbs, 3rd Place in 14U Boys Freestyle-96 lbs, and 4th Place in 14U Boys Folkstyle-96 lbs
● Rylan Gambler 2nd Place 14U Boys Greco-115 lbs
● Collin Thompson 3rd Place in both 16U Boys Folkstyle-94 lbs and 16U Boys Freestyle-94 lbs ● Titan Shells 3rd Place 8U Boys Greco-70 lbs and 5th Place in 8U Boys Freestyle-70lbs ● Trenton Shells 4th Place in both 12U Boys Greco-82 lbs and 12U Boys Folkstyle-82 lbs and 5th Place in 12U Boys Freestyle-82 lbs
● Sawyer Persson 4th Place in both 12U Girls Freestyle-94 lbs and 12U Girls Folkstyle-94 lbs ● Valentine Hartman 5th Place in 8U Boys Freestyle-85 lbs
● Natalee Pearson 5th Place in 14U Girls Freestyle-100 lbs
● Zander Weliever 6th Place in 16U Boys Folkstyle-113 lbs
● Remi Youngchief 6th Place in 8U Girls Folkstyle-55 lbs
● Taydon Slack 6th Place in both 8U Boys Greco-49 lbs and 8U Boys Freestyle-49 lbs ● Parker Nelson 6th Place in both 14U Boys Greco-96 lbs and 14U Boys Freestyle-105 lb ● William Apodaca 6th Place in both 14U Boys Greco-140 lbs and 14U BOys Freestyle-140 lbs ● Waylon Persson 6th Place in 14U Boys Greco-100 lbs
A Season of Growth
“We are incredibly proud of every athlete who stepped on the mat this year,” said the Riverton USA Wrestling coaching staff. “Seeing our younger kids up to all of our older kids battle through the State brackets in April shows the depth of talent we have in Riverton. These results are a testament to their hard work and the support of our wrestling community.” We are proud of every wrestler who showed up, gave it their all, and worked hard.
Riverton USA Wrestling would like to thank the parents, families, coaches, board members, table help, refs, and local sponsors who made this successful season possible. The club now looks forward to the off-season as they prepare to build on this year’s massive success.
