By Coach Gary Whitehouse
Looking back on this season, I couldn’t be more proud of what our team accomplished—especially our girls. Diem Johnson, our Lady Vikings captain, set the bar from day one. She led with heart, grit, and a quiet determination that pulled the entire room up with her. Watching her place third at state was incredible, but it was everything she did behind the scenes—pushing through tough practices, mentoring younger teammates, and holding herself to a championship standard—that truly made her season special. She’s not only a competitor, she’s a leader in every sense of the word.
This year, we saw something amazing happen: the continued rise of girls wrestling, and South Tahoe was right in the middle of it. We brought seven girls to the state tournament—that alone speaks volumes. Along with Diem, both Lillia Verduzco and Alice Lilly all juniors, also placed third, and every one of those girls wrestled with heart. It wasn’t only about winning matches—it was about showing that girls wrestling is here, it’s growing, and it’s powerful. These athletes are trailblazers, and they’ve laid the foundation for even bigger things to come.
Our girls weren’t only teammates—they became a family. That bond doesn’t form overnight; it comes from pushing each other in the room, picking each other up after tough losses, and celebrating the little wins along the way. Diem was at the center of that. She made sure no one was left behind, that every girl knew she mattered. That leadership can’t be taught—it’s earned, and Diem earned it everyday.
And while the girls made history, our boys added to the legacy too. We had two state champions—Kash Hendricks and Charlie Berquist—who wrestled with the kind of intensity and confidence that lifts an entire program. Between the success of the Lady Vikings and our boys team, South Tahoe wrestling had one of its strongest seasons ever. As a coach, these are the moments you dream of—not only because of the wins, but because of the people behind them. I’m incredibly proud of all of them.
