Cheyenne East Girls Wrestling: Building a Culture of Excellence and Grit in 2025
The 2024–2025 winter season marked another exciting chapter for the Cheyenne East High School Girls Wrestling Team under the leadership of Head Coach Riley Stringer. In just a few short years, the program has grown into a competitive force both within the state and beyond Wyoming’s borders. This year, the team experienced growth, tested its limits, and made a mark with a championship at Regionals and a strong fourth-place finish at State. Though the end of the season left room for improvement, the resilience, leadership, and potential displayed throughout the winter offered plenty of reasons for optimism.
Leading the Charge: Standout Wrestlers of the Season
The strength of the Thunderbirds this season began with a core group of dedicated and talented wrestlers who brought heart and consistency to every match.
Joci Davis, a senior leader, set the tone with her unwavering commitment. She placed no lower than third in any tournament this year, reaching the championship round in every event but one. Her consistency, determination, and performance under pressure made her a cornerstone of the team’s success and a role model for younger athletes.
Fellow senior Bree Padilla was another vital piece of the puzzle. A fierce competitor and a natural leader, Bree placed at every tournament she competed in and was known for pushing herself and her teammates to be their best. Coach Stringer praised both Davis and Padilla not just for their performance but also for the leadership that has helped define the culture of the program.
The future of East wrestling looks bright, thanks in part to rising talents like freshmen Kailyah Bento and Viviana Soto. Both wrestlers demonstrated immense potential, with Soto standing out as the only freshman to place at a tournament. Bento, described by her coach as one of the most skilled wrestlers on the team, embraced the challenge of competing against older opponents, including wrestling up a weight class in one tournament to help the team score more points—a selfless act that underscored her team-first mentality.
Sophomores Halley House and Azlyn Silva also made significant contributions. Both are poised to become important leaders in the coming seasons. Silva, in particular, was praised not just for her work ethic and skill, but for the kindness and positivity she brings to the room—“one of the sweetest kids you will ever meet,” said Coach Stringer.
Also deserving of recognition is Braelynn Love, a sophomore who made a bold move by switching from basketball to wrestling. Her dedication and commitment have already had a powerful impact on team culture and performance. Freshman Abigail Clay had a tough start to the season but found her rhythm and passion as the year went on. According to Stringer, she “fell in love with the sport,” and her growth this season points to a promising future on the mat.
Successes and Lessons from the 2025 Season
The Thunderbirds posted strong showings throughout the season, highlighted by a team championship at the Regional Tournament. Though Coach Stringer admitted the team may have underperformed slightly at State, finishing fourth, he remained proud of how the athletes handled themselves throughout the grueling winter.
“We had a good season. Nothing is ever perfect,” he shared. “It was tough, but the girls wrestled and practiced hard through it. We competed well in Nebraska and Colorado, going up against teams that have been wrestling a lot longer than we have.”
The regional success was a clear testament to the hard work and resilience of the squad, even if the season’s final chapter didn’t unfold as hoped. For Coach Stringer and his wrestlers, it’s not just about winning—it’s about continuing to grow.
One defining moment this year came when Kailyah Bento moved up a weight class to avoid placing behind a senior teammate, enabling the team to score more points overall. That moment, rooted in humility and team spirit, helped spark a mindset shift and proved influential in guiding the team’s performance and unity.
Rising Stars and Development
Several athletes blossomed over the course of the season and grew into bigger roles, showcasing the depth and potential of the roster. Wrestlers like Braelynn Love (170 lbs), Abigail Clay (235 lbs), Orianna Gonzalez (105 lbs), Daniela Ramos (115 lbs), and Makayla Haley (155 lbs) took on more responsibility and showed real progress in their weight classes.
Coach Stringer praised their development and acknowledged that their growth will be critical to the team’s continued success. The team’s "next woman up" mentality also played a key role throughout the season. When injuries struck or pressure mounted, the athletes responded with resilience and resolve.
“We feel bad for our teammates when they go down, and we do everything we can for them,” said Stringer. “But all we can do is step up and fill the shoes in front of us. They did a terrific job of that this season.”
The Legacy of the Senior Class
This year’s senior class left an indelible mark on the Cheyenne East program—not just with their talent, but with their character. Coach Stringer could not speak highly enough about their leadership, saying, “This senior class is one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Sure, they were talented, but they were also five of the best kids I’ve ever met.”
More than their points and podium finishes, what will be missed most is the way these seniors built and maintained the culture of excellence, humility, and dedication within the team. “I can preach the culture to them all I want,” Stringer said. “But they have to be the ones to live by it—and these five certainly did.”
Looking Ahead: Growth, Grit, and Goals
With a mix of rising stars and passionate young wrestlers returning, the future of Cheyenne East Girls Wrestling looks bright. There’s a solid core of talented, hard-working athletes, and Coach Stringer is optimistic about their chances of taking the program to the next level.
“We have a lot of talent and a lot of very hard workers,” he said. “In my experiences with wrestling, those two things can help a team make that jump.”
To get there, the team will focus on developing all aspects of its game during the offseason. But one area, in particular, stands out for improvement: the bottom game. “It’s tough to beat somebody you can’t keep down on the mat,” Stringer noted, emphasizing the need to improve escapes and reversals to stay competitive against top-tier opponents.
Stay Connected
For those looking to follow Cheyenne East Girls Wrestling more closely, stats are available on Track Wrestling, and Coach Stringer is happy to provide specific photos upon request.
The 2025 season may not have ended with a state championship, but it was a year defined by character, commitment, and growth. The Cheyenne East Girls Wrestling Team proved once again that success isn’t just about medals—it's about building a culture that lasts, empowering young athletes to lead, and continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
With a strong foundation in place and a wave of promising talent coming through the ranks, Cheyenne East is not just competing—they're creating a legacy.
, Abigail Clay (235 lbs), Orianna Gonzalez (105 lbs), Daniela Ramos (115 lbs), and Makayla Haley (155 lbs) took on more responsibility and showed real progress in their weight classes.
Coach Stringer praised their development and acknowledged that their growth will be critical to the team’s continued success. The team’s )
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