After an exquisite season that ended with three East Jefferson Rivals wrestlers participating in the state championship tournament, six athletes from the program earned Nisqually All-League spots.

Logan Massie, Savanna Hoffmann, Gage Barry, Chloe Lampert, Lars Wakefield, and Mi Amada Lanphear Ramirez made the First Team All-League list.

Massie was awarded Boys Most Outstanding Wrestler in the Nisqually League and Lanphear Ramirez was named Girls Most Outstanding Wrestler in the league, after both made a deep push in the Mat Classic XXXIII state championship tournament in late February.

Massie ended his senior season as the second best grappler in the 1A boys 170-pound division, while sophomore Lanphear Ramirez finished as the fourth best 115-pound girls weight class wrestler in the state.

Wakefield (boys 1A 285-pound weight class) competed at State as well, grappling his way to the quarterfinals before losing.

The Rivals wrestling program had many successes in their winter season, starting off with the creation of the first-ever girls wrestling program, which had multiple grapplers make it to the Regional tournament and one to State.

Head coach of the girls team Jim Wilcox shared particular aspects of the coaching philosophy leading to a sublime first year for the girls and the wrestling program in general.

“It’s always our goal to get [wrestlers] to State,” Wilcox said. “Me and coach [Steve] Grimm, we look at the mental battle and the mental toughness to get to State. By the time we get to State anybody can beat anybody; you have to play your hearts out.”

As much as the coaches can help with technique and strategy, Wilcox reiterated the importance of self-confidence and drive to be the best of the best on and off the mat.

“You’ve got to go all out and decide you can get there,” he said.

The journey to State wasn’t an easy one for the program, as multiple COVID outbreaks among high school wrestlers statewide caused many events and tournaments to be cancelled or postponed, along with injuries on the team.

Two upperclassmen on the girls team, Savanna Hoffmann and Chloe Lampert, dealt with injuries throughout the year, with Lampert sidelined for the Regional and State tourneys due to a broken ankle two days before the start of the postseason.

“It was like we were holding our breath all year,” Wilcox said of dealing with COVID-19 and injuries.

Regardless of the obstacles, both wrestling teams prevailed with rigorous work ethic and tons of support among the athletes.

“I love wrestling because it pulls them all together,” Wilcox said. It’s a big confidence booster to have colleagues rooting for you on the mat, especially at the Regional and State level, he added.

Having six East Jefferson athletes make the wrestling all-league list is the icing on top at the end of the wrestling season. Although the Rivals fell short of a state title, Grimm, Wilcox, and other coaches and supporters will be ready to help the athletes hone their talents to make another deep push next year.

For Wilcox, the biggest reward for teaching the sport is seeing the continuation and growth between the years and even generations of grapplers in Jefferson County.

“I look around and see people and other kids I’ve coached that have kids in the program. It feels like that’s the reward to me, to see that,” Wilcox said.