Change is coming to Sylvan Hills wrestling, and for Head Coach Dusty Clark, it means leaving behind more than just a team.

“I’m going to miss the kids and the families that we’ve built relationships with,” Clark said after 10 years with the program. “The kids that we had were placed in our lives for a reason.”

Even at home, the change is personal. His son’s first question was simple: “Who is going to coach the blue bears?”

For Clark, what matters most moving forward isn’t wins.

“We are a family. That will always be non-negotiable,” he said. “Success isn’t about titles. It’s about being the person your athletes needed.”

As he steps away, other coaches are preparing to take on larger roles.

Jordan Slaughter, a former wrestler who moved into coaching after helping start a youth program, wants athletes to look beyond the scoreboard.

“It’s not just about winning,” he said. “I want them to grow a passion for wrestling like I did.”

Slaughter also emphasizes being there for athletes off the mat.

“I try to be a support system… for whatever they need outside the wrestling room.”

Yessenia Escobar shares a similar perspective, pointing out that wrestling requires more focus behind the scenes.

“You’re not just developing athletes—you’re advocating for your program,” she said.

Looking ahead, she believes returning wrestlers will shape what comes next.

“We have kids who will step up and be leaders,” she said. “They’ll be the foundation of the culture.”

For Escobar, success starts with mindset.

“The best wrestlers fall in love with the process,” she said. “If we trust our training, wrestling becomes a lot more fun.”

In a time of change, all three coaches agree on one thing: wrestling is about more than the sport—it’s about the people it shapes along the way.