Throughout every wrestling season, there is always one big goal: to make it to the national collegiate women’s wrestling championships. This year, three members of the women’s wrestling team have qualified for the most highly competitive tournament of the season. Seniors Sawyer Graham and Sandie Pfeil, as well as sophomore Moni Griffin, have all qualified to compete on behalf of Augustana College’s women’s wrestling program. They will compete for national titles on March 7 and 8.
The girls are hungry for titles because this is the fourth year of the women’s wrestling program. Since women’s wrestling is still relatively new in collegiate programs, there are no class divisions. Every wrestler, no matter if they are Division One or Division Three, competes for the same title.
“It is intimidating, of course, but eventually [having no divisions] is going to change when there is more women’s wrestling in college like that,” Graham said. “It does feel good to say I was here wrestling against Division One before they had those division separations.”
These three have been very hard at work to perform their very best. The season is already long–starting with captain’s practices in September and matches starting up in November. The long season involves continued practice with some moderation. For wrestlers going to nationals, practices are more individualized.
“Our practices are more fine-tuned and more shifted to what each girl needs to work on,” Pfeil said. “Coaches have me working on my shots and on my turns, things like that.”
Even with all of that practice, wrestling is a mental game as much as it is a physical one. Being positive and having each other to lean on has been a great confidence booster for the three nationals qualifiers.
“I’ve been being really positive,” Griffin said. “Everything is really becoming overwhelming, but knowing that I have my teammates that know how it feels and like they’re just there–I am not by myself.”
It is extremely important for the wrestlers to keep healthy, stay strong and be consistent before the big meet. Keeping on top of things helps go into the national competition with a clear and healthy mind.
“I’m currently really enjoying how healthy I feel and how strong,” Graham said. “Staying consistent with eating healthy, getting good sleep, staying on top of homework and school work is a little goal of mine.”
With preparing for the national tournament, it is important that the wrestlers have a support system to lean on. They are there for each other every step of the way, along with the rest of the team who did not make it past regionals.
“I haven’t had this type of support from anybody,” Griffin said. “I have coaches, I have my family, but from your teammates who are not jealous of you—they see your potential, they are gonna push you.”
