KEMMERER — In modern culture’s obsession with success, it’s easy to find inspirational quotes about winning, but Kemmerer Junior-Senior High School student Gabe Emery has a quote about losing that drives him.

“In the end, winning isn’t everything, and those who give up never prevail” is printed on a picture of Emery taken after a heartbreaking loss at a state wrestling match his junior year. In the photo, Emery is on his knees, defeated, while the victor celebrates behind him. That was his third loss at State.    

“That was my third time getting second place. I had to get past the adversity. I decided to focus on having fun with wrestling and not focus on the win,” he told the Gazette.

This change in attitude made a big difference for Emery.

“The pressure didn’t go away, but I was able to handle it again,” he said.   

Although Emery said he was at an all-time low when that photo was taken, it now serves as a reminder that winning is not the only goal because there is something much more important: resilience. Emery is young but has already learned that standing strong against adversity builds more character than winning. 

Though it took practice to shift his mindset, Emery said he never gave up, no matter what the score was or how bad he was losing.

“I realized it doesn’t matter if I win or lose,” he said. “I had to be happy with what I did no matter what.”

Looking back at the losses now, Emery said it was a period of growth but, at the time, it felt like a low point.

“I put so much time into wrestling,” he said. “After the second loss, it was really tough.”

Despite the disappointment, he said, “It made me grow more. I was better off because I learned so much from losing.”

Perhaps the previous losses made Emery’s victory the following year even sweeter. He came back and won the state championship title this year, defeating the very wrestler who had beaten him earlier.

“I think I would feel different about being state champ if I had won earlier. Instead of being surprised I won, I know what I put into it, and I know that I earned it,” he said.    

Wrestling is just one area where Emery has excelled. Not only was he the class president for his 2024 senior graduating class, but also played fullback and middle linebacker for the Kemmerer Rangers and was able to make significant contributions to the football team.

“Gabe is a great young man,” KHS football coach Bart Jernigan said. “He is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching and teaching. He’s been a leader on our teams and in our schools.”

Jernigan said Emery has achieved great success in both school and athletics, noting he chose to take the hardest classes offered as well as compete at the highest levels of competition.

Beyond academics and athletics, Jernigan said that Emery is a character kid with exemplary work ethic and integrity.

“He’s also worked hard to build his leadership skills over his high school years,” Jernigan said.   

Perhaps his leadership skills will aid him in his next endeavor. Emery’s accomplishments in the classroom, and on the football field, and wrestling mat are incredible, but he is ready to graduate and move on to new adventures ahead.

After contemplating colleges, Emery started a rigorous application to West Point, which included written essays and obtaining nomination letters from Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, as well as U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman.

He has been accepted to the United States Military Academy West Point in New York and plans to study engineering. His first-year studies will be generals and he plans to become a second lieutenant.

“When I think about what he’s about to do by enrolling at West Point and selflessly serving our country, I cannot think of anything that would make me any prouder of him,” Jernigan said. 

Emery said he plans to improve his leadership skills and develop more as a person. Emery acknowledged the intensive training he will get from West Point.

“I guess I will get broken down and built back up,” he said.

Military service runs in his family; his grandfather served in the Marines, and his uncle and father served in the Army. This summer, Emery plans to visit with his family, before traveling to Houston to spend time with his girlfriend. He leaves for West Point in June.

While losing — even taking second place — can be painful, Emery has learned at an early age that it comes with a silver lining, which sometimes can be better than gold.