The girls wrestling team will compete in the Texas Women’s Classic Dec. 14 in the Lewisville High School arena at 9:30 a.m.
This is the team’s second tournament of the season and its first time competing in the Texas Women’s Classic. Sixty schools will attend the tournament. There will be opportunities to place individually by weight class and as a team.
“I hope the starters place in the top three,” captain Leo Yeo said. “[Even though] everyone will be individually fighting, it’s important [to a fighter’s performance] to have supporting teammates. Now that we have a bigger roster and than before, we are more confident.”
This year is head coach Maria Mulero’s first year as the official head coach. Last year, Mulero helped former girls wrestling head coach Jacob Green in her free time. At the time, Mulero taught three math classes and was studying for her master’s at Southern Methodist University, so she said she found it difficult to focus on the wrestlers.
“The difference between [Green and I] is our gender,” Mulero said. “I understand what it’s like being a teenage girl wrestler, and [hearing] stereotypes and worrying about your weight. They respected [Green] and he’s a great coach, but it’s helpful to have a female coach around.”
The girls placed in the top five in the LISD Ladies Cup on Dec. 7. The girls are currently placed third in the district. To prepare for the upcoming tournament, the team has been working on hand fighting, stand ups and takedowns.
“We’ve been working on what we didn’t do well on during the Ladies Cup,” sophomore JJ Thomas said. “In order [for fighters] to place, it’s important for [us] to learn from [our] mistakes. Since we are such a new team, at the end of the day, we’re just trying to have fun and improve.”
Thomas said a key player in this tournament is sophomore Isabell Herrera. At the LISD Ladies Cup, Herrera won both of the matches she fought in. Earlier this season, she faced a back injury, but has recovered since then.
“She has also gotten way better since she first started playing,” Thomas said. “[Despite] missing practice early in the season, she is still one of our best wrestlers. At the LISD Ladies Cup last weekend, she made many smart movements.”
Last year, the girls’ team had one senior and three junior fighters. This year, the team has three seniors and six juniors.
“The girls are more confident [compared to last season,]” Mulero said. “They’re offensive wrestlers [rather than] defensive wrestlers. Instead of waiting for the opponent to do something, they’re the ones initiating the points. There’s been so much growth, and hopefully their hard work pays off at the [upcoming] tournament.”
