The Star Valley wrestling team might be in a new classification, but the Braves have the same winning mind set.

The Braves, winners of four of the past five Class 3A state wrestling titles, moved up to Class 4A this year, and the team has no intention of losing its state champion moniker.

"We expect to win everything," Star Valley coach Eddie Clark said. "We don't go anywhere to get second. It doesn't matter if it's Natrona, Gillette, whoever. We come to win."

Clark said all one needs to do is look at the walls of Star Valley High School and see the state championship banners to know that expectations are always high for the Braves. Star Valley won seven titles in a row from 1992 to 1998, and won back-to-back titles in 2003-04 and 2006-07. In 2005, the Braves placed second.

Moving up a class hasn't changed how the team trains, though it does mean tougher competition on a regular basis.

"It doesn't change anything with the coach, it doesn't change anything that the athletes do. You work as hard every day as you always did," Clark said. "You're going to face some better athletes in 4A. Schools with a couple thousand kids are going to have better athletes than schools with 500, 600 that we've been wrestling. There are a lot closer matches, which means you have to figure a way out to win the close matches."

The Braves didn't find a way to win all the close matches against Natrona County on Friday afternoon, losing 36 to 33 at NCHS Gym. Clark took little consolation in falling to last year's Class 4A runner-up.

"We think we can wrestle with anybody. We really do, and we expect to wrestle with anyone, so we are really disappointed with this performance tonight," Clark said.

The Mustangs took an early 21-0 lead, but the Braves fought back to take a 27-21lead. The meet was tied at 33 going into the 140-pound match, the final one of the afternoon.

NC's Briston Brenton, the defending 4A, 130-pound champion, beat Zach Walker, the defending 3A, 135-pound champion, 4-0 to give NC the win.

"It came down to Briston and he's kind of our star player," NC coach Scott Russell said. "I have total confidence in the kid and he went out and did his thing. It wasn't a pretty match, but he controlled the match and basically dominated.

Clark said NC and Kelly Walsh are the only new editions to the Braves' schedule this season.

"We've already wrestled Rock Springs Evanston, Green River, those guys always," Clark said. "These guys and Kelly are the only new schools we've got. So we are used to wrestling most of them (4A schools)."

Like Clark, Russell said he embraces Star Valley's new status in 4A.

"I think Star Valley bumping up to 4A is going to bring better competition to our state tournament," Russell said. "There are going to be high-quality matches there, more intense, and hopefully the scoring will be closer between the teams."

Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com

Natrona County 36, Star Valley 33

On Friday, at Natrona County

103: Hayden Heap, SV, dec. Brian Kussy, 10-5. 112: Felix Merino, SV, pin, Neil Williams, 1:53. 119: Justin Gardner, SV, forfeit. 125: Kris Stenhaug, NC, dec. Ricky Fairbanks, 6-4. 130: Riley Rasmussen, NC, dec. Dakota Dana, 5-0. 135: Phillip Young, NC, pin, Seth Lewis, 4:33. 140: Briston Brenton, NC, dec. Zach Walker, 4-0. 145: Ab Brown, NC, dec., Bryan Luthi, 5-3. 152: Cody Brown, NC, pin, Tim Hokanson, 0:33. 160: Jimmy Ownes, NC, pin, Laken Kennington, 2:47. 171: Brice Parkhill, NC, pin, Shane Titensor, 1:04. 189: Paul Woodie, SV, pin, Aaron Reamer, 5:59. 215: Zack Booth, SV, pin, Kirby Neuman, 2:30. 285: Lynk Nield, SV, pin, Nick Elliott, 1:19.

Wrestling Tracker

WHO: Star Valley, defending 3A champions.

NEW CLASS: The Braves are now in 4A.

SAME ATTITUDE: "We expect to win everything. We don't go anywhere to get second. It doesn't matter if it's Natrona, Gillette, whoever. We come to win." Star Valley coach Eddie Clark.

CAN'T WIN EVERYTHING: The Braves lost to Natrona County 36-33 on Friday afternoon in Casper.