Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Atop the podium, amidst jubilant cheers, stood Trent Moudry, a senior from Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo. His hand tightly grasped his rosary, as his name reverberated through the arena as the Class C 190-pound State Champion, with an astounding 41-1 record. Reflecting on his victory, Moudry shared, "If I win, naturally, I’ll receive some type of glory. But God, You need the glory because You are the reason I am here."

Moudry's devotion to his faith and the rosary stems from a place of deep personal significance. He expressed, "Losing someone you’re close to puts death in a whole new perspective. It’s right around the corner. That’s partly why I carry my rosary on me. I always stay strapped with my weapon, the rosary." The rosary serves as a source of solace and strength for Moudry, much like wrestling practice. He emphasized, "Daily practice changes you for the better, daily prayer changes you for the better."

Jerry Bryce, a close family friend, highlighted Moudry's unwavering faith and dedication. He remarked, "Trent’s heart is filled with love and devotion to God." Bryce also commended Moudry's willingness to embrace challenges, such as giving up his cell phone for Lent, as a testament to his inspiring nature.

Moudry's journey in wrestling has been intertwined with his faith, with the crucifix serving as a source of strength during challenging times. He shared, "Wrestling has helped me so much in my faith life because of discipline." Moudry's discipline extended to his weight management for wrestling, which he saw as a means to develop self-control and resist temptation.

Looking ahead, Moudry hopes to inspire fellow student athletes to prioritize their faith. He stated, "If we put in as much time, energy, and effort into our faith life as we do our sports we would be so much happier." Despite his success in wrestling and football, Moudry's ultimate focus lies in his faith journey. He revealed, "I plan to attend St. Gregory the Great Seminary this fall. I really just love the faith, plain and simple."

In a final reflection on his path, Moudry expressed humility and gratitude towards his faith, acknowledging, "I am a sinner who keeps trying to love God. He’s loved me too much for me to not love and follow Him."