In February, AP/GC Wrestling senior Grace Storjohann made history as the program’s first girls wrestling champion. She took the 1A 125-pound title at the IGHSAU State Tournament inside Xtream Arena.
Storjohann says it was a lengthy journey, and hopes she has set an example for the future of the program.
“I love to be the first, but I’d hate to be the last,” Storjohann says. “I hope that they just continue in the footsteps that I’ve made. I hope that I’m just an example of hard work pays off. Everything’s possible. I mean, I couldn’t even put my head gear on three years ago, the front way. And I’m here, and it’s not easy. It’s never easy. I mean, they saw me fail countless times, whether in the weight room, in practice, at meets. They saw me fail, but I just kept working. I hope that they see that. Not all of them are gonna be state champs, but I hope that they all can become better versions of themselves.”
A four-time qualifier, Storjohann won the title a year after placing second.
“Last year she was right there, so close, and it was heartbreaking for her because she felt confident going into that match last year,” Head Coach Joel Reints says. “She owned it and went to work and did everything she needed to to get to this point. That’s what I’m proud of, she goes out and fights every time. That’s what we’re trying to build this program on, and she’s the best example of that.”
Storjohann finished her season at 43-3. She’ll continue her athletic career next school year by joining the track & field program at UW-Milwaukee.
