One dual always sticks out from the rest. For West Delaware, it’s the Highway 20 Clash where the West Delaware Hawks go head-to-head with the Independence Mustangs competing for the Traveling Team Trophy.

This year, the Hawks defeated the Mustangs with a score of 67-7. All but two of the Hawk wrestlers earned a win for the team.

“They have beat us the past few years,” Tristan Voelker (12) said. “It felt good to go there, bring it right to them, and get the win.”

The atmosphere at the Highway 20 Clash is always explosive, and it motivates the wrestlers to do their best.  

“It was super intense because the crowd was going crazy and the spotlight shined down on the two wrestlers,” Evan Woods (10) said.

Throughout the season, the boys have learned to stay focused and keep their minds set on winning.

“I think the reason we did so well is because we didn’t let the surroundings affect us,” Cole Engel (12) said. “We just wrestled the way we have been all year and came out on top.”

It can be a lot of pressure at an event like this one, but the Hawks have prepared all season to wrestle to the best of their ability.

“My teammates got me so hyped up, I wasn’t all that nervous,” said Reily Dolan (9).

This isn’t the only time the Hawks plan to earn a win like this over the Mustangs.

“The best part is our team isn’t done yet,” Ben Ridenour (11) said. “The Mustangs will keep seeing wrestling like this from us in the up-and-coming years.”