MCGOWAN GIRLS SEASON ROUND UP
1. Coach McGowan the girls came in with a pre-season ranking of #5. What were your expectations of the team this year?
The pre-season rankings was a cool recognition of the work these kids have put in. Regardless of ranking, our expectations remain the same. We had to and a way to get a little better daily, focus on your process, compete at a high level, carry yourself and your logo with pride, and find a way to be a productive member of your community. In doing so, this allows us to recognize that we are more than wins and losses and also frees us up to compete and not get caught up in a singular result.
2. Coach, you have a pair of Perez twins that have been dynamite in their wrestling career for Westmoore. Talk about what makes them be some of the top girls in the nation?
Kyrain and Kyrstan have been a rock-solid base to our program for years. They have a high standard for how they want to compete. They have great work ethic and constantly find ways to get extra work. They have a true love for the sport and are hungry to find high level competition. They are willing to out work their opponents in all aspects on and off the mat. They are completely bought into their strength and conditioning programming. They respond well to adversity and are overcomers. They do all the things necessary in preparation to win matches and do a great job applying those things once they step in the circle. They are making a positive impact on our entire program for years to come.
3. Coach, you had a newcomer in Hannah Lopez, what makes her special and her role on the team?
Hannah Lopez is someone that just does everything right. She has dedicated years to her craft and has overcome so many physical ailments in her career. She is a state champion, 2x state finalist, and 4-time state placer and has a love for wrestling that carries her through hard times. She has a genuine love and care for her team that permeated through our program. On top of that, she is a fierce competitor that wants to win. All of these thigs made her an important piece to our puzzle and is making a positive impact on our entire program for years to come.
4. Coach you had 3 state champs including junior Ranelle Smith. What makes Renelle so tough to beat?
Ranelle has developed her skills and her wrestling IQ, but the biggest thing for her is that she has developed a high level of self-belief. A lot of this sport is understanding how to control your brain, and I think the strides that were made there is what helped her step into the best version of herself. I think she can serve as a great example to our program as to what self-belief can do for your career. As she continues forward in her career, we all know the sky is the limit for her.
5. Coach you are graduating from 2 state champions, 2 state runner-up. What makes the girls program so tough year in and year out for Westmoore?
We are very blessed to have a staff, program, and district that is bought in on every member in our program. Grades 7-12, boys and girls, we strive to serve everyone the best service we can, along with working to make sure our kids know there is room and a home for them in our program. It is the commitment from the kids, the coaches, the district, the families, and everyone involved that aids us to compete at a high level. As a whole we take a ton of pride in the fact that when you wrestle someone in a W Jag singlet, it doesn't matter what age, gender, or wrestling style that we're going to be ready to compete at a high level. When you wrestle for Westmoore, we strive for everyone to meet our program's expectations and that fosters a culture of success.
6. Coach, people see the unique bond that the girls have developed with each other. Can you talk about that?
With wrestling being such a unique sport, I think anytime you have kids come out to wrestle, it almost naturally creates a bond. Wrestling is a lot of things. It's difficult, it's different than any other sport out there, a lot of kids are experiencing this for the first time simultaneously, and so much more that makes our sport our sport. With that comes an opportunity to bond. Our kids do a great job of loving each other, and from that point, it creates a positive feedback loop of love and support for one another.
7. Coach we have to ask about the great coaches you have in Shelby Morrison and Brittney Robertson. With the success of the girls, what was their role and impact?
Coach Morrison and Coach Brob have brought a lot of impact to our program. Their influence within our program has not only played a role for our girls, but our boys as well. They are high level technicians, have both competed at a high level themselves, and have brought a wealth of wrestling experience and knowledge to our program. Coach Morrison worked with a lot of our kids on everything wrestling mindset wise as she has lot of background with this. Coach Brob helped with that as well as having film ready on just about anyone we wrestled at any point. One thing that they did bring to our girls is simply being a woman that has their own wrestling story. A lot of our girls are able to look at that and take advice and experiences from them that maybe can't be found in many other places. It only gives our girls more confidence that they can amke their own story.
8. Coach, are there any young girls coming up out of the Jr. High's that are expected to make an impact next season?
Our junior high staff has done a great making sure our stables are full of promising athletes. It really won't do me justice to just name a few. There are so many girls that I believe will make an impact on our program. That being said, Kalliyah Humphrey placed third at JH State for us. She has a huge future in front of her. Gisele Conner is another junior high state placer we have coming up that is poised to make impact. Mackenzie Tibbals is a wrestler that has committed to her craft and has wrestled all spring and summer and made huge strides. Sophia Sosa, Brandis Jones, Madison Jones, Gorgeous Alverez. Conlea Cantrell, Septhanie Caraway, and more have won a ton of matches for us over the years and have bright futures in front of them.
9. Coach are there any shoutouts?
Again, I am blessed and thankful to be in this position. People work a lifetime to have a program like the one I get to lead and I don't take anything for granted. I would like to thank God, my wife, my family, my staff, my district, and our wrestling family for having the faith in me and providing me the opportunity to be in this position. I couldn't do it without them!
The pre-season rankings was a cool recognition of the work these kids have put in. Regardless of ranking, our expectations remain the same. We had to and a way to get a little better daily, focus on your process, compete at a high level, carry yourself and your logo with pride, and find a way to be a productive member of your community. In doing so, this allows us to recognize that we are more than wins and losses and also frees us up to compete and not get caught up in a singular result.
2. Coach, you have a pair of Perez twins that have been dynamite in their wrestling career for Westmoore. Talk about what makes them be some of the top girls in the nation?
Kyrain and Kyrstan have been a rock-solid base to our program for years. They have a high standard for how they want to compete. They have great work ethic and constantly find ways to get extra work. They have a true love for the sport and are hungry to find high level competition. They are willing to out work their opponents in all aspects on and off the mat. They are completely bought into their strength and conditioning programming. They respond well to adversity and are overcomers. They do all the things necessary in preparation to win matches and do a great job applying those things once they step in the circle. They are making a positive impact on our entire program for years to come.
3. Coach, you had a newcomer in Hannah Lopez, what makes her special and her role on the team?
Hannah Lopez is someone that just does everything right. She has dedicated years to her craft and has overcome so many physical ailments in her career. She is a state champion, 2x state finalist, and 4-time state placer and has a love for wrestling that carries her through hard times. She has a genuine love and care for her team that permeated through our program. On top of that, she is a fierce competitor that wants to win. All of these thigs made her an important piece to our puzzle and is making a positive impact on our entire program for years to come.
4. Coach you had 3 state champs including junior Ranelle Smith. What makes Renelle so tough to beat?
Ranelle has developed her skills and her wrestling IQ, but the biggest thing for her is that she has developed a high level of self-belief. A lot of this sport is understanding how to control your brain, and I think the strides that were made there is what helped her step into the best version of herself. I think she can serve as a great example to our program as to what self-belief can do for your career. As she continues forward in her career, we all know the sky is the limit for her.
5. Coach you are graduating from 2 state champions, 2 state runner-up. What makes the girls program so tough year in and year out for Westmoore?
We are very blessed to have a staff, program, and district that is bought in on every member in our program. Grades 7-12, boys and girls, we strive to serve everyone the best service we can, along with working to make sure our kids know there is room and a home for them in our program. It is the commitment from the kids, the coaches, the district, the families, and everyone involved that aids us to compete at a high level. As a whole we take a ton of pride in the fact that when you wrestle someone in a W Jag singlet, it doesn't matter what age, gender, or wrestling style that we're going to be ready to compete at a high level. When you wrestle for Westmoore, we strive for everyone to meet our program's expectations and that fosters a culture of success.
