Electric atmosphere highlights Rocky Mountain wrestling dual

Rocky Mountain/Burlington wrestling hosted a home dual Thursday against Greybull and Lovell. In two well-fought matches, Rocky Mountain defeated Lovell 41-26 and edged Greybull in a tightly contested dual, 36-34. The wins capped an energetic home night for the Grizzlies, highlighted by strong performances across the lineup and a lively crowd.

Head coach Eddie Whiting said the home dual was a special experience for both athletes and coaches, noting the atmosphere in the gym and the way the team responded in close, pressure-filled situations.

“It was awesome, just the environment,” Whiting said. “It was ecstatic. I was in awe just to feel that atmosphere. Lovell Coach Ty Hecker and I talked about firing up our teams, getting the crowd involved and having our normal rivalry while still keeping the camaraderie afterward. I was overjoyed.”

The team then traveled to Shoshoni on Friday for the Battle at the Crossroads tournament. On the girls side, Sky Olsen wrestled at 135 pounds and placed first, while Charlee Anderson placed second at 190. Emmi Wambeke competed at 140 pounds and placed fifth, and Grace McAlhany wrestled well at 155 but did not place. As a team, the Rocky Mountain girls finished eighth out of nine teams.

In the boys division, Masen Twomey placed first at 215 pounds, and Gabriel Whiting finished second at 120, Triffen Jolley placed third at 165 and Alex Walker placed fourth at 285. The Rocky Mountain boys team finished sixth out of 12 teams overall.

When asked about adjustments made throughout the tournament, Whiting said the focus stayed consistent.

“Not really changing anything,” he said. “More about staying humble in victories and taking losses with grace.”

Whiting pointed to several matches that showed growth and resilience, including a strong turnaround by Jolley.

“There were quite a few comeback wins,” Whiting said. “Triffen lost to a Greybull kid in our home dual, then came back and tech-falled him in Shoshoni. Seeing that kind of turnaround in just one night builds a lot of confidence and a big morale boost.”

Whiting said the tournament showed progress across the roster.

“I actually saw everyone take a big step forward,” he said. “We had wins and losses, but that’s part of it. You see progress, and sometimes a step back, but overall there was growth.”

Looking ahead, Whiting said the event was a good test for where the team stands. 

“Yes, I think so,” he said. “We need to get back to our basic grind. Keep things simple. The flashy moves can get us in trouble, but our fundamentals are what will carry us forward.”

The Rocky Mountain/Burlington wrestling team will make the long 250-mile trip across the state this weekend to compete in the Dylan Humes Memorial Tournament in Moorcroft Friday and Saturday. The event is expected to draw more than 20 teams from four states, including Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.