Only one year in, the first girls wrestling team in LHS history made its mark with

a strong regionals performance.

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Despite many girls on the team lacking any previous wrestling experience, the combined Lawrence High and Free State team saw two FSHS students advance to state and five LHS girls only one match away from qualifying.

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The team ended this season with more than a 50% winning record, and Coach Carl Springer was amazed by their accomplishments.

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“They outperformed any other new girls I’ve met,” Springer said. “Their hard work and dedication showed. Anytime we wrestled a new girl, we almost always won — some girls with several years of wrestling.”

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Although no girls from Lawrence High made it to state, the majority of them were on the cusp of victory, including sophomore Avery Sutton.

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“It was a little sad because I thought I was going to make it to state, but this girl just got me in the right way I could not get up,” Sutton said. “It was a little disappointing because I had sort of a chance.”

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Even though they did not com- pete, the team got the opportunity to go to state and support their teammates. Senior Zuzia Gratkows- ka says that watching others com- pete was an insightful experience.

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“They go through the exact thing that you go through,” Grat- kowska said. “The anxiety and the stress — you get to see from outside how it looks.”

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The team became closer as the season progressed.

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“There is more blood, sweat, and tears spilled in those rooms and gyms than any sport I know,” Springer said. “It brings a closeness that no one else can match. It’s an emotional roller-coaster, but those friends are for life.”

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Despite the team’s strong connection, wrestling remains an individual endeavor, and senior Cree Stewart said that this aspect made it a challenging sport.

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“As much as you’re on a team, it’s a really solo sport,” Stewart said. “You have to bring yourself men- tally to a place where you’re about to wrestle another person.”

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However, for many team members, the feeling of accomplishment makes the hard parts of the sport all worth it. Springer can attest to these feelings.

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“When they get their hand raised, they look as if they could conquer the world,” Springer said. “I get emotional almost every time.”