6. Coach, people see the unique bond that the girls have developed with each other. Can you talk about that?
With wrestling being such a unique sport, I think anytime you have kids come out to wrestle, it almost naturally creates a bond. Wrestling is a lot of things. It's difficult, it's different than any other sport out there, a lot of kids are experiencing this for the first time simultaneously, and so much more that makes our sport our sport. With that comes an opportunity to bond. Our kids do a great job of loving each other, and from that point, it creates a positive feedback loop of love and support for one another.
7. Coach we have to ask about the great coaches you have in Shelby Morrison and Brittney Robertson. With the success of the girls, what was their role and impact?
Coach Morrison and Coach Brob have brought a lot of impact to our program. Their influence within our program has not only played a role for our girls, but our boys as well. They are high level technicians, have both competed at a high level themselves, and have brought a wealth of wrestling experience and knowledge to our program. Coach Morrison worked with a lot of our kids on everything wrestling mindset wise as she has lot of background with this. Coach Brob helped with that as well as having film ready on just about anyone we wrestled at any point. One thing that they did bring to our girls is simply being a woman that has their own wrestling story. A lot of our girls are able to look at that and take advice and experiences from them that maybe can't be found in many other places. It only gives our girls more confidence that they can amke their own story.
8. Coach, are there any young girls coming up out of the Jr. High's that are expected to make an impact next season?
Our junior high staff has done a great making sure our stables are full of promising athletes. It really won't do me justice to just name a few. There are so many girls that I believe will make an impact on our program. That being said, Kalliyah Humphrey placed third at JH State for us. She has a huge future in front of her. Gisele Conner is another junior high state placer we have coming up that is poised to make impact. Mackenzie Tibbals is a wrestler that has committed to her craft and has wrestled all spring and summer and made huge strides. Sophia Sosa, Brandis Jones, Madison Jones, Gorgeous Alverez. Conlea Cantrell, Septhanie Caraway, and more have won a ton of matches for us over the years and have bright futures in front of them.
9. Coach are there any shoutouts?
Again, I am blessed and thankful to be in this position. People work a lifetime to have a program like the one I get to lead and I don't take anything for granted. I would like to thank God, my wife, my family, my staff, my district, and our wrestling family for having the faith in me and providing me the opportunity to be in this position. I couldn't do it without them!
MCGOWAN BOYS SEASON ROUND UP
Coach McGowan, after graduating 10 seniors last year, what were your expectations going into this season for the boys?
The seniors that graduated last year left a mark on our program that will carry over generations! We are thankful for them and for what they did for our program. Going into this year, our expectation for our program are consistent year over year. To find a way to get a little better every day and become the best version of ourselves. In doing this, it frees us up to compete at a high level and stay process focused rather than get caught up in a single goal. We also want to carry ourselves and our logo with pride and knowing that we have a high standard to live up to. Also finding ways to be productive members of our school and local community. All of the things we have focused on in the past that have helped us shape this program. All of these things are what brought us here, and it is our job to carry that forward.
Coach you had 3 qualifying seniors in Gavin Chatham, Orlando McClain and Jackson Yeatman. What were some of the reasons for these boys making the state tournament?
I am so thankful for this group of seniors. Those guys have excellent backgrounds in the sport of wrestling. They have worked on their craft year over year for a long time and really found themselves able to compete with just about anyone they stepped on the mat with. They have a great work ethic and a desire to improve themselves. They ask great questions. These things are the prerequisites to becoming the best version of yourself, and they have done a good job of doing that over the years.
Coach, you have a young group coming up out of the Jr. High that could be heavy contributors to your lineup next season. What are the expectations of the incoming freshmen?
We are excited for this young group coming up! They have a great chance to do some amazing things for our program. The expectation for will be the same for them as we would have any other year. Find a way to get a little better daily, focus on your process, compete at a high level, carry yourself and your logo with pride, and find a way to be a productive member of your community. That won't ever change.
Coach, was there anyone other than the seniors that really stood out this season?
It is hard to pick just a couple because just about everyone, seen in public or unseen, had a moment that impressed myself and our staff. With that said, Avery Rios is someone that has such a bright future ahead of him. His ceiling is sky high, and we know he is hungry to get better. I have a lot of confidence that he will find himself as a high level competitor. Gabe Punnoose is another freshman. He has been grinding for years now and stepped in both at the high school and junior high level and played a big part. On the track he is on, he will find a lot of success for himself. Marcus Cannady is a guy we know has a bright future. He is constantly finding ways to work hard and find extra work on his own. Wells Shimabukuro is a guy our staff was super proud of. At regionals, he bumped up not one but two weight classes just for the opportunity to compete. A lot of people would have backed away from the challenge, but he took it head on. Our group of juniors made large strides this year, that being Woodley Johnson, Alex Hogue, and Kolby Marlar. Each have a little different background story as to how they have found themselves at this point, but all three are poised to step into their roles as seniors and be a big factor on our team and program. It will take all of these guys and everyone in the program to do the things we want to do with the program.
Coach, people say that Moore was the heavy favorite this season to win the City Championship, but you overcame it. What were some of the things you had to overcome to win it.
It was a great moment for our team to retain the City Championship. It took everyone committed to being the same page, pulling on the same rope, putting their ego aside, and competing at a high level to get that done. We had some injuries around that time as well. They made no excuses and went and wrestled tough. It was a great thing to see our guys come together and overcome adversity in order to get the job done.
What would be words of wisdom to the current seniors that are graduating?
You all are very decorated wrestlers, but you are so much more to me, your family, and this program than wins, losses, and accolades. You are about to step out onto your path and find success because of who you have become over the years. You did that! We are proud of you. Go crush it and this program will always be in your corner.
Coach what are the expectations moving into the off-season?
I am sure it is a bit repetitive at this point, but it is the same every year. Find a way to get a little better daily, focus on your process, compete at a high level, carry yourself and your logo with pride, and find a way to be a productive member of your community. This is the way we sustain and advance our program.
Coach, talk about your freestyle program this year. And your plans for it.
We take a lot of pride in what we provide our athletes in the spring and summer though freestyle and Greco. We have been blessed to have a bunch of state placers, Southern Plains placers, national dual team members, Fargo qualifiers, and All Americans. The plan will be to start our evening practices after spring break and continue down the path of getting our athletes in position to improve daily and make an impact on the regional and national scene. This is a time of year where our athletes take big jumps and the plan is to continue to do so.
Coach McGowan, are there any final shout outs?
I am just blessed and thankful to be in this position. People work a lifetime to have a program like I am in charge of, and I don't take a single second for granted. I would like to thank God, my wife, my family, my staff, my district, and our wrestling family for having the faith in me and providing me the opportunity to be in this position. I couldn't do it without them!
The seniors that graduated last year left a mark on our program that will carry over generations! We are thankful for them and for what they did for our program. Going into this year, our expectation for our program are consistent year over year. To find a way to get a little better every day and become the best version of ourselves. In doing this, it frees us up to compete at a high level and stay process focused rather than get caught up in a single goal. We also want to carry ourselves and our logo with pride and knowing that we have a high standard to live up to. Also finding ways to be productive members of our school and local community. All of the things we have focused on in the past that have helped us shape this program. All of these things are what brought us here, and it is our job to carry that forward.
