As West Central Valley junior Willow Ray is focusing on Track and Field, she reflects on how she was able to connect with her teammates on the wrestling team.

During the wrestling season, Ray qualified for her second consecutive state tournament in Coralville, as she won her initial contest versus Sioux Central’s Nataley Frerk in an 11-4 decision, then took two losses to Spirit Lake’s Reece Logan (12-2 final), and Osage’s Ayden Keefe (11-1 final) to end her tournament run. Ray details that her Wildcat coaches and teammates have become an extension of her family, especially junior Rhowen Miller.

“She has been there every step of the way throughout all of the years that I’ve wrestled, she’s been right there with me. At first, we kind of butt heads, kind of competed with each other a little bit, but I feel like really this year we grew together as teammates, and we’ve become really close friends. And having her there with me, and everyone there with me just feels so good to have that support.”

Ray notes that the year began with many freshmen and sophomores on the team, so she took it upon herself to teach them techniques and help with mental toughness.