With the 2026 MSHSAA State Wrestling Championships just around the corner, the Wildcat Girls are preparing for the hard challenges and refining their skills. The frantic pace of the season has given way to a more calculated focus for the championship coming. Clayton Wegener, girls head coach, inputs his opinion on the season so far.
“At this point of the season, we tone back the intensity just a little bit,” Said Wegener.
“We are really focusing on continuing to work on things that we are good at to get them to the next level, while making small adjustments in things we are struggling with.”
For a team that has seen its roster size swell to record numbers over the last two seasons, the biggest transformation hasn’t been physical—it’s been mental. Wegener notes that as his young squad has faced off against elite competition, their “belief in themselves” has become their greatest asset.
“A big thing I have seen in the girls this year is their confidence grow,” Wegener said.
“Confidence with wrestling comes with time, but I have seen them grow the belief in themselves… some of them have had some big wins against high-level opponents.”
The Girls Wrestling team has had a record breaking season with key
moments like having the best placement in school history– 2nd at districts as a team. As well as the best placement, this year has broken the record for the amount of girls that have qualified for state. Eureka’s success can be attributed to their strong senior class, and the sports growing popularity.
Aside from the intense physical training aspect, the girls tournament success can be attributed to their confidence and mentality.
When asked about how winning effects team confidence, Kirra Dunscombe ,12, responded.
“I think placing so well at tournaments has really helped our team’s confidence because we have placed second at almost all of them, and our team has never done that before”, Dunscombe said.
Coach Wegener was asked the same question, and he includes a big aspect of confidence, the tournaments.
“There success this year has continued to raise their confidence when going up against tougher competition. When you see you and your teammates being competitive with some of the best teams in the state it really encourages themself to think highly of themselves”, Wegener said.
As well as feeling motivated by winning, the girls support system throughout the team is unlike any other because of their shared desire to win.
Beyond the medals, the heart of the Eureka program is a culture of respect. Keanna George, 11, noted that the team intentionally balances high-intensity competition with genuine empathy.
“I feel like they are very supportive and give you space if you lose a match, and if you win they make sure to congratulate you”. Keanna said.
This balance makes the team feel like a family, proving that in a sport this intense, support from the sidelines is as vital as the work done on the mat.