Coach you had 3 qualifying seniors in Gavin Chatham, Orlando McClain and Jackson Yeatman. What were some of the reasons for these boys making the state tournament?
I am so thankful for this group of seniors. Those guys have excellent backgrounds in the sport of wrestling. They have worked on their craft year over year for a long time and really found themselves able to compete with just about anyone they stepped on the mat with. They have a great work ethic and a desire to improve themselves. They ask great questions. These things are the prerequisites to becoming the best version of yourself, and they have done a good job of doing that over the years.
Coach, you have a young group coming up out of the Jr. High that could be heavy contributors to your lineup next season. What are the expectations of the incoming freshmen?
We are excited for this young group coming up! They have a great chance to do some amazing things for our program. The expectation for will be the same for them as we would have any other year. Find a way to get a little better daily, focus on your process, compete at a high level, carry yourself and your logo with pride, and find a way to be a productive member of your community. That won't ever change.
Coach, was there anyone other than the seniors that really stood out this season?
It is hard to pick just a couple because just about everyone, seen in public or unseen, had a moment that impressed myself and our staff. With that said, Avery Rios is someone that has such a bright future ahead of him. His ceiling is sky high, and we know he is hungry to get better. I have a lot of confidence that he will find himself as a high level competitor. Gabe Punnoose is another freshman. He has been grinding for years now and stepped in both at the high school and junior high level and played a big part. On the track he is on, he will find a lot of success for himself. Marcus Cannady is a guy we know has a bright future. He is constantly finding ways to work hard and find extra work on his own. Wells Shimabukuro is a guy our staff was super proud of. At regionals, he bumped up not one but two weight classes just for the opportunity to compete. A lot of people would have backed away from the challenge, but he took it head on. Our group of juniors made large strides this year, that being Woodley Johnson, Alex Hogue, and Kolby Marlar. Each have a little different background story as to how they have found themselves at this point, but all three are poised to step into their roles as seniors and be a big factor on our team and program. It will take all of these guys and everyone in the program to do the things we want to do with the program.
Coach, people say that Moore was the heavy favorite this season to win the City Championship, but you overcame it. What were some of the things you had to overcome to win it.
It was a great moment for our team to retain the City Championship. It took everyone committed to being the same page, pulling on the same rope, putting their ego aside, and competing at a high level to get that done. We had some injuries around that time as well. They made no excuses and went and wrestled tough. It was a great thing to see our guys come together and overcome adversity in order to get the job done.
What would be words of wisdom to the current seniors that are graduating?
You all are very decorated wrestlers, but you are so much more to me, your family, and this program than wins, losses, and accolades. You are about to step out onto your path and find success because of who you have become over the years. You did that! We are proud of you. Go crush it and this program will always be in your corner.
Coach what are the expectations moving into the off-season?
I am sure it is a bit repetitive at this point, but it is the same every year. Find a way to get a little better daily, focus on your process, compete at a high level, carry yourself and your logo with pride, and find a way to be a productive member of your community. This is the way we sustain and advance our program.
Coach, talk about your freestyle program this year. And your plans for it.
We take a lot of pride in what we provide our athletes in the spring and summer though freestyle and Greco. We have been blessed to have a bunch of state placers, Southern Plains placers, national dual team members, Fargo qualifiers, and All Americans. The plan will be to start our evening practices after spring break and continue down the path of getting our athletes in position to improve daily and make an impact on the regional and national scene. This is a time of year where our athletes take big jumps and the plan is to continue to do so.
Coach McGowan, are there any final shout outs?
I am just blessed and thankful to be in this position. People work a lifetime to have a program like I am in charge of, and I don't take a single second for granted. I would like to thank God, my wife, my family, my staff, my district, and our wrestling family for having the faith in me and providing me the opportunity to be in this position. I couldn't do it without them!
COACH LATHROP SEASON ROUND UP
1. Coach Lathrop, you started off the year on a roll with a second-place finish at Shawnee duals. What were some of the contributions of that?
The largest contribution of that tournament were the coaches. Coach Papp, Coach McGowan and Coach Kristina Burney really helped me stay organized so that I could focus on the wrestling aspect of each dual, instead of having to focus on matchups. I was able to focus on technique before, during and after each match. This enabled each wrestler to develop a plan for their matchup and execute it to the best of their ability. The second contribution was that of the experienced wrestlers and first year girls stepping up. The Freshmen really showed out during that tournament. If I remember correctly, 3 of the 4 Freshmen earned all tournament team honors going undefeated during that tournament.
2. Coach tell us about some of the girls that stood out to you this season and the reasons they did.
So many names come to mind with this question and if I mentioned them all, I could be answering this question all day. With that said, I think there are 4-5 names that made the biggest impacts on me and the coaching staff this year. In no particular order, the first girl I'll mention is Brandis Jones. She stepped up as a 7th grader this year and was one of the toughest girls in the wrestling room all year long. She is very coachable and willing to listen. She learns quickly; applies what she learns, and isn't afraid to attack. The next girl is Mackenzie Tibbals. Tibbals is a natural athlete, and stays focused all season long. There's no doubt in my mind we would not have accomplished what we did without her this year. She will be a name you hear in high school for the next few years. Khalliya Humphrey is a star athlete. She is consistent, doesn't complain or make excuses. She pushed through a tough knee injury this year and placed in or won every tournament she went to, including JH State. Gorgeous Alvarez is another 7th grader that comes to mind. She wrestled up 1-2 weight classes all year with exceptional results. She is strong both physically and mentally and a natural leader. Often taking it upon herself to warm up the team when the coaches were busy dealing with other things. Finally, Na'Khiya Ellis. Our Freshman HWT. Placed in every JH tournament she went to, got all tournament honors in Shawnee and placed 4th in State. Her upbeat personality kept the team in high spirits all season long and I couldn't be more thankful for her to have been a part of this season.
3. Coach you finished the season with more girls placing at state then previous years past for Westmoore. How do you expect to build on that next season.
Three things come to mind with this question. The first is to identify and understand what I did or didn't do as a coach and as a total coaching staff that could make the girls better. For example, I didn't set well established rules in the beginning of the year that let the girls know what we expected from them and what they should expect of us. Doing so establishes discipline and work ethic expectations. The second thing is to identify the bad habits that were done last season so that we can eliminate them next season. For example, not turning the corner on shots, or shooting with our head down/changing levels. The final thing that comes to mind on how to build onto this season so that next season we do better, is to do a better job in strength and conditioning. The girls don't have a lot of time in the weight room due to logistics and lack of equipment. The girls coaching staff and I will need to do a better job in making the strength and conditioning more efficient each week.
The good news is, of the four State placers, two of them will be returning. Giselle Connor and Khalliya Humphrey. We had another 4 girls reach the quarterfinals but fell short of placing. So we have a great nucleus of wrestlers returning. Girls like Gorgeous Alvarez, Brandis Jones, Conlea Cantrell, Madison Jones, Sophia Sosa, Mackenzie Tibbals and Adeleigh Sharp. I think next season is going to be special.
4. What are your expectations going into the offseason coach?
I have two expectations going into the offseason: First, The girls focus on their academics and personal goals, whether that be in school, wrestling, another sport, or all of the above. The second expectation is that the girls do everything in their power to get better. Meaning they try to sign up for Freestyle/Greco at the High School and/or Brink, or get some development at a wrestling club like Shelton, LWA, etc. Doing so will give them extra time on the mat, and enable them to focus on development without pressure from competition or outside distractions.
