With a complement of strong senior leaders along with experienced, eager competitors, the Olympus wrestling teams are looking strong for the 2023–24 campaign. 

Both the boys and girls teams are underway, and head coach Devin Ashcroft likes what he sees so far. 

“The wrestlers’ attitudes are very positive,” he said. “We know we have a really good team with lots of depth and that we can wrestle with anyone in the 5A classification.”

In fact, it’s the team members’ attitudes that Ashcroft enjoys the most. He said everyone on the team enjoys learning about the sport and is willingly putting in the time on the mat to get better. 

A big reason for this mindset is due to a cast of seniors that set the pace both in and out of the wrestling room. Ashcroft said his team leaders provide good examples of what it takes to be successful—individually and collectively. He points to captains Henry Watson, Ammon Johnson, Timothy Bytheway, Evan Hemphill, Daeja Sundquist and Rhiannon Towers as those whom he’s counting on not only for points during matches but for mentorship. 

Ashcroft believes the Titans have what it takes on both the boys’ and girls’ side to be among the best in the state. Last season, the Titans were 22nd out of 29 teams at the 5A boys tournament and were 20th out of 28 teams in the girls tournament. 

 To reach the team’s goals, Ashcroft said Olympus needs to be mindful of what’s in front of them and not get distracted by what’s down the road.    

“The biggest challenges we face is staying focused on the next match and not looking too far ahead,” he said. “We have to maintain a great attitude in the room.”

The 2023–24 Olympus boys wrestling team: Top: Elias Johnson, Andre Leota, Maximus Martell, Ammon Johnson, Evan Hemphill, Ammon Stevens. Bottom: Noah Thomas, Bennett Ashcroft, Max Ferguson, Pace Williams, Henry Walston, Timothy Bytheway. (Photo courtesy Devin Ashcroft)

The boys team features 195-pound wrestler Andre Leota, a returning 5A placer and All-American, as well as 285-pounder Ammon Johnson, another state qualifier. At 144 pounds, Timothy Bytheway is another wrestler on the boys team to look out for. Girls team members Rhiannon Towers (105 pounds) and Daeja Sundquist (135 pounds) lead the way. Sundquist has two state titles under her belt, while Towers was runner-up in her weight class in last season’s state tournament. 

“They all love to wrestle and work hard,” Ashcroft said of his top competitors.

Though both teams finished in the bottom third of the state tournament a year ago, Ashcroft has lofty goals and expectations. 

“We expect a top 5A state finish,” he said. “We just need to grow and get better.”