Grace Storjohann’s championship highlighted AP/GC’s trip to the IGHSAU State Wrestling Tournament, but two others made their marks on the program by qualifying.
Senior Zoey Uhlenhopp qualified for the third time in her career, and reached the podium for the first time, placing eighth at 155.
“It’s always been my goal to place at State, but just knowing that I finally did it, it just feels amazing,” Uhlenhopp says. “Coming into this sport, I didn’t really know what to expect. So at first it was kind of a lot, then I kind of got the hang of it. And it’s always been a hard sport. Like, it’s hard on my body, hard mentally, but just overcoming all of that, I’ve grown through that.”
She went 2-3 at the tournament, advancing through the blood round to earn her placing. She qualified each year she competed in the sport after playing basketball during her freshman year.
Sophomore Caylee Harken qualified for the first time at 145 and didn’t place, going 0-2. However, she says she learned valuable lessons about what it takes to compete at that level.
“Just getting me ready for the next few years and just getting to get out there on the mat, really just a different experience than any other tournament I’ve wrestled in before,” Harken says. “Just a lot of lights and a lot of people and a lot of noise. Everyone’s good. Every match is going to be long. Everyone’s going to have the training. And there’s no match that you can take really easy.”
Entering next season, Harken will be the only returning qualifier as the program looks to maintain momentum.