5. Any big shoutouts or plans going into the offseason after all the hard work you and the other coaches put in?
My shoutouts go out to the coaching staff. Coach Kristina and Craig Burney and Coach Papp. I truly would not have been able to have a good season without these guys around me. Coach Papp and Craig Burney assisted in every aspect of showing technique and developing the girls. They did a great job preparing the girls and getting them in wrestling shape. Coach Kristina Burney for keeping us organized and informed on school policies, academics, and handling certain situations that the male coaches couldn't. Another big shoutout is to the parents of the wrestlers! Your support is what keeps the girls coming back everyday and we wouldn't have a program with you all. My biggest plans for the offseason is to travel. I plan on going to California to see the Redwood forest, hike and camp. I also plan on visiting Rome, Italy this year with my wife.
The largest contribution of that tournament were the coaches. Coach Papp, Coach McGowan and Coach Kristina Burney really helped me stay organized so that I could focus on the wrestling aspect of each dual, instead of having to focus on matchups. I was able to focus on technique before, during and after each match. This enabled each wrestler to develop a plan for their matchup and execute it to the best of their ability. The second contribution was that of the experienced wrestlers and first year girls stepping up. The Freshmen really showed out during that tournament. If I remember correctly, 3 of the 4 Freshmen earned all tournament team honors going undefeated during that tournament.
2. Coach tell us about some of the girls that stood out to you this season and the reasons they did.
So many names come to mind with this question and if I mentioned them all, I could be answering this question all day. With that said, I think there are 4-5 names that made the biggest impacts on me and the coaching staff this year. In no particular order, the first girl I'll mention is Brandis Jones. She stepped up as a 7th grader this year and was one of the toughest girls in the wrestling room all year long. She is very coachable and willing to listen. She learns quickly; applies what she learns, and isn't afraid to attack. The next girl is Mackenzie Tibbals. Tibbals is a natural athlete, and stays focused all season long. There's no doubt in my mind we would not have accomplished what we did without her this year. She will be a name you hear in high school for the next few years. Khalliya Humphrey is a star athlete. She is consistent, doesn't complain or make excuses. She pushed through a tough knee injury this year and placed in or won every tournament she went to, including JH State. Gorgeous Alvarez is another 7th grader that comes to mind. She wrestled up 1-2 weight classes all year with exceptional results. She is strong both physically and mentally and a natural leader. Often taking it upon herself to warm up the team when the coaches were busy dealing with other things. Finally, Na'Khiya Ellis. Our Freshman HWT. Placed in every JH tournament she went to, got all tournament honors in Shawnee and placed 4th in State. Her upbeat personality kept the team in high spirits all season long and I couldn't be more thankful for her to have been a part of this season.
3. Coach you finished the season with more girls placing at state then previous years past for Westmoore. How do you expect to build on that next season.
Three things come to mind with this question. The first is to identify and understand what I did or didn't do as a coach and as a total coaching staff that could make the girls better. For example, I didn't set well established rules in the beginning of the year that let the girls know what we expected from them and what they should expect of us. Doing so establishes discipline and work ethic expectations. The second thing is to identify the bad habits that were done last season so that we can eliminate them next season. For example, not turning the corner on shots, or shooting with our head down/changing levels. The final thing that comes to mind on how to build onto this season so that next season we do better, is to do a better job in strength and conditioning. The girls don't have a lot of time in the weight room due to logistics and lack of equipment. The girls coaching staff and I will need to do a better job in making the strength and conditioning more efficient each week.
The good news is, of the four State placers, two of them will be returning. Giselle Connor and Khalliya Humphrey. We had another 4 girls reach the quarterfinals but fell short of placing. So we have a great nucleus of wrestlers returning. Girls like Gorgeous Alvarez, Brandis Jones, Conlea Cantrell, Madison Jones, Sophia Sosa, Mackenzie Tibbals and Adeleigh Sharp. I think next season is going to be special.
4. What are your expectations going into the offseason coach?
I have two expectations going into the offseason: First, The girls focus on their academics and personal goals, whether that be in school, wrestling, another sport, or all of the above. The second expectation is that the girls do everything in their power to get better. Meaning they try to sign up for Freestyle/Greco at the High School and/or Brink, or get some development at a wrestling club like Shelton, LWA, etc. Doing so will give them extra time on the mat, and enable them to focus on development without pressure from competition or outside distractions.
5. Any big shoutouts or plans going into the offseason after all the hard work you and the other coaches put in?
My shoutouts go out to the coaching staff. Coach Kristina and Craig Burney and Coach Papp. I truly would not have been able to have a good season without these guys around me. Coach Papp and Craig Burney assisted in every aspect of showing technique and developing the girls. They did a great job preparing the girls and getting them in wrestling shape. Coach Kristina Burney for keeping us organized and informed on school policies, academics, and handling certain situations that the male coaches couldn't. Another big shoutout is to the parents of the wrestlers! Your support is what keeps the girls coming back everyday and we wouldn't have a program with you all. My biggest plans for the offseason is to travel. I plan on going to California to see the Redwood forest, hike and camp. I also plan on visiting Rome, Italy this year with my wife.
LADY JAGS HAVE HISTORIC NIGHT
10 HEADED TO STATE
JAGS SHOW OUT AT STATE
BOYS EAST REGIONALS
The HS Boys are headed to Tulsa for the East Regional. We wish them the best of luck and are eager for them to punch their ticket to the state tournmanet! Go get it boys your hard work will pay off!
PEREZ TWINS PICK THEIR FUTURE!
The returning State Champions have picked their college destination, Fort Hayes, Kansas. They will be spending their time there and taking the next step to a college national championship there. We are super proud of the girls and congratulations to them! Their future is very bright!
COACH GEARY SEASON WRAP UP
- Coach you had a great season, what do you think contributed to the great season? I believe the biggest factor was having a great group of kids who bought in early. They showed up consistently, worked hard every day, and were willing to be coached. They trusted the process, supported one another, and committed to improving together.
- Coach what were the expectations going into the season? Did you achieve that success in your eyes? Wrestling at Westmoore always carries high expectations. For me, those expectations were centered on growth, discipline, and competing at a high level every time we stepped on the mat. The foundation of Westmoore Wrestling has long been a culture of accountability, toughness, and a commitment to getting better every single day. In my eyes, we absolutely achieved success. We placed 4th at the Shawnee Duals, dropped just one dual in the regular season, and finished 3rd at Junior High State. Our athletes committed to the process, improved throughout the season, and as a result we put ourselves in a strong position moving forward.
- Who were some of the standout athletes this season on the Varsity? Tell our fans about them. We have a pretty special group across the board. Rosco Lewis led the charge with a perfect 30-0 record, winning Ted Anderson, the Junior Open Championship, Tulsa Nationals, and finishing it off with a State Title. Jett Greer was a guy that wrestled up a weight for us early in the season and surged late in the year to finish 21-7 and capture a State Championship. Wyler Allen was unable to wrestle the regular season but made the most of his opportunity to wrestle at the State Tournament with a runner-up finish. Covington Allen was 25-3 on the season with a 3rd place finish at Ted Anderson and a 4th place finish at the Junior High State Tournament. Cameron Rios finished the season 27-3 with a 2nd place finish at Ted Anderson and a 4th place finish at the State Tournament. Shipley Simmons is going to be huge for us going forward with a 2nd place finish at JOC, a 5th place finish at Tulsa Nationals and a 4th place finish at Junior High State.
