The Blue Valley Southwest wrestling team, after only one year, has a strong tradition of excellence. With two students placing at State last year, these Timberwolves are proud of how the past season played out. One was the state champion, Hunter Like, and the other, Geoffrey Wright placed fourth. The team also got second at 5A academic state.

Now, a few wrestlers have a new opportunity to expand their skills and broaden their horizons as athletes. Junior Matt McWhorter and senior Jacob Currence received invitations to join a Kansas state team that would allow them to compete nationally and internationally.

“To those who were in state competition, they sent out a letter to everyone who participated,” head wrestling coach Cody Parks said. “It invited them to a team that travels. This team has no affiliation with Blue Valley Southwest or the Blue Valley School District.”

For the wrestlers, this opportunity was something they had never had before. The thought of traveling internationally rallied up enthusiasm.

“I was very surprised and excited that I was invited,” McWhorter said. “I think it’d be a really cool experience to wrestle internationally.”

Not only will this team be traveling, but they will be going specifically to Australia – an opportunity most high school wrestlers will never see.

“The chance to be on this team accolades them,” Parks said. “They earn another wrestling opportunity to wrestle in other places, like Australia, in the off-season.”

Unfortunately, McWhorter is not sure as to whether or not he will be able to participate, and Currence has decided not to.

“As tempting as it is, it’s not cheap,” McWhorter said. “I also need to have surgery after wrestling season, which may take away the opportunity regardless.”

As sad as it is that these wrestlers may have to pass up this state team, they are hopeful for improvement in the coming year, and plan to take strides from where they were last year during state competition.

“[Last year] I didn’t do as well as I was hoping to do. I got sick and was not as prepared as I should have been,” McWhorter said. “But I will make up for it in the years to come.”

There’s a lot of talent at Southwest, and the chance that these wrestlers have demonstrates that Timberwolves have a lot of strength in the pack.