The Simpson College women’s wrestling team finished second at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals at the UNI-Dome on Jan. 10.
Preparation for the two-day tournament began well before competition weekend. The team spent all but one week of their winter break on campus preparing for the duals, practicing twice a day and dedicating their time to making weight for competition day. The intense schedule required athletes to be disciplined both on and off the mat, as they balanced physical conditioning, technique training and maintaining weight.
First-year wrestler Vanessa Aguirre had a strong performance on the mat over the weekend; although she struggled with staying on campus over the break.
“It’s hard being on campus over break, knowing that everyone else got to go home, but having your teammates as a second family really helps,” Aguirre said.
The sense of unity helped the team stay motivated through the demanding weeks of preparation. Spending extra time together strengthened their team chemistry and created a supportive environment, which was carried over to the competition.
First-year wrestler, Autumn Calvert, was another key contributor for the Storm.
“It’s a time we need each other most,” Calvert said.
The physical and mental grind continued once the tournament began. During the duals weekend, the wrestlers had to weigh in as early as 6 a.m., followed by a full day of matches.
“Even though wrestling can be an individual sport, it is so mentally exhausting that we all have to be there for each other,” Calvert said.
Simpson opened the tournament with a strong performance on Friday, defeating Marymount University and Pacific University to advance through the first day of duals. The team’s supportive nature helped them push through day one, but their work was not done.
After finishing Friday’s competition, the team returned to their hotel to rest and reset before Saturday’s matches, where they got to wake up and do it all again.
“The semi-final match was electric,” Aguirre said, referring to the team’s first match against Western New England at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. The win secured the team a spot in the championship match against Wartburg College at 4 p.m. the same day. The victory in the semi-finals marked one of the most exciting moments of the weekend for the Storm.
Simpson ultimately fell to Wartburg in the championship, but the loss did not overshadow the team’s overall success. Placing second at a national-level tournament provided valuable experience to the wrestling team.
“It was cool being there as a freshman and being able to come in and help propel the team,”Calvert said.
The National Duals highlighted Simpson’s growing presence in the sport and showcased the hard work of many young female athletes as well as the team’s strong sense of camaraderie.
As the season continues, the wrestling team has bigger goals in mind.
“We hope to have some people qualify for nationals this year,” Aguirre said.