- Coach Geary, next season you have 7 returning state placers. Is there a difference between this season expectations and next season? This season, we had a lot of new 7th Graders in the room, we had some gaps in the lineup to fill; we had the talent, but we were still figuring out who we were and what we could become. Next season, the expectations naturally rise. When you return seven state placers, the expectation goes from showing up to compete, to beinge expected to contend. That changes the standard in the room. The target on our back gets bigger, and the margin for error gets smaller. Our guys now understand what it takes to get on that podium, and more importantly, what it takes to win. The focus won’t just be on placing, it’ll be on dominating positions, finishing tournaments, and competing for team success. The bar has been raised, and that’s exactly where we want it.
- Who are some stand out kids that were so close at turning the corner. Tell us about them coach. JT Kersey was a guy that is right there, he spent a good portion of the season working back from injury, and was 9-2 before another tough injury at the State Tournament cut his run short. Gauge Stewart and JJ Cole are both guys that showed significant growth this season winning huge matches for us along the way. Tristen Krush was a returning heavyweight that really figured some things out this season. King Melrose, a completely new Heavyweight is wildly competitive and wants to get better. Adrian Muncy rebounded from a slow start and was right in the mix late in the season, and freshman Gabe Punoose stepped up in key moments, earning a 5th-place finish at Ted Anderson. Sutton Zielny is another 7th grader that came to life about halfway through the season, and scrapped out a 5th place finish at The Junior High State Tournament. Ayden Jones and Xavier Ortiz are both guys that started for us last year, but were behind some tough teammates this season, they really pushed each other and both made deep runs at the State Tournament.
- What are the plans for moving into the offseason coach? We felt it was good to give our guys a minute to breathe, although most of them wanted to keep wrestling. We will start up next week February 17th with some weight lifting and Freestyle type practices.
- Any shoutouts or plans for you now that the season is over? First and most importantly, I have to give a tremendous shoutout to my wife. Without her, I am definitely not able to do what I do, she pushes me to be a great coach and mentor. I have to give a shoutout to Coach Dick, who has taken a little step back, but was very active in the program this year and helped me navigate the year at the helm. Lastly, the Westmoore staff as a whole is so special, we are blessed to have so many quality people in the program- the future is bright and I am excited to be here for it.
GIRLS PUNCHED THEIR TICKET TO STATE
Westmoore Women went to Shawnee for the 6A Girls West Regional. We had 6 girls punch their ticket to the State Tournament to compete for a State Title! We are so proud of the following girls: Kyrtan Perez, Ranelle Smith, Sophie Rodriguez, Kyrain Perez, Malia Tini, and Hanah Lopez
LOPEZ REACHES 100!
Congratulations to Hannah Lopez for reaching her 100th win. She did it at the Shawnee West Regional and she punched her ticket to the state tournament! We are so proud of Hannah for her 100th win and for the kid that she is most of all!
HS GIRLS AT WEST REGIONALS
RIOS GETS FIRST START AT OKLAHOMA
Trae Rios went into the year thinking he might be watching, preparing, and training for the future. But, February 12 came along and Rios opportunity came to light. While bumping up to the 174 pound weight class Rios got the opportunity most true freshmen never get, a chance to start! Rios wrestled his first match vs. Missouri's #6 ranked Cam Steed. Steed came out with the victory, but Rios came away with gaining experience as a true freshmen at the University of Oklahoma. Westmoore is proud of Trae!
JH BOYS FINISH 3RD AT JR. HIGH STATE
The Jr. High boys went to Jr. High State with many kids ranked in the top 10 in the state of Oklahoma. We ended up with 7 placers and a 3rd place finish in the State of Oklahoma. We had 2 state champions in Rosco Lewis and Jett Greer. State Runner-Up were Wyler Allen, Avery Rios. Finishing 4th was Shipley Simmons and Cameron Rios. And at Heavyweight we had Sutton Zienly finish 5th.
GIRLS 3RD AT DUAL STATE
JH GIRLS GET MOST PLACERS EVER AT STATE
The lady Jags did not have any state champions this season. But, they finished with more state placers than we ever had in the past! Placing 3rd was Kalliyah Humphrey, placing 6th was Sophie Rodriguez, placing 4th was Na'Kiyah Ellis, placing 6th was Gisele Connor. Great job ladies!
JAGS COME UP SHORT SENIOR NIGHT
On senior night we came up short vs. a good Carl Albert team. We are so thankful for our seniors and their parents for the past 4 years!
JH BOYS PERFORM AT EDMOND
JH Boys went to the oldest tournament in the United States of America. Ted Anderson started in 1924 and Westmoore has always been in it since the beginning of the school. Our boys came away with 5th place and only 9 points out of 3rd. Kids worked hard and proved that they belong.
JAGS SHOW UP OUT AT YUKON
JH BOYS PLACE 2ND AT CHICKASHA
LEWIS AND SIMMONS FINISH STRONG
Many of our JH kids went to Tulsa Nationals this weekend. Many of them came very close to being a National placer. But we ended up with one placer and one who became NATIONAL CHAMPION. Rosco Lewis became National Champion and Shipley Simmons finished as a All-American finishing 5th place. Congrats to both boys way to show out!
JAGS PUT BISHOP MCGUINESS ON NOTICE
The Junior High JV got some good mat time at Bishop McGuiness on Saturday. The girls came away with six placers and the boys came away with five. Great job to the future of Westmoore! Keep grinding!
JAGUAR HS GIRLS WIN COAC!
Girls came into the COAC Tournament being ranked number 3 in the state. With a dominating performance they made the rest of the state see them as a team to watch for the state championship coming in February! Congrats ladies!
JAGS WITH A CLEAN SWEEP!
The Jaguars defeated both Southmoore and Moore with all levels! For the second year in a row they are undisputed City Champions in Moore, OK! Great job Jags!
JV JAGS BRING HOME HARDWARE AT ED SANTE FE
JH BOYS AND HS GIRLS WIN OVER SAND SPRINGS!
JH boys come out with a close win against a tough up and coming Sand Springs Sandites team. The HS girls continue to dominate by showing they are one of the top teams in the state!
KYRSTAN PEREZ WITH 100TH CAREER WIN!
Congratulations to Kyrstan Perez with her 100th career High School win! Be sure to cheer her on as she goes for another state championship in February!
GIRLS FINISH 3RD AT SUPERGIRL 64
The girls traveled to Wrestle like a Girl Tournament, Coming away with a finish of third place and 2 champions in the Perez sisters and Kyrain getting outstanding wrestler award. Also placing was Hannh Lopez, and Rannelle Smith. Coach McGowan was awarded Coach of the Tournament!
JAGS JH SHINES AT JUNIOR NATIONALS
The boys competed at Junior Nationals at the fairgrounds arena for their respective club teams. Wyler Allen, Shipley Simmons, Cameron Rios, Roscoe Lewis, and Sutton Zielny all placed in their respective weight classes. Roscoe Lewis and Wyler Allen being Champions of their bracket and Rios and Simmons finishing runner-up. Zienly with a close 3rd place just bearly losing out in the finals.
JAGS DO BIG THINGS AT KANSAS CITY
Jags went to Kansas City Stampede, one of the toughest tournaments in the country and the girls came away with placing high for the girls. The boys came away with Jackson Yeatman placing 5th individiually. The girls placers was Kyrstan and Kyrain Perez and Rennele Smith as Champions.
JH BOYS TAKE DOWN TUTTLE AND CARL ALBERT
JH Boys came into Tuesday night with some kids out of the lineup due to being sick and banged up. But, they always say that you are only as good as your back up! Many of our kids stepped up and wrestled tough to help us win both duals against two very quality programs! Nice job to the kids and coaches!
