The west side of the Salt Lake Valley is known for having some tough, blue-collar types. 

But, a few dozen girls on high school wrestling teams from West Valley City to Magna have now made it clear that any road to future championships might go through them. 

This marked the second year in a row that a school from the west side had a girls high school wrestler win a 5A state title. 

Last year, Caroline Pastrana of Cyprus won at 105 pounds, amassing a record of 27-5 on the way to a win by fall, over a wrestler from Salem Hills. 

This year saw Vanessa Carranza out of Hunter avenge a second-place finish last year at state and capture a 5A title at 170 pounds by decision over her opponent from Hillcrest, wrapping up a 40-3 mark this past season. 

It was such a solid 5A state tournament by Hunter, that the Wolverines finished in eighth place as a team—the best from any west side high school in the four years girls wrestling has been sanctioned. 

What it may have done more than anything else, however, was signal a changing of the guard in girls wrestling in Class 5A. 

Wasatch have been the queens of the sport since it’s been sanctioned, but Salem Hills has just taken over that reign at the most recent state tournament. 

With Hunter having no fewer than four wrestlers place in the top six at state in at least three of 12 weight classes, though—two in one, nevertheless—there is an argument to be made that schools on the west side are beginning to catch up and possibly enter the annual fray. 

In addition to the Wolverines having such a bountiful state tournament in 2026, Cyprus had three of its wrestlers place in the top six in three different weight classes. One of those (Kayla Mulitalo) lost only by fall in the championship match at 235 pounds; she wrapped up her season with a 10-3 record. 

If you’re counting at home, the top two finishers from west side schools just completed their seasons with a combined 86% winning percentage.  

That’s not all, though. Taylorsville had two finish in the top six at this state tournament, and Granger and Kearns each had one place, as well. 

Out of 84 medals at this state tournament, a total of 11 were won by wrestlers from the west side schools; four came from the same 235-pound weight class. 

Are the female wrestlers not only beginning to catch up to these other schools in 5A—but their male counterparts? 

There is an argument to be made there, as well; Bruce Walker of Hunter was the west side’s only wrestler out of 84 in 12 weight classes at this state tournament to make as much headway—he finished fourth, respectively, at 175 pounds.  

Compared to the nine medals on the girls’ side the west won last year and the seven, back in 2024, it’s probably a valid argument. 

Considering girls wrestling has only been sanctioned since 2023, it is a good representation from one area that it appears to be a sign there might be more to come from the west side of the valley.