We may only be halfway through the season, but the SPIRE Girl’s Wrestling team is already proving themselves. After an impressive performance at the Powerade Wrestling Tournament in late December, it’s clear this small team will be tough to pin down.

The Tournament

The tournament, held on December 27th, was a great opportunity to put their dedicated training to the test. Both Lexi Beadle and Joelle Scott won in their weight classes just five days after a previous tournament. With a record of 4-0, Lexi wrestled 124lbs. with 3 pins and 1 major decision. 

Wrestling at 130lbs., Joelle also ended the tournament with a 4-0 record. She had 3 pins and 1 tech fall.

The Best Place to Train

Coach Andrew Gasber could barely hide his post-tournament excitement. He exclaimed, “Finishing in the top ten out of over forty teams is huge, especially when your team is composed of just two athletes!” 

Gasber went on to laude the facilities at SPIRE that allow the wrestlers to properly train for events like this. “Lexi and Joelle have been really benefiting from this wrestling room and the training. Parents took note of the new program and even asked us where we were from!”

The Journey to Greatness

Lexi Beadle has been training tirelessly since the inception of the girl’s program. She’s constantly being challenged and encouraged by Joelle, Fiona, and the boys. The philosophy of her coaching staff and teammates resonates with her own, which further solidifies the cohesion of the team. Coach Mike Kulczycki proudly states, “Lexi is wrestling with a lot of confidence lately. She always had the skills and toughness to be great, but something has clicked in her this last weekend.”

The journey hasn’t been without struggles, however. Joelle recently underwent hip surgery. After the initial month of recovery, she was able to hit the mats again, but she doesn’t believe she’s at one hundred percent yet. That makes her performance at the Powerade Tournament even more impressive. If she keeps up with rehab and paces herself, imagine the force she’ll become on the mat!

No Slowing Down

The wrestling schedule is a busy one this time of year! With three tournaments scheduled in January alone, these girls are pushing themselves to be better every day. In the very near future, their skills will once again be put to the test at the following events:

• January 13th—Girls Top Gun (Alliance Hs)
• January 20-21st—American Open International Erie, PA (FS)
• January 27th—Indiana Tech Women’s Open (FS)

The Future is Bright

With every training session and tournament that comes and goes, the resolve of these girls only gets stronger. With access to state of the art facilities and the support of some of the best coaches out there, the wrestling program has only bolstered their skills.

If you’re one of these dedicated athletes, the future’s looking bright. If you’re scheduled to face them, you’ve got your work cut out for you.