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By Sydney McGlasson

Pushing in to his opponent, sophomore Dillon Cooper attempts to score a point to win his wrestling match.

The wrestling team came home with six state medalists which landed them in eighth place as a team during state Friday, Feb. 25. Sophomore Maddox Casella was a state runner-up and shared his accomplishments at state this year. 

“My experience at state was really the best I have wrestled all season,” Casella said. “I won some close matches and got revenge in the quarter-finals to an opponent who beat me earlier in the season.”

Casella also expressed his gratitude for the  support from his friends and family throughout the season. 

“My biggest supporter would have to be my mom, she believed in me when many others did not,” Casella said. “[Wrestling head] coach [Travis] Keal is also one of my big supporters, he was always in my corner helping me and making sure I was on the right path to be the best version of myself.” 

In addition to the eighth place finish by the boys, freshman Raina Frantz was the first girl wrestler in Mill Valley history to qualify for state. Frantz described her experience at state. 

“I thought to myself, ‘I finally made it.’ When I got there it felt right.” Frantz said. “I was so proud to say I am from Mill Valley and wrestling for coach Keal and for his program. I felt a part of a team that actually cared about what I did.” 

With six medalists and the first female wrestler to ever compete at state in school history, the season came to an end. Senior Payton Douglas placed 4th at state. He described how it felt to finish off his last high school wrestling season on a bitter-sweet ending. 

“My biggest supporter has been my four-year-old brother and my family the past few years,” Douglas said. “The saddest part of this being my last season is seeing so much growth this season and not being able to continue growing next year.”