Hastings High School and Adams Central co-op girls wrestling team.
As the spectators look towards the wrestling mat, two girls are standing in a ring, grabbing at each other, and throwing one another.
1… 2… 3… *slam!*
A wrestler has just pinned her opponent to the mat and won the match.
During the first week of December, the girls wrestling season set off as the Hastings High School and Adams Central co-op wrestling team won their duel at Central City and competed in a tournament in Nebraska City.
The girls wrestling team started this season with a victory at their duel, where the team won 68-4 against Central City. The victory served as a morale boost for the team, including varsity member Ashlin George.
“To be completely honest, I already knew we were going to win. It was pretty much an entire team against five girls. (But) I think it felt good because even if we just wrestled the five girls, we still (won) four out of the five matches done,” George said. “I think it raised morale, especially for the girls who have never wrestled before. (For) our 105 (weight class teammate), this was her first year, and she won her match.”
Wrestling is a hands-on sport, and many are bound to have experienced some injury during their career. One of those is George, who tore her ACL two years in a row during her high school wrestling career, so she is less confident in her performance this year.
“I’m feeling good… (However) I could not really do any summer activities. I really wasn’t cleared to do anything until a month ago, so honestly I haven’t prepared at all,” George said.
In addition to injuries, the number of girls wrestling members this year has dropped from approximately 30 to 20 since the previous season, with members reducing more often during the conditioning period. Though a number disadvantage results in more losses by default, George has an optimistic outlook for this season.
“Honestly, I’d be happy to just make districts. I don’t think I’m going to make state, but that’s okay,” George said. “I think (the team in general) has a really good chance (of placing at state). Kayden, she was (the) state champion last year. I’m confident in Khloe this year because she made it to districts last year.”
George is also optimistic about the season because of the work her teammates put in. The members prepare for the wrestling season by going to wrestling tournaments during the summer and attending wrestling academies, such as 2 Tuff Gym and Hastings Wrestling Academy.
“Most of the people who are really serious about (wrestling) will go on to wrestling tournaments during summer. Some will even go out of state,” George said. “A lot of our girls (go to wrestling academies) during the summer and go out of state for tournaments.”
The wrestling team had experienced many defeats by default at their recent Nebraska City tournament due to their lack of members and last year when competing against GISH, so George is open to new people joining. Those who are showing interest in girls wrestling can contact Ashlin George, Elizabeth Larson, any other team member, or the new Adams Central girls wrestling coach, Teran Boyer.
“Just stick it out… There’s definitely times I wanted to quit because I was like, ‘Do I really have to do this?’ but it’s really not that bad, it gets easier… When you start winning matches, you start actually being confident in yourself,” George said. “(For) JLO, I made her wrestle eighth-grade year (and) she wanted to quit. I said, ‘Bro, don’t quit,’ because she didn’t win any matches, and her (in) freshman year, she went on to have a winning record and she was like, ‘Dang! I’m actually good at this! I’m going to stay!”
For this season, George has set her goal on simply surviving and not getting injured again. However, she still wants to continue being a part of the team and hopes that they make state.
“No (I’m not continuing). I’m kidding… I’m not one to just quit. I’ve already done this for five years, what’s a sixth?” George said.
