With a dislocated elbow, all Caroline Pastrana could do was cheer her twin sister, Cassie, as she wrestled her first meet for Hillcrest High.

The twins, both senior transfers, are to wrestle JV for 50% of the season as per UHSAA transfer rules, but they are expected to join varsity by January.

Caroline, a state champion, and Cassie, who finished fourth last season, are expected to fill gaps left by last year’s graduating seniors. Hillcrest finished third at state last year.

The sisters began wrestling in eighth grade at Matheson Junior High, competing against boys on a team with only four girls.

“I always watched WWE so I really wanted to join wrestling,” Caroline said. “I like the physical aspect; it’s intense. I love how it pushes me to the limit.”

Cassie added, “I like how it's all on you. I can focus on myself. Wrestling is intense and we've always been intense. It’s a good sport for us.”

Every practice, they pressed themselves to improve.

“Wrestling pushed us to do hard things that we're not used to, like running and doing more reps. We don't go soft; we go hard. We always push to our limit,” Caroline said.

Hillcrest practices begin with two miles around the indoor track, which Caroline prefers. Cassie, on the other hand, enjoys weightlifting: “I like lifting heavier. It pushes me.”

The twins have consistently placed at state competitions. Caroline took fourth as a freshman at 105 pounds in 6A, second as a sophomore in 5A and won her state championship as a junior. Cassie placed fifth and third in her first two years, then fourth as a junior.

Junior year was transformative for Caroline. 

“I had a good mindset. I worked harder. I stayed after practice hours with my sister, working reps. I ran stairs for more than an hour after everyone else was done and just pushed myself to the limit,” she said. “I went to state and told myself, ‘I'm going to bring back gold, and that's what I did. It felt so good. I was crying. I was so happy and blessed.”

Her twin learned a different lesson.

“I had a good mindset, but my body was hurting because I ran stairs for an hour the day before. I pushed myself to the limit and now I learn to not do that right before state,” Cassie said.

Both plan to compete in college. Over the summer, they visited colleges in Iowa and represented Utah when they competed at national tournaments. Cassie wants to pursue sports management, while Caroline plans to study physical therapy.

The three-year team captains at Cyprus High say their move to Hillcrest has been positive, academically and athletically. They are two of the team captains at their new school.

“The environment in wrestling really helps me be a better person and pushes me to do better in school,” Cassie said. “If you want to wrestle in high school, you have to have good grades. It levels both ways.”

Caroline added, “Wrestling challenges you. When I'm like, ‘I can't do this,’ wrestling just pushes me. It helps me a lot because other stuff seems easy after this. I feel here it’s a good environment and the coaches are really welcoming. The team is a big family.”

The sisters want to continue their success at Hillcrest. 

“We’re going to win state,” Caroline said. “Both of us.”