Central girls wrestling builds momentum with six state qualifiers
The Central Indians are making a name for themselves in the high school girls wrestling scene, and this year was no exception. Six wrestlers punched their tickets to state after finishing in the top four of the Class 2 District 4 tournament.
Facing tough competition, the Indians learned lessons they hope to carry onto the biggest stage.
“Every day, practicing and just like getting your moves perfected and like truly understanding what you're doing,” junior Abigail Donovan said.
“Keeping a great mindset, keep going, you know, never giving up and just taking one thing at a time,” sophomore Ella Mae Creedy said.
Among the six state qualifiers, Central will be represented by two sophomores, two juniors and two seniors, all with their sights set on bringing home hardware to St. Joseph.
For senior Ashley Slade, her third trip to state has taught her to trust her skills and focus on her main goal.
“I'm hoping to just finally feel that win of like hitting the medals’ round because last year I lost right before in the medals round,” senior Ashley Slade said. “I just want to feel that moment of getting that medal put around my neck.”
The six have formed a tight-knit group this season, pushing each other to improve and dreaming of standing on the podium. In a sport that demands as much mental strength as physical, that support system makes all the difference.
“We have a great motivational team. Whenever we're struggling, you have another person that's holding you up,” Creedy said. “I just know that we have a great supportive team, and I think that really helps.”
Beyond supporting each other, the girls take pride in representing women on a stage that, not long ago, was dominated by men.
“Just because we're girls doesn't mean we can't do a sport that guys do,” Slade said. “Like, I don't like the quote, 'wrestle like a girl,' because why should I have to wrestle like a girl when I want to wrestle like anybody? Nobody has to wrestle by their gender.”
No matter the outcome of the state tournament, the team believes they’ve made huge strides each year.
While their focus is on the present, the care and commitment these girls have for the team also extends to its future.
“It means a lot, and I hope this year we can at least place, hopefully, top six, and then next year, just again, fine-tuning it,” Donovan said.
The results from the Class 2 District 4 tournament had Ella Mae Creedy with a pin in the third-place match at 145 pounds, while Addison Brant battled to a fourth-place finish in the 140-pound class. Abby Donovan captured third at 115 pounds, and Caitlin Ledford earned her state berth with a fourth-place finish at 120 pounds. Seniors Madelynn Hughes took second in the 130-pound division, and Ashley Slade wrapped things up with a third-place finish at 136 pounds.
