Now that fall is over the winter sports season is gearing up for Kelly Walsh students. Two sports starting up are wrestling and basketball. These sports are two of the most important for Kelly Walsh because they brings students to the events and bring state titles home.
The first basketball game is Dec 11th against Worland High School. The first wrestling tournament is Dec 12th in Rapid City, South Dakota. With these games and tournaments right around the corner the winter athletes are getting excited.
“I am happy wrestling has started. I have a state title to go get and it all starts with my first match in Rapid City,” Ethan Hague, a senior, said. “I am also excited to see how our team will do this season. We are young but we have a lot of potential this season. Giving us a chance to place high at state this year.”
Wrestling is one of the few sports that athletes can win an individual state title in. Kelly Walsh is known to have produced many individual state champions. They had two Individual state champs last year, Jered Smith and William Alt.
“I am ecstatic that wrestling has started. I can’t wait to get back on the mat, I have a state title to defend,” William Alt, a senior, said. “I hope the team can bring the state team title back home to Kelly Walsh this year. We are a little young but I see a lot of potential in my teammates.”
With basketball starting the girls and boys teams are hoping to place high at state this year. The girls team hopes to bring home their first state title this year. For the boys they hope to break the streak and make it to state and bring back the title to KW since the last time they won was in 2019.
“I am so excited for this basketball season especially because of the leadership role I have this year giving me the chance to make this year a fun experience for the underclassman,” Breckyn Fagot, a senior, said. “This team is so fun to be around and the chemistry, even in the preseason, is coming together. This year is all about the growth of the team and our program and I am excited to see what we can accomplish.”
Fagot’s teammate Mylie Morrison agrees.
“I am excited for basketball to start because it is a new season which means a new start for our team to prove to everyone how hard we have been working this off-season,” Morrison, a junior, said.
On the boys side, the team will be lead by five seniors that include Duncan Gillum, Mason Eager, Rhett Roden, Jonah Boulanger and Carter Alvar.
“I feel great going into the season. It’s great to get back into the swing of things and be back with the team. I’m excited for a great season,” Duncan Gillum, a senior, said.
Carter Alvar shares Gillum’s enthusiasm for the beginning of the winter sports season.
“I can’t wait for the first game. The feeling of stepping into a gym full of people and getting to play a sport you love is like no other feeling,” Alvar, said.“I am excited to see what the team can do this year as well. I get the chance to hold a big leadership role this year being a senior. I can’t wait for a great season.”
