Grota makes grappling history in representing Wildcat nation at State
In the summer of 2020 the WIAA board voted to include girls wrestling for the first time in 2021, aiming to hold a state tournament later in 2022. This seismic transformation reflects something coaches have lobbied for, for years, and the first time a girls sport was added since girls hockey back in 2001. So for the first time ever, girls from all across the state met at the LaCrosse center to make history in wrestling on January 29.
The addition was well past due, according to Head Coach Matthew Cuadra.
“It is definitely a win to finally allow these individuals to be recognized for their hard work,” he said. “Putting them on their own stage and allowing them to show what they're capable of was awesome”
Cuadra was also amazed by the venue due to its significance to wrestling in the state.
“I think the girls state tournament was a really cool experience,” he said. “Where they hosted it was unique because it's where they held nationals before for NCAA D3’s and I got to know the venue a little bit. I never was a competitor so being there on the floor, I got to see it in a little bit different of a way.”
Senior Ashlyn Grota earned the right to compete in the tournament, making Wildcat history in the process.
“It was very cool, not even the fact that I was there but the fact that they even had it,” she said.
Grota’s excitement and sense of honor provides perspective as to just how many young women in the state are interested in and heavily involved with the sport.
“Even though I was pushing for it, I never realized how many girls we had,” Cuadra said. “We had 32 person brackets and they were mostly full and once you dwindle down to the top couple girls in the state, those girls could obviously make a push in the regular state series.”
The tournament, which featured a blend of competitors from both in and out of conference, allowed participants to leave significant footprints.
“Seeing how many girls were there in general even though I haven’t seen any during our conference was very cool,” Grota said. “I was happy to have the opportunity to go. I made history; I’m making history.”
Grota was proud to not only represent West but also the entirety of Oshkosh in the tournament. Knowing the pressure was there but still being able to let loose and experience the event in its entirety drove the senior.
“It does feel like a lot of pressure, but I just know that showing up and doing what I can do, and doing my best was all that I could really ask for for myself,” she said. “Also I think being the only girl out of all of Oshkosh is pretty sweet.”
Senior Simone Labillois-Steffens, who accompaniedGrota to LaCrosse, believes the competition provided an appropriate reward for her friend’s sacrifice.
“I think especially being the first girls state tournament and her being the only one was really cool, especially since Ashlyn has been working really hard at wrestling for three years and I know this was a big thing for her,” she said.
She was proud of her friend, and Grota was also thankful for her. Upon walking out, Grota was followed by her coaching crew.
“It was kinda cool because we would walk out to my mat and it would be me with this huge guy named Cuadra next to me and then I had my brother and Simone following behind me like my own little minions, so in a way it was very cool,” Grota said. “It was awesome to have that type of support because not only Simone came but also her parents. So they were also there cheering me on.”
Labillois-Steffens, who suffered an injury early on in the season, wished she could have competed, but found overall enjoyment in the experience. .
“Even though I didn’t get to compete it was really cool being there and I got to be like a coach and wear my little lanyard and everything,” she said. “It was really neat being allowed behind and in the area by all the wrestlers.”
Cuadra was appreciative of the fact that they kept it as similar as they could to what everyone had seen before, while also taking the time to make it special.
“The tournament was almost identical. There was only one day instead of three days. But I think that is coming with learning what it's all about,” Cuadra said. “But it was treated the same in that we had our own lanyards you could only bring in so much like it felt like state so they did a good job with that atmosphere.”
Cuadra was impressed with a special guest invited by tournament coordinators.
“They also did a good job of bringing Adeline Gray, one of the most decorated female wrestlers, if not one of the most decorated wrestlers of all time for the United States. She was there signing autographs and photographs,” he said. “To get someone on that level there was, I think, speaks to how much they are taking this into consideration to make it really big.”
Despite the historic nature of the event, the wrestlers also focused on the nuts and bolts of competition.
“A lot of girls scouted each other out but also there was a sense of respect amongst the girls, at least that I felt towards the other girls,” Grota said. “They were there and I understood how hard they worked because I worked just as hard if not harder.”
Grota, who went two and two on the day, started off with a pin in 39 seconds. Labillois-Steffens also found the tournament encouraging when it came to the camaraderie amongst the girls.
“The tournament was pretty positive, and I remember Cuadra saying after Ashlyn’s last match that boys will sometimes wanna punch each other in the face,” she said, “but after her last match they hugged each other and exchanged snapchats, so overall it was just really positive and encouraging and inspirational,” Labillois-Steffens said.
Cuadra knew that once Grota’s nerves relaxed, she would be able to get through it.
“Everyone who knows Ashlyn knows sometimes her nerves get the best of her, and I didn’t tell her she already wrestled the person she had and had beat the person she had first because I just wanted her to kinda get the full experience and know that the nerves shouldn’t be an issue,” he said. “Right before we walked out I told her who she had and all of a sudden you saw the confidence grow so it was a really cool experience for that first one getting out there and getting that over with.”
Grota found starting off on a win really made the day easier.
“Winning that first one mentally was very big for me to do and for the rest of the tournament it was important,” she said.
Cuadra is proud of Grota and what she did for the program.
“As coach, I told Ashlyn right away I’m really proud of her no matter what the result was. It was really cool that she stepped up and took on the challenge,” Cuadra said. “She did awesome and she set a milestone for West female wrestling. From now on we can say we have a girls state qualifier. We can say we’ve been there, done that and know what it's like.”
Grota will never forget her experience.
“I didn’t do as good as I wanted to, but it made me realize it's still a super difficult sport,” Grota said. “I’m proud of how far I've gone with it, and no matter how I finished at state, I’m still keeping my head high.”
By Lily Fournier
Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 5
February 22nd, 2022