The Star Valley Braves wrestling team will be at home this weekend as they host the annual Braves Brawl against six other visiting squads in a dual-format tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Coach Eddie Clark, now entering his 27th season as the head man of the area grapplers commented on the prep work for this year’s run.

RELATED: RADIO INTERVIEW WITH WRESTLING COACH EDDIE CLARK –

“This year we are about at 40 kids,” he said. “Our senior class is small and our sophomore class is small. We normally have about 50-52, but we have a lot of kids wrestling at the middle school so we expect those numbers to bump back up. With the lack of space we have it’s a good year to have some lower numbers.”

After working through last season with the hope that a second floor would be added to the facilities to help alleviate space, the initial bids came in much higher than anticipated and the LCSD #2 administration has gone back to the drawing board to try and address the issue.

On the mat, one of the big focal points for fans will be Tel Parry’s run for this fourth state championship, something that has never been done at Star Valley High School. In addition, Kimball Parry is back for his junior season, going for this third title.

“I don’t want to add any more pressure on Tel then he puts on himself,” Clark stated. “Nobody expects more out of Tel Parry than Tel Parry. I’ve never coached a kid who was a four-timer so that’s exciting. Nobody has worked harder. None of this comes easy. There are times you’re wrestling hurt or not feeling well and he has wrestled through all of that. It’s super cool and when you look at Star Valley’s wrestling history, that would be pretty outstanding. That’s about the only thing that hasn’t been done here.”

“Kimball going for his third, we are super stoked for that. To have two returning state champs in the room is outstanding.”

In addition to the Parry brothers, Elia Matautia and Ryan Talbot both are returning placers from a team that placed fourth in the 4A classification last season.

“Elia and Ryan are kind of beat up so we’re hoping we get those two guys on the mat real soon,” Clark said. “Kolbe Merritt was a match out of placing two years in a row, so he’s back. We have some kids who have worked really hard like Max Jirak and Caison Miserany and Carson Clapp; we’ve had a lot of kids who have put in the effort and want to be good so we’re excited for them.”

The Braves Brawl opens this Friday afternoon with matches beginning at 3 p.m. at Star Valley High School. The tournament will start up again on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. SVI Media will be streaming the Star Valley matches at svinews.com. Coach Clark noted a great home crowd is always beneficial for the local athletes.

“It’s nice for the kids to see their hard work is appreciated when people come out,” he said. “It’s nice to have a homecoming of sorts too. There are some who come for Christmas time for the Braves Brawl and then they are gone for the winter. It’s nice to have people in the stands.”

In addition to Star Valley and Cokeville, the tournament will also have three teams from Idaho (Teton, Shelley and Sugar-Salem) and two teams from Utah (Sky View and Logan).

Clark said he and the staff are looking forward to a great season.

“It’s fun to work with these kids and we appreciate their families,” he concluded. “It’s fun to watch them grow as the season goes along. Not just as wrestlers but as people. Wrestling helps turn out some fine young men. It helps them become better men.”

Going For Four – 

Tel Parry’s run at a fourth state title is a new goal for a very storied program. The SVHS wrestling team has won 26 team championships dating back to their first in 1968. No program has more state placers in Wyoming’s history. In that time, there have been just four, three-time champions for SVHS. Dallas Warren (1973-75), Todd Jensen (1980-82) and Nick Aullman (1995-97) along with Parry (2023-25) as he begins his final season.