Ron Thon pushes Rocky Mountain wrestlers against Wyoming’s best

The Rocky Mountain/Burlington boys and girls wrestling teams traveled to Riverton for the annual Ron Thon Wrestling Tournament last week, widely considered the toughest regular-season test in Wyoming wrestling.

The Ron Thon is not just another tournament. It is “the” tournament. For three days, the floor fills with mats, the stands fill with teams and families from every corner of the state, and nearly every classification of Wyoming high school wrestling competes under one roof. Because of the event’s growth, the girls divisions began on Thursday to get a head start.

Named in honor of longtime wrestling supporter Ron Thon, the event has grown into the largest regular season wrestling tournament in the state. Schools from 4A down to the smallest programs bring full squads. Hundreds of wrestlers compete in a format that feels closer to a state championship than a mid-season meet.

“It’s one of the toughest tournaments in the state,” RMHS head coach Eddie Whiting said.

Rocky’s top placers were Masen Twomey, who wrestled six competitive matches over two days to finish fifth at 215 pounds in a 24-man bracket, and Charlee Anderson, who wrestled seven matches and placed third at 190 pounds out of 21 competitors, setting a new Rocky girls wrestling mark at the Ron Thon. Their performances showed they can compete with the very best.

Asked about the emotions of coaching so many intense matches, Whiting said, “It’s like riding a roller coaster. Sometimes good things happen, and sometimes bad things happen.”

In other girls competition, Emmilee Wambeke finished in the top 10 out of 21 wrestlers at 140 pounds, winning two matches. Sky Olsen placed in the top eight out of 26 at 135 pounds with four wins. Kaitlyn McAlhany also competed.

In additional boys competition, Alex Walker won two matches to finish in the top 10 out of 20 wrestlers at 285 pounds. Speaking about those other wrestlers on his team, Whiting said, “The wrestlers who stood out besides my placers were Benson Jolley, Colten Bitton, Gabriel Whiting, Sam Loyning and Triffen Jolley. Whether they won or lost, they handled themselves with grace and humility. That shows the respect they have for the sport and the understanding that one off week doesn’t define them. They’ll bounce back stronger and better at the next tournament.”

The JV squad also competed but was eliminated early in the bracket. Austin Weller, Lyle Montanez, Michael Broederlow and Nathan Undem were in that equally tough junior varsity division.

As a team, the girls placed 29th out of 39 schools with 44 points, while the boys placed 23rd out of 39 schools with 39 points, competing with only eight varsity wrestlers.

“I think we showed up as a team but left this tournament more like a family, with the way we support and respect each other,” Whiting said. “Yes, my team makes me proud each day and week I see growth on and off the mat. Wrestling is not just a sport. It teaches life lessons, and I see how each one of them grows.”

In Wyoming wrestling culture, the Ron Thon is where reputations are made, confidence is built and the road to the state tournament starts to come into focus.

This week’s meet will be another important one as the Grizzlies travel to Greybull Saturday for a tournament that begins at 10 a.m.