LADY JAGS SHINE AT CACHE TOURMNAMENT
The Lady Jags Junior High and High School teams both traveled to Cache for the Annual Wrestle Like a Girl Invitational. After a late Friday night session, they came back Saturday to collect some hardware bringing home a total of 12 Individual Medals, A Runner-Up Placement for the High School Team, and a 6th Place Finish for the Junior High Girls Team!
ALUMNI NIGHT VS MUSTANG
On Alumni Night, the Jags came out to face the Broncos of Mustang. We had so many great people from the past show up and we are greatly appreciative that you showed up! The JH girls started out with a strong finish dominating the Broncos. The JH Boys gave up too many falls to overcome the strong Broncos losing just shy. The HS came up with the girls handling their business as always showing how they are one of the top teams to beat. The HS boys came out a bit flat in the dual vs. the Broncos. The Broncos defeated the Jags at all weights but one. Next week we face Tuttle! Come support us as we continue to get better everyday! Go Jags!
WINS OVER DEER CREEK!
The Jags took down the JH Antlers last night in close matches. the HS with their young team had some promising wins! The team keeps growing on all levels and we are eager to see the Broncos of Mustang on Thursday for Alumni night!
JH BOYS FINISH 4TH AT
SHAWNEE NATIONAL DUALS
JH boys have been in the gold brackett the last 7 years! Meaning they are always top 8 in the entire state, and always compete for Championships. The boys finished 4th losing in very close duals to Yukon, Bixby, and Mustang. The coaches were very proud of their effort in the National Duals.
JH GIRLS 2ND AT
SHAWNEE NATIONAL DUALS
Junior High girls came in as the #1 seed in the tournament and lost in a good dual vs. Tulsa Union to become runner-up in a very tough girls dual tournament. After the match, Coach Bo Lathrop had this to say, "This team has stubborness to them that cant be coached. They are resilient determined, and just plain tough!"
GIRLS FINISH STRONG!
Girls finish strong a the state tournament with two girls winning state and Ranelle Smith coming in 3rd brining the team to 5th in the state! All three women return next season to be big point scorers next season! Great job ladies!
BOYS SHOW OUT AT STATE!
After having a great showing at regionals. The boys came to the state tourmanet ready and driven! They finished 4th in the state with Rios, Ivey, Olguin, Lacroix, and Yeatman all coming away with medals. Way to get your names on the wall boys!
COLE OLGUIN ALL STATER!
Westmoore has been pretty consistent in putting kids into the All State match in July every year! It continued with the selction of Cole Olguin to the Large West! Congrats Cole!
WOMEN HEAD TO NATIONALS
The girls went Washington with coach Bryson McGowan to show their skills, They had a good showing but fell just short of the podium. Great job girls keep at it !
JH HOLIDAY PRACTICE SCHEDULE
TRAE RIOS SIGNS WITH
OKLAHOMA SOONERS!
With a great carrer in high school and a great one ahead of him, Trae Riois has decided to continue his education and carrer at the Univeristy of Oklahoma! This the Jaguars first sign of the year!
GAVIN GAGNON SIGNS WITH
OCU STARS!
With the second commit in the post season, Gavin Gagnon signs with the Stars and will be contininuing his education at Oklahoma City University!
COLE OLGUIN SIGNS WITH
OCU STARS!
With the first commit in the post season, Cole Olguin signs with the Stars and will be contininuing his education at Oklahoma City University!
MCGOWAN NEW PROGRAM HEAD COACH
We have a new Head Wrestling Coach for Westmoore! Congrats Bryson McGowan as he is promoted to the Head Coach! Coach comes from being an assisntant under Coach Evans. He was a OCU All-American and amazing with the kids! Congrats coach and the McGowan Era begins!
JAGS FINISH 2nd @ REGIONALS
With finishing with 10 men moving on to the state tournament. Westmoore got enough points to finish 2nd at the West Regional. Great future ahead with this many qualifiers!
WESTMOORE
2025 STATE QUALIFIERS
Withe the regular season done, the kids went to regionals and punched their ticket to state! See below all the great wrestlers that are moving on to the post season brackets!
TRAE RIOS NATIONAL HONORS RECOGNIZED
Taken from Moore Monthly: Credit goes to them.
https://www.mooremonthly.com/nations-best-matthias-rios-and-perez-claim-national-honors/
Life looks a lot different this fall for wrestler Trae Rios. One year ago, he was starting his senior year at Westmoore. Now he’s walking across campus at the University of Oklahoma.
“Man, it is a lot of fun being here in Norman,” said Rios. “It’s even more fun being able to practice every day and live at the place where I practice.”
Rios says going to OU has always been a dream of his.
“It’s been a goal since I hit high school,” said Rios. “Just growing up 25 minutes away from the campus and being a big football fan. And all their sports teams are competitive, so to be able to go to school here and compete for the Sooners in D1 wrestling is a dream come true.
The dream for Rios began early in life. He has been wrestling since he was five years old, but says things really clicked for him in eighth grade.
“I had always been around wrestling, but when I moved to Westmoore, it all came together,” said Rios. “I had great coaches who helped me develop and get so much better.”
Rios qualified for the 6A state tournament all four years of his high school career and placed three times. He went to the Fargo national tournament this summer focused in on having his best showing ever.
“Fargo is a long week and a grind, day in and day out,” said Rios. “We wrestled four or five of the seven days that Team Oklahoma was there, so it really takes a toll on your body and you have to be mentally tough.”
Rio faced a bracket with 256-competitors, so it’s easy to understand what he’s talking about when he uses words like “grind” and “taking a toll.” He performed well this summer, placing in freestyle and finishing fourth in Greco-Roman wrestling. That earned him the lofty title of All-American and gave him some great experience.
“Greco is different than freestyle, so it was a lot of fun being able to experience that and to represent Westmoore and Oklahoma,” said Rios.
Getting to the “top of the wrestling mountain” is no small task. Rios credits his coaches at Westmoore for helping him in that journey.
“Honestly, my success started when I started trusting my coaches,” said Rios. “Westmoore has such a strong support system, so moving over there and being able to put that trust in Coach Evans and the other coaches was a huge deal. They helped me perform the way I hoped that I could perform.”
Rios points to his family and friends as key elements in his success. He also says that his faith has given him a strong foundation to build on.
“My faith in the Lord shapes my life,” said Rios. “When you trust Him and know that He has a plan for you, whether you win or lose, it takes the pressure off and allows you to just enjoy every moment.”
Rios says that he also understands that stepping into the role of a college athlete at a high-profile school like OU brings responsibilities.
“You just have to hold yourself to a higher standard,” said Rios. “It’s nice to be successful, but it’s important to remain humble through it all and realize that you have a chance to impact younger kids who have the same kinds of dreams you had growing up.”
https://www.mooremonthly.com/nations-best-matthias-rios-and-perez-claim-national-honors/
Life looks a lot different this fall for wrestler Trae Rios. One year ago, he was starting his senior year at Westmoore. Now he’s walking across campus at the University of Oklahoma.
“Man, it is a lot of fun being here in Norman,” said Rios. “It’s even more fun being able to practice every day and live at the place where I practice.”
Rios says going to OU has always been a dream of his.
“It’s been a goal since I hit high school,” said Rios. “Just growing up 25 minutes away from the campus and being a big football fan. And all their sports teams are competitive, so to be able to go to school here and compete for the Sooners in D1 wrestling is a dream come true.
