The Star Valley Braves wrestling team are coming off a sixth-place finish at the Tiger-Grizz last weekend. To a less experienced coaching staff, that might seem like a gap to close as the team preps for the final weeks of the season.

But this is staff and a team that has the big picture and the patience to make the most productive movements.

“We are trying to figure out what gives us the best chance to win the state tournament,” head coach Eddie Clark responded. “We are finally wrestling in Wyoming again. When we come home [from Riverton] we start figuring things out.”

What to figure out is how to finish in front of the four other teams vying for the 4A crown. Right now that includes Thunder Basin, Natrona County, Cheyenne East and defending champ Sheridan.

“It’s  a question of how you can maximize your scoring and give us the best chance,” Clark added. Looking at these placers over the past several weeks; we have a lot of kids who are wrestling really well. So we’re excited to see where we stack up.”

The staff is going into the huge Ron Thon Memorial knowing that they will be sporting a pair of open weight classes. And that’s okay.

“We will be open at heavyweight and 12o,” Clark said. “The rest will be full. They’ll all be full by the end. We know we’re going to get here that’s the important thing. In the process you just have to do the right thing by the individual. If I take a young kid and put him in a super tough tournament he doesn’t gain anything. So we try and get guys at their level so they learn and don’t get beat up and then we can move them up. That’s how we look at it.”

In other words, throwing potential state point-scorers to the wolves for the sake of filling open weight classes at the Ron Thon isn’t the way to a title. That patience also works with wrestlers who are battling back from injury such as Kal Burk.

“He had a cartilage and an ACL tear in his knee; he’s missed two seasons,” Clark added. “For him to stick with it says something about him.  A lot of guys might have given up. These weren’t wrestling injuries either. He’s had work really hard in the weight room, it’s been a long haul and he’s shown his character.”

The long haul is how titles are won and this staff has the patience to walk that line. The next month will tell the rest of the story, but for now the Braves are exactly where they should be; trending upwards.