For the majority of the young athletes that comprise Kemmerer High School’s history-making girls’ wrestling team, the sport has always been a part of their lives, albeit in a non-competitive sense.

“It practically runs in my blood,” said Kaylie Julander, who is currently 4-3 this season after two tournaments. “I have lots of uncles who wrestled, and my dad and brothers wrestled, too. It was my favorite sport to watch, and I have always loved it. As soon as Wyoming sanctioned girls wrestling, I decided in a heartbeat I want to wrestle.”

Laynee Walker — whose older brother Riggen is the defending 2A state champion at 145 pounds — told a similar story.

“[Wrestling] has always been super-big in my family,” Walker explained. “I get to spend more time with my brother, who’s a senior this year. It’s new, and I’m excited to take the opportunity.”

After years of discussion — aided in no small part by a groundswell of support from programs around the state — girls’ wrestling officially became a state-sanctioned sport in Wyoming last spring.

Wyoming is the 36th state to sanction girls’ wrestling, following neighboring states Montana, Nebraska, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and South Dakota.

“We’ve talked about it for several years, but our schools finally got on board,” Wyoming High School Activities Association Associate Commissioner Trevor Wilson told the Casper Star Tribune in April. “Once we got the eight schools that said they wanted to add girls’ wrestling, we got several more after that. Then it was time to bring it to the board and they unanimously supported it.”

Joining Kaylie and Laynee on Kemmerer’s inaugural roster are Lynsie Julander, Kylee Batista, Nadia Runnion and Jentrie Lacey. The Lady Rangers have competed in two tournaments so far this season, finishing fifth as a team at the season-opening Wasatch Intermountain Duals in Utah, and performing well at the Aimone Invitational, hosted by KHS.

Lynsie Julander posted a 3-0 record in the 153-158-pound division at the Wasatch Duals, becoming the Lady Rangers’ first-ever individual champion.

“When I won my first tournament in Utah — I was not expecting to win a match, let alone pin every single girl I wrestled,” Lynsie said. “It was awesome being called and they said my name and what school I was from, then being awarded my medal, showing me that I was better than I thought.”

The Lady Rangers came into the 2022-23 season with little to no previous wrestling experience, though the team as a whole has proven to be a quick study — all five girls who competed at the Wasatch Duals earned a spot on the podium, while all six on the roster placed in the Top 3 at the Aimone Invite, led by Runnion, who finished first in her weight class. Unlike some of her teammates, wrestling is a brand-new sport to Runnion, and she’s enjoying the process.

“It’s pretty fun,” she said. “Some days are quite hard to get through, but at the end of the day, you can say you did it. Every practice is challenging, but it’s always worth it.”

While the season is young, it has already provided the Lady Rangers a number of memorable moments.

“I will always remember my first match and how nervous I was,” Kaylie Julander said. “The nerves really got to me and during my match I forgot everything. Unfortunately, I lost but I am glad I did because I learned, and I can’t wait to keep learning.”

For Batista, winning her first match is a memory she’ll always cherish.

“That is a feeling I will never forget,” she said.

Walker said spending time with her brother on the mats this season is what she’ll remember most.

“He’s there to help me in practice, support me in my matches and I get to be with him at meets,” she said.

Granted, some moments are memorable for all the wrong reasons.

“[I was] not prepared at all for our very first meet,” Runnion said. “I literally forgot all my gear.”

And while nerves may have gotten the best of a few wrestlers during that first tournament, valuable lessons were learned.

“I was so nervous and scared that I would forget something, or do something wrong,” Lacey explained. “But at the end of the day, we all make mistakes — everyone is so supportive.”

As for what it means to be a part of the first-ever state-sanctioned girls’ wrestling team at KHS, all are in agreement that it’s an honor they’re not taking lightly.

“I think it’s pretty amazing — I never thought that it would actually happen,” Batista said. “I love competing, and love the bond that you form with the team.”

Kaylie Julander agreed with Batista’s assessment.

“It’s super-awesome that we get to be part of Wyoming wrestling history,” she said. “This team is committed, and I love the tournaments. This sport brings the most athleticism and physical strength out of you, and I enjoy that challenge.”

Legacy is also important, as Walker explained.

“I want to leave a legacy showing girls that they can do anything new, no matter the experience, age or grade,” she said. “You just need the work ethic.”

The Lady Rangers are keeping their expectations for the season realistic, though the team is off to a promising start.

“My expectations for the season is that we walk away from every match knowing that we gave it everything we had,” Runnion said.

“I expect there to be some great matches and tournaments,” Kaylie Julander added. “I also expect some mistakes. I hope we win a state title, once we get more knowledge and confidence, but I mostly hope it’s just a fun ride.”

A dedicated coaching staff is an important part of any successful program, and head KHS coach Darrell Bullington and his assistants were given high marks by the Lady Rangers.

“I love having coach Bullington as my coach,” Walker said. “He’s very patient with my mistakes, and is always willing to help me…my dad is also a coach, so I’m fortunate and thankful to have the support I have.”

Lacey said the whole coaching staff “is awesome to work with,” a sentiment Batista echoed.

“All the coaches are amazing, and I have a good feeling it’s gonna be one heck of a good season,” Batista said.

The Lady Rangers are back in action Thursday, with a home dual scheduled against Pinedale. The Lady Wranglers are off to a solid start, as well, having won the Evanston Invitational earlier this month.

It will be a tough test, but the Lady Rangers will be ready. For now, the team is enjoying their success, as well as the camaraderie they’ve found in the wrestling room.

“It shows that us girls are willing to try a sport that demands you to use every single muscle in your body,” Lynsie Julander said.

As for what she’s found to be the most fun, Lynsie said the answer is simple.

“What I enjoy the most is being able to beat on my sister and not get in trouble,” she said.