The dream for Rios began early in life. He has been wrestling since he was five years old, but says things really clicked for him in eighth grade.
“I had always been around wrestling, but when I moved to Westmoore, it all came together,” said Rios. “I had great coaches who helped me develop and get so much better.”
Rios qualified for the 6A state tournament all four years of his high school career and placed three times. He went to the Fargo national tournament this summer focused in on having his best showing ever.
“Fargo is a long week and a grind, day in and day out,” said Rios. “We wrestled four or five of the seven days that Team Oklahoma was there, so it really takes a toll on your body and you have to be mentally tough.”
Rio faced a bracket with 256-competitors, so it’s easy to understand what he’s talking about when he uses words like “grind” and “taking a toll.” He performed well this summer, placing in freestyle and finishing fourth in Greco-Roman wrestling. That earned him the lofty title of All-American and gave him some great experience.
“Greco is different than freestyle, so it was a lot of fun being able to experience that and to represent Westmoore and Oklahoma,” said Rios.
Getting to the “top of the wrestling mountain” is no small task. Rios credits his coaches at Westmoore for helping him in that journey.
“Honestly, my success started when I started trusting my coaches,” said Rios. “Westmoore has such a strong support system, so moving over there and being able to put that trust in Coach Evans and the other coaches was a huge deal. They helped me perform the way I hoped that I could perform.”
Rios points to his family and friends as key elements in his success. He also says that his faith has given him a strong foundation to build on.
“My faith in the Lord shapes my life,” said Rios. “When you trust Him and know that He has a plan for you, whether you win or lose, it takes the pressure off and allows you to just enjoy every moment.”
Rios says that he also understands that stepping into the role of a college athlete at a high-profile school like OU brings responsibilities.
“You just have to hold yourself to a higher standard,” said Rios. “It’s nice to be successful, but it’s important to remain humble through it all and realize that you have a chance to impact younger kids who have the same kinds of dreams you had growing up.”
PEREZ RECIEVES NATIONAL HONORS
Credit to Moore Monthly, credit goes to them:
https://www.mooremonthly.com/nations-best-matthias-rios-and-perez-claim-national-honors/
Westmoore senior Kyrain Perez says she feels great heading into her senior year, but is still taking things day by day after a strong summer of wrestling competition. That’s being pretty level-headed after earning All-American honors at the prestigious Junior Nationals in Fargo in July.
“One of my goals was to place at Fargo,” said Perez, “So it feels great to accomplish that and be named an All-American.”
Perez wrestled in the highly competitive 100-pound class, where she went 5-3 with four falls. After a loss in the quarterfinals, she responded with three straight falls to beat Colorado’s Lola Gonzales and earn a top-eight finish, nailing down All-American status. Perez says her passion for wrestling began at an early age.
“I actually got interested in about fourth or fifth grade,” said Perez. “There was this church that had wrestling for kids as sort of a charity thing, and you would get to eat after. So, I started going to that.”
Picking up a free meal is not a bad way to get started in a sport. COVID came along and nearly derailed Perez’s wrestling journey. But Perez says Coach Bryson McGowan helped spark a renewed interest in middle school.
“I really like the community that wrestling gives you,” said Perez. “There’s so much more to it than just wrestling on the mat. The people you meet and the things you learn. I’m like a totally different person now than when I got back into it in eighth grade.”
And now, one of those lessons is understanding what it takes to climb into elite status as an All-American.
“This year at Fargo was really special when I made it to the second day,” said Perez. “I had never done that, so it was a pretty big accomplishment. From there, I just kept my focus and fought to get into the top eight.”
It wasn’t until the All-American parade that Perez says it really began to sink in that she had achieved a lofty goal.
“I was walking onto the stage and hearing the announcer speak the words,” said Perez. “It hit me that there were over 2,000 girls there, and I was one of the last 64 standing. I just stopped and thought, ‘Whoa!’”
Perez’s goals for her senior year include chasing a third 6A state wrestling title and then looking beyond that to college.
“I’ve been talking to a few colleges and trying to figure out what my options are,” said Perez. “After college, I think I’d like to go into the criminal justice system or something in the medical field.”
JAGS EXCEL AT JAGUAR OPEN
JAGS OPEN SEASON WITH 35 MEDALS
PEREZ TWINS TOUGH AT VIKING OPEN
2025-2026 COACHING STATF ANNOUNCEMENT
We have officially announced our coaching staff for the 2025 and 2026 school year. Westmoore has one of the best staffs in the entire state. Coach McGowan rounded up the best, Westmoore does not rebuild... we reload! Click here to find out the entire coaching staff!
ROSCO LEWIS NATIONAL RUNNER-UP
Many of the Jags went to Iowa for the Pre-season Nationals. Rosco Lewis went and wrestled in a higher division. Only a 8th grader wrestled in the 9/10 grade division. Upsetting the number 1 seed in the semi-finals and went on to finish 2nd place in one of the hardest tournament in the country.
POST SEASON WITH MCGOWAN
1. Coach McGowan how would you say the women’s program is developing here at Westmoore after the 4th season?
I would say that things are developing with a great trajectory! We are also out in our community putting community service hours in and trying to help develop good humans. For our high school team, we are expecting to come close to doubling our roster size from last season. From 7th grade through high school, we are checking all the boxes as far as producing state qualifiers, state placers, state champions, national qualifiers, national dual team members, and so on. We have had 3 straight top 10 finishes as a team at the state tournament, with a top 5 finish in 2025. All in all, things are tracking very encouragingly thanks to our athletes, community, and the work they put in.
2. Coach we had two women’s state champions this year and a state placer ! Can you elaborate on what was the possible cause of this?
We were very blessed to have a great showing at the state tournament this year. Kyrain Perez won her second state title, which marks the first women's multi time state champion in Westmoore history. She recorded two falls and outscored her opponents 23-2 on her way to her title. Kyrstan Perez won her first state title this year earning two falls, a tech fall, and outscoring her opponents 33-2 in the process. Ranelle Smith was Westmoore's first women's freshman state placer last season and earned her second state medal in as many tries, going 3-1 and the only loss being the eventual state champion. She gets better every time she steps on the mat and has an exceptionally high standard for herself.
The cause of this success isn't easy, but it isn't complicated. They put in great work, they find ways to find extra work, they lay it all on the line every time they wrestle, and in the face of adversity they step to the line regardless of how they feel. Doing these things doesn't guarantee the result you want, but it puts you in a great position to capitalize on the opportunity.
3. Coach the JH women have had a great showing at the Shawnee Dual Tournament in both years they have been. What would be the reasons for this in your opinion?
Our JH women have been a great group to see develop. It is a great opportunity to see our athletes really galvanize and come together as a team. It is early in our season and we have a wide variety of wrestling experience at that point, so it's a testament to their willingness to accept coaching, to coach each other, and just straight up finding a way to win. They are critically important to what we are trying to build going forward.
4. Where do you see the women’s program going forward, and what needs to happen to make that succeed?
I see the program going forward as a staple in Oklahoma wrestling. Since it's birth in 1987, Westmoore Wrestling has been a place with rich tradition, history, high standards, and high performance. You can clearly see that with the number of high-level athletes that have come out of our program over the years that range from 7th grade all the way into the international level. All we are doing now is adding another chapter to the book with our women's teams. Women's wrestling in Oklahoma is early in it's history and Westmoore's fingerprints are all over the record books. We have set ourselves up well to be a mainstay program and our athletes and staff have no intentions of letting that opportunity pass us by.
