• SVHS career spanned from 1999-2026
This past weekend, many former students and athletes who wrestled under Eddie Clark in his 27 years at Star Valley High School came together to say thank you and enjoy a few hours of basking in the shared experiences they had in their time on the mats. It was perhaps best summed up by one of the organizers, Zach Walker, who won a state title in 2007.
“Some guys had already come though before I got there and then there are obviously guys who came through after I was there but we’re all meeting each other and talking about Eddie and the influence he had on our lives,” he said. There’s a lot of guys over that 27 years.”
As noted on the hand-made cake that was presented, there were 60 individual state champions and over 330 state placers in that time. Wrestlers from Class of 2001 all the way to the Class of 2028 were in attendance at some point during the gathering. Clark noted that the numbers are great but that’s not the most important element.
“People talking about championships but that’s not the real value of our program,” he said. “The real value is the men who are doctors and lawyers and building houses and electricians and having successful lives and you connect those generations together. There’s a lot of kids and a lot of connections and a lot of things that are pretty cool. I’m looking at grandparents the kids of the kids that were in the program. And people that come back. It’s just so nice to see so many people.”
Both Walker and two-time champ Hayden Heap gave Clark, Adam Guild and other coaches custom watches in appreciation for their contribution to the youth.
Clark became emotional when addressing the group as he expressed appreciation to those in attendance, those there in spirit and the wives of those coaches as well.
“I first stepped onto a wrestling mat in1977 and this has probably been the longest I haven’t been on one since that time,” he added. “We’ll spend some more time doing some other things across the country but that’s the thing about this program and this place as it’s not just wrestling it’s a family.”
Clark, Guild and the many assistants helped roll up over 600 dual victories during that time, to go with 11 team titles and and the feeling of connection through the generations spanning nearly 30 years.
“They grow up and it’s fun to see where they land,” Clark said of those who came to wish him well. “Thats the benefit of being at it for a long time. I haven’t seen some of them for 10 or 12 years. It’s nice to reminisce and remember the good times we had together.”
