The Prosper High School wrestling team competed at the SW Berry Center Feb. 13 to 14 in Houston for the state meet, with multiple wrestlers participating across a variety of weight classes. Seniors Jaelyn Skelley, Lexie Rems, Tayla Skelley and Maddie Rutledge, and junior Sadie Hunter represented the team, guided by coaches Mathies Long and Kevin Dibble.
“Preparation for a tournament or a meet comes primarily from the work we do in practice, drilling, working on areas that we struggle,” Coach Dibble said. “However, for actual match time I think it’s more about getting wrestlers in the right state of mind. Our mantra is simple. We are not results oriented; it’s more important for them to focus on their process. If we can get their mind off the next opponent or the need to win they can focus on the process they have created over hours and hours of practice.”
During the meet, each wrestler took to the mat for their assigned division, earning individual wins that contributed to the overall performance of the team against competitors from other schools. The daily schedule at the center included morning weigh-ins followed by several rounds of matches throughout the day.
“My biggest accomplishment throughout this entire season was being able to place fifth at regionals,” Patino said. “It was a moment where I finally saw all that hard work pay off on the mat.”
Coaches Mathies Long and Kevin Dibble managed the team throughout the meet, overseeing warmups, match strategy, and weight class preparation for each athlete. The coaching staff watched every match from the corner to provide instructions and support for the wrestlers during their time on the mat.
“Our girls wrestling team had a great season,” Coach Dibble said. “We had 6 girls place 3rd or higher in district to qualify for regionals. Of our regional qualifiers we 2 qualify for state and 1 qualified as an alternate for state.”
The wrestlers completed all their scheduled matches at the state tournament in SW Berry Center in Houston. The team’s next official competition opportunity starts in the 2026 high school wrestling season leading up to district and regional tournaments later this year. The program follows a schedule that includes weight training and mat practice to prepare for these upcoming events.
“My goals for the wrestling season were to really focus on improving my technique,” Brittany Patino said. “And I wanted to take the time to truly realize why I wrestle.”
This article received edits by: Elise Leavitt, Kate Duncan and Trisha Panicker.