In order to ensure that be our future, we need what anything else needs to sustain success. It is going to take continued hard work, buy in, and support from our athletes, staff, and community. It is going to take finding ways to not be stagnant and win around the margins for our athletes and coaches. It is going to take continued acceptance of the duties and responsibilities of what it takes to not only maintain but push our programs forward, and I have full confidence that we have the athletes, staff, and community that we are willing to do what all that entails. Women's wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the world, and we are excited to do what it takes to keep Westmoore Wrestling on the forefront of it.
5. Coach McGowan you are instrumental in the development of our young athletes in the offseason freestyle program. Can you give a quick update on the offseason program at Westmoore.
Our athletes are doing a great job working on their development this spring and summer. This part of the year is so critical to development, as you can get close a full season of matches in the spring and summer. This can allow for massive jumps for our athletes. We go nearly every weekend to our local tournament and always leave with medals. Our men and women currently have 6 athletes qualified for Fargo, with more looking to punch their tickets over the next two weeks at Sothern Plains and State. We also have 5 athletes that are going to be representing Team Oklahoma at National Duals over the summer. All of these accolades are huge accomplishments, and we are proud of all our athletes for attaining them. Now, we push forward to add more to the Fargo list and making sure we are ready to compete at an elite level.
I would say that things are developing with a great trajectory! We are also out in our community putting community service hours in and trying to help develop good humans. For our high school team, we are expecting to come close to doubling our roster size from last season. From 7th grade through high school, we are checking all the boxes as far as producing state qualifiers, state placers, state champions, national qualifiers, national dual team members, and so on. We have had 3 straight top 10 finishes as a team at the state tournament, with a top 5 finish in 2025. All in all, things are tracking very encouragingly thanks to our athletes, community, and the work they put in.
2. Coach we had two women’s state champions this year and a state placer ! Can you elaborate on what was the possible cause of this?
We were very blessed to have a great showing at the state tournament this year. Kyrain Perez won her second state title, which marks the first women's multi time state champion in Westmoore history. She recorded two falls and outscored her opponents 23-2 on her way to her title. Kyrstan Perez won her first state title this year earning two falls, a tech fall, and outscoring her opponents 33-2 in the process. Ranelle Smith was Westmoore's first women's freshman state placer last season and earned her second state medal in as many tries, going 3-1 and the only loss being the eventual state champion. She gets better every time she steps on the mat and has an exceptionally high standard for herself.
The cause of this success isn't easy, but it isn't complicated. They put in great work, they find ways to find extra work, they lay it all on the line every time they wrestle, and in the face of adversity they step to the line regardless of how they feel. Doing these things doesn't guarantee the result you want, but it puts you in a great position to capitalize on the opportunity.
3. Coach the JH women have had a great showing at the Shawnee Dual Tournament in both years they have been. What would be the reasons for this in your opinion?
Our JH women have been a great group to see develop. It is a great opportunity to see our athletes really galvanize and come together as a team. It is early in our season and we have a wide variety of wrestling experience at that point, so it's a testament to their willingness to accept coaching, to coach each other, and just straight up finding a way to win. They are critically important to what we are trying to build going forward.
4. Where do you see the women’s program going forward, and what needs to happen to make that succeed?
I see the program going forward as a staple in Oklahoma wrestling. Since it's birth in 1987, Westmoore Wrestling has been a place with rich tradition, history, high standards, and high performance. You can clearly see that with the number of high-level athletes that have come out of our program over the years that range from 7th grade all the way into the international level. All we are doing now is adding another chapter to the book with our women's teams. Women's wrestling in Oklahoma is early in it's history and Westmoore's fingerprints are all over the record books. We have set ourselves up well to be a mainstay program and our athletes and staff have no intentions of letting that opportunity pass us by.
In order to ensure that be our future, we need what anything else needs to sustain success. It is going to take continued hard work, buy in, and support from our athletes, staff, and community. It is going to take finding ways to not be stagnant and win around the margins for our athletes and coaches. It is going to take continued acceptance of the duties and responsibilities of what it takes to not only maintain but push our programs forward, and I have full confidence that we have the athletes, staff, and community that we are willing to do what all that entails. Women's wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the world, and we are excited to do what it takes to keep Westmoore Wrestling on the forefront of it.
5. Coach McGowan you are instrumental in the development of our young athletes in the offseason freestyle program. Can you give a quick update on the offseason program at Westmoore.
Our athletes are doing a great job working on their development this spring and summer. This part of the year is so critical to development, as you can get close a full season of matches in the spring and summer. This can allow for massive jumps for our athletes. We go nearly every weekend to our local tournament and always leave with medals. Our men and women currently have 6 athletes qualified for Fargo, with more looking to punch their tickets over the next two weeks at Sothern Plains and State. We also have 5 athletes that are going to be representing Team Oklahoma at National Duals over the summer. All of these accolades are huge accomplishments, and we are proud of all our athletes for attaining them. Now, we push forward to add more to the Fargo list and making sure we are ready to compete at an elite level.
COACH GEARY INTERVIEW
- Coach Geary, how do you think the season went this year in 2024-2025?
The season was great in my opinion. We had a relatively young squad with a lot of newer wrestlers, but they put in the work, and the results showed it. - Coach, with that being said, elaborate how the offseason is going so far?
We have a good amount of athletes that are still working out with wrestling. Obviously some go onto football or Track or other sports, but we have a solid group that are participating in lifts and wrestling Freestyle and Greco. We currently have qualified for Fargo Nationals. Avery Rios and Wyler Allen.| - Coach, Westmoore has had a strong showing at the Shawnee Dual Tournament making the gold bracket 6 years in a row and winning it twice. What are your expectations for 2025-2026 in Shawnee?
Westmoore has a history of producing tough teams year in and year out. There’s no reason to believe we can’t continue that and make the Gold Bracket, or win the Gold Bracket. - What excites you about the kids in the 2025-2026 season?
This is just one of those years where there seems to be another wave of Westmoore kids who wrestle in a number of our local youth wrestling clubs that will be coming in that are going to be a big part of the program in coming years.
- Coach there has been a number of new faces enter the lineup, care to elaborate on some of them and maybe a few new faces we expect to see next season?
Cameron Rios, younger brother of Oklahoma Commit Trae Rios and Incoming Freshman Avery Rios came into the lineup and really helped us dropping just 1 match on the season. Wyler Allen was a returning starter and contributed in a big way all season finishing 6th at the JH State Tournament.. Adrian Muncy was a first-year wrestler that has big potential and placed 6th at JH State for us. Additionally, we have some 6th graders coming up that could very well contribute this coming season. Jett Greer, son of Westmoore Graduate and Wrestler J.R Greer who took 5th in the 6th/7th division of the JH State Tournament. Covey Allen, younger brother of Wyler Allen who took 4th in the 6th/7th Division. We also add Rosco Lewis, who has had a ton of success in the youth divisions. Sutton Zielny, younger brother of Zane Zelny who is Westmoore Graduate and Football Player for University of Central Oklahoma.
- Coach Westmoore had a strong showing at the JH State tournament this year what preparation was done for that success?
As a staff, from day one we have a big emphasis on giving our best effort day in and day out, we focus on developing the basic skills, learning from our successes and failures, growing as individuals and preparing for the next level. We create live match situations as much as possible, we put them in situations that we see throughout the year, and work to improve and be better ready for everything in real time.