03/16/2026
Now that I finally have a moment to sit down and take it all in, I want to reflect on STATES 2026 — not just as a coach, but as a mom.
This year I made what felt like a BIG decision: opening our program to Fonda wrestlers since we compete together at the varsity level. I’ll be honest — it wasn’t an easy choice. Youth sports can be unpredictable, we’re traditionally rival schools, and blending programs can go a hundred different ways.
But I can say without hesitation… it was one of the best decisions our coaching staff has made since day one.
The way wrestlers and families from Fonda, Johnstown (and even a little Broadalbin-Perth) came together as ONE team honestly brings tears to my eyes. Parents supported every wrestler like they were their own — even when I made Fonda wear purple and gold 😄. That alone was a championship-level win for this season.
From there, our wrestlers were ready to take on the world during dual season. While scheduling and circumstances kept us from reaching our ultimate goal this year, something even better happened — new wrestlers joined months into the season, and we watched kids truly fall in love with wrestling. That’s the real victory.
Then came NYWAY States — a MASSIVE stage for such tiny humans. It’s intimidating even for adults, so imagine stepping onto those mats for the first time as a young wrestler. The night before competition, the team talked about individual goals, and while not every placement goal was met, the growth, courage, and heart shown this weekend gave us more wins than any medal could measure.
🥇🥈🥉 OUR VETERAN WRESTLERS
🥈 Olivia — Ended her youth career as a State Finalist, just short in the finals, and showed exactly why she was our captain.
🥈 Leroy — Climbed the podium again, battling to the finals and losing a close one to a great opponent.
🏅 Adalyn — Wrestled her way to 4th place, achieving her season goal.
💪 Landon — Led by example while battling through a tough bracket.
💪 Maxwell — Faced another massive bracket, earning a win and several close matches.
💪 Easton — Competed hard in a stacked division and brought home a win.
😁 Maximus — Kept spirits high all weekend and is already chasing that first win next season.
🔥 Todd & Trent — Survived one of the toughest brackets out there and never stopped cheering for teammates.
🌟 FIRST-TIME STATE WRESTLERS
🥈 Kip — Went from being unsure about tournaments to becoming a STATE FINALIST in his very first one… holy crap!
🥉 Ben — Surpassed his goal and brought home 3rd place.
🏅 Eli — Took 4th place in his first state appearance.
🏅 Hadley — Joined AFTER Christmas and finished 4th in a large girls bracket… we could write a book about this kid.
💥 Killian — Earned two wins in a huge bracket and proved himself all weekend.
📌 Bryce — Got his first state win by PIN and continues to be one of the most coachable wrestlers we’ve had.
👏 CLUB REPRESENTATION
💪 Jaxon — Competed under his club team and put together several strong matches with a great win.
🥇 Asher — Wrestling with his club team, became a 4x State Champion — incredible accomplishment!
❤️ To the Parents:
You made this weekend unforgettable — exciting, peaceful (as peaceful as wrestling chaos can be), and absolutely hilarious at times. Your support for ALL the kids is what makes this program special. Thank you for trusting us and growing alongside this team.
🤼 To My Coaches:
There isn’t much left to say that hasn’t already been said. Your time, dedication, patience, and belief in these wrestlers is unmatched. I’m beyond grateful to share a corner — and plenty of laughs — with you.
This weekend wasn’t just about medals or placements.
It was about growth, courage, friendships, and proving that when communities come together, amazing things happen.
STATES 2026 — you were something special. 💜💛
(Please share pictures below or wrestling and hang out sessions)
-Coach Benton
