The AP/GC girls wrestling team will have strong representation at the IGHSAU State Wrestling Championships after the Falcons qualified three individuals at Friday’s Class 1A state qualifying meet at Colfax-Mingo, as aired on 99 The Wave. Iowa Falls-Alden’s Rylee Robison was the lone qualifier for the Cadets.
AP/GC junior Grace Storjohann continued a dominant season by taking first place at 120, qualifying for the third straight season.
“Going into it, I knew I had a really good outlook, but I was really focusing on my teammates and getting them there too,” Storjohann says. “So I was just trying to work my hardest so that I could go cheer them on. I obviously knew that it was a really good chance of qualifying for state but I have a bigger goal in mind and that is winning state. So I just had to put my best performance out here so I could set myself up for next week.”
Junior Zoey Uhlenhopp at 145 qualified for the second straight year, placing second. She says she has refined her skills to the next level in her second season.
“Last year was just more like learning the basics and kind of figuring it all out,” Uhlenhopp says. “And this year was more just like perfecting those skills because I already knew a lot of them. I was working to get them better and be in the right places and learn more about it.”
Senior Kira Cox at 170 won the tournament and qualified for the first time. She says enhanced dedication allowed her to perform at the next level.
“I just spent a lot of time in the wrestling room these last few weeks, and honestly this whole season I’ve made sure to dedicate my time to the wrestling room,” Cox says. “I knew that if I wanted to make state this year that it was my actions, and it doesn’t matter like what the coaches do, what my teammates do, it’s all up to me. I took that really seriously this year.”
Robison, a freshman, placed second, and says she achieved her goal of qualifying earlier than expected.
“This is my second year wrestling, and my goal was to make it as a junior,” Robison says. “Making it now is amazing. I have to thank my coaches for pushing me to get there, my parents for believing in me always, also my mat partners Maddie Fisher and Kennedy Gunderson for pushing me to be the wrestler I am today.”
The state meet will be February 6-7 at Xtream Arena.
