For many of Malad’s wrestlers, the state tournaments were only another step of their 2022-2023 season.  Since then, many wrestlers have gone on to continue competing at various matches and tournaments.  Weeks after the conclusion of the high school season, Malad’s has finally come to a close.  Monday, April 17, the team, coaches, parents and fans celebrated the long season and highlighted the exceptional talent on the Malad Wrestling team, including the following stats and awards:

Cambree Howe signs with Ellsworth Community College

It has been an exciting year of firsts for the Lady Dragon wrestling team and Monday, April 17, Cambree Howe added one more for 2023.  Howe, with her coaches, teammates, and parents by her side, signed her intent to wrestle for Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa beginning in the fall of 2023.

Just months ago, Howe didn’t have any intentions to wrestle or join the MHS team but that one decision to throw caution to the wind and try something new has completely changed the last several months of life and put her on a completely new path.  After fall sports wrapped up, Howe made the decision not to go out for basketball.  Learning that, her soccer coach, Sheri Blaisdell, also one of the Lady Dragon wrestling coaches, began coaxing Howe to sign up for girls wrestling.  Howe eventually decided to give it a try, saying, “I had nothing to lose by trying something new.”

Howe was a complete novice when she stepped onto the mat for the first time, but within weeks showed great promise as a wrestler.  Howe recalls that at her first tournament, she had zero expectations of herself other than to show up and give it her best shot.  But over the course of those few matches, Howe found herself at the top of the podium being given the first place medal and realizing she had just found a new love in wrestling.

Coming into the sport inexperienced and in her senior year, did nothing to deter Howe’s commitment to the sport.  It would have been easy to make excuses or check out early because she was so behind many other competitors and had little time to catch up before her high school wrestling opportunities would be over.  Instead, Howe doubled down on her commitment.  Howe shared, “I knew coming into wrestling my senior year I was behind and didn’t have time to mess around.  I knew what I had to do and that was to show up and work.  And it really did pay off in the end!”

It wasn’t long into the season that Howe’s coaches began throwing around the idea of college wrestling for Howe.  The Lady Dragon wrestler admits, “Going into this year it was the farthest thing from my mind. But my coaches always said that girls wrestling is a growing sport for college. Everytime they said that I was like OK GUYS!! WE DON’T EVEN KNOW IF I'M GOOD OR NOT!”  As the season began to wind down, Howe realized first that she didn’t want to stop wrestling and then, that maybe what her coaches were saying, wasn’t so crazy after all.

Once again, Howe knew there was nothing to lose by trying something new and she began putting in the work to contact colleges, wrestling programs and promote her desire to wrestle at the college level.  It didn’t take long for coaches to begin replying saying, “We have a spot for you!”  Suddenly, that newfound dream was becoming a reality.  

Through her coaches and the college recruiting website, ncsasports.org, Howe was in contact with several coaches, colleges and programs.  As she got to know them, there was something about the coach from Ellsworth Community College that really worked for her.  After a visit to Iowa Falls, Howe knew where she wanted to wrestle.  She said about the college, “I just had such a great feeling about it and it felt like home.”

It's somewhat surreal that just months ago, Howe’s only goal was to win one match which then became to make it to state, and then to be able to wrestle in college.  Head Coach Russ Clark said, “She knew that she was way behind the learning curve as far as other girls in the state.   She set her goal of making it to the state tournament.  Her work ethic and willingness to learn even when it got hard was second to none.  It shows that no matter how far you are behind, if you set goals and are willing to put the hard work in, that anything can be accomplished.  Cambree is very driven and will succeed in whatever she chooses to do in the rest of her career.”

As Howe signed her intent to become an Ellsworth Panther, there was nothing but smiles, cheers, and congratulations from all those that had supported on this next step of her journey.  She shared, “I would like to thank all the coaches who helped me and pushed me

to be a better athlete and person.  I also want to thank my family and friends who supported me through this crazy decision.”

 Not only is this a big step for Howe, but an exciting new path for all MHS female wrestlers.  Howe hopes that her experiences in wrestling can help pave the way for future Lady Dragon wrestlers, sharing, “I hope Malad’s girl’s wrestling will take off and continue to grow. I will forever be a Lady Dragon wrestler and I can’t wait to see what the next years bring!”

 2022-2023 individual 

wrestling stats 

Dragon Wrestling

Most Wins 40 Ruxton Tubbs

Most Match Points 250 Zach Mills

Most Takedowns 65 Blaiz Wright

Most Escapes 26 Trevor Mills

Most Nearfall 68 Zach Mills

Most Reversals 27 Gabe Hooste

Most Tech Falls Zach Mills

Most Pins  27 Tommy Angell 

Highest GPA 4.0 Jack Willie 

Captains- Ruxton Tubbs, Kole Willie, Zach Mills, and Trevor Mills

Lady Dragon Wrestling

Most Match Points 106 Dezirae Haven 

Most Takedowns 27 Cambree Howe

Most Escapes 12 Cale Carter

Most Reversals 14 Dezirae Haven 

Most Wins 25 Cambree Howe 

Highest GPA Rylee Neilson 3.97