The Westside Girls Wrestling Team had a busy week last week, with the team winning in West Point and Norfolk. Mara Vanderpool was worried about winning her matches meticulously, because of her recent elbow injury. Vanderpool had to get surgery on her shoulder earlier this year and wasn’t sure if she would be able to wrestle her sophomore season. With a short season Vanderpool is 13-0, and she is helping lead the team with her knowledge of the sport. She sees the team’s ability to win another state championship.
Protecting Vanderpools’ elbow is important to the team and to her. She knows that the team needs her and her technique on the mat to beat the other top contender, Grand Island, at the CHI center.
“I worked really hard to get my elbow to one hundred percent and I know that my team is excited to see me wrestle, and I’m excited to get back on the mat and support my team,” said Vanderpool.
Vanderpool had one match at Westpoint which started the day off strong for the Warriors. She had a pin against her opponent and got the team going for their next couple duals. Vanderpool had excitement going into her next match against Norfolk, which is another competitor for the top team in the state.
“I was really excited about wrestling at Norfolk and giving my team a show, but Norfolk had other plans and didn’t send out one of their wrestlers,” said Vanderpool.
After state duals in West Point Vanderpool is mentally ready for the state tournament, but is also taking her elbow day by day. With teams moving wrestlers away from Vanderpool, she is hungry to wrestle.
Vanderpool didn’t get matches the rest of her time at West Point so she was ready for some matches at Norfolk. The girls team had one day off of tournaments before they went to Norfolk. Vanderpool was one of the varsity girls of the Westside line up to compete at Norfolk, and she showed up for her team.
She had some highly anticipated matches going into the Norfolk tournament and she came out on top. Her first place finish is getting her excited for the district and state tournaments.
“I’m mentally prepared for those matches – mentally and physically, I am excited about the opportunity to wrestle,” said Vanderpool.
With state getting closer the team is reaching their height of their season and Vanderpool is ready for what Grand Island has to offer at the state tournament.
“The program is growing and it’s good for their team, because they are making a name for themselves.We as a team are ready to show them that we are better,” said Vanderpool.
The team topped off their weekend with a third place win over Grand Island and Vanderpool finished the dual for the team. The ending dual score was 36-35. Mara talks about how it feels like state and how something about winning by one point is just like last year for the team.
“I think that state is a make it or break it for our team because of the pressure. I am positive that we can do it because of the small things that we are doing to win and that we will end up with the state championship again,” said Vanderpool.
The Westside girls wrestling team was happy to end their weekend in West Point with a one point win over Grand Island. Mara Vanderpool has a record of 13-0, gaining six wins over the weekend at West Point and Norfolk. Vanderpool took home 1st at Norfolk and is more than ready for what districts has to offer.
