0
0
3rd Edition NEWS 2 copy.inddThe NS girls wrestling team recently competed in two tournaments during the 8th-9th. The first tournament took place in Parawan with Willow Stewart taking first place, Journey Toomey in second, and Oliva Richmond in third. On the second day they competed in Enterprise and five of the girls placed. Olivia Richmond and Willow Stewart taking first, Journey Toomey in second, and in third place Whitley Jones, and Hannah Perry.
While women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the US, with a 55 percent increase in the past year. The NS’s girls wrestling program has been a sanctioned sport for four years now and has quickly developed, starting at four members and beginning this season with fifteen.
“I wouldn’t turn any girl away from girls wrestling no matter when they decide they wanted to wrestle,” girls head coach Doug Spencer said.
Junior Olivia Richmond (who placed both days at the tournament) is going into her third year of wrestling. Off-season work and training has played a huge role in Richmond’s improvement. During the off season she either went to CrossFit training or ran on her own time. “Wrestling is a way of life, so you’re dedicated to it; it is your life,” Richmond said.
Richmond believes that confidence and mindset is key to being successful. She experienced this while competing at nationals in North Dakota this past summer. She described the atmosphere and attitude as powerful.
“It’s not being in a slow pace with reps and everything at practice; it’s not running walls,” she said. “No, it’s being out there having that confidence to stay and to wrestle. So if the girls went through that, they would either stay or they would leave, because that is the actual sport of wrestling.”
After going to nationals Richmond knew what she needed to change.
“These things, they were difficult for me, they were hard. Now I’m thinking ok, for me to improve I’ve got to improve my mindset, I’ve got to improve my physical health, the way I think, the way I act,” Richmond said.
As time went on, she found ways to cope with her pressure to win. She expressed that being nervous is ok, but you can’t let your emotions overtake how you act.
Before duels she listens to inspirational quotes/ songs that famous wrestlers have used. She knows these by heart and this helps her get locked in. Self-talk and not overestimating her opponent have been big factors in Richmond’s success.
“Win or lose you walked on that mat, but walking on that mat for me, what I’ve found easier is not being afraid of the future, it’s just going with the flow, whatever happens is whatever happens,” Richmond said.
