The Marist girls wrestlers traveled to Bloomington to take on their weight class matches, hoping to become the first placers in Marist history February 26-28. Junior Ava Enright and senior Sarah Parker took the Grossinger Motors Arena by storm, with Enright capturing the first ever IHSA medal for Marist.
The girls practiced at school before taking the Marist van down to Illinois State University to spend the night and compete early Friday morning. Enright and Parker weighed in at 7:30 Friday and began their adventure to make history.
Enright wrestled first, escaping from the bottom twice in the first period and kept the score locked during the second period. Third period Enright shined, getting 8 near fall points, winning the bout with a 10-8 decision.
Parker then competed against the number one seeded wrestler in her bracket, scoring 7 points, but eventually lost to a pin in the second period.
“Overall, I’m not disappointed by my performance. There were a few things I could have done better…but overall I did a pretty good job considering I even made it to state this year,” Parker says.
Enright put up a fight in the quarterfinal round against returning 120 pound state champion Angelina Gochis. Enright lost by a technical fall, 22-4. Parker then unfortunately lost by a pin in the second period, ending her state series run.
Both girls finished wrestling for the day and Enright continued her journey the next morning.
Saturday morning Enright took on her blood round match, the deciding factor to her state journey. The win meant claiming the first wrestling state medal for the girls program.
Enright came in clutch with a reversal in the second period to secure the medal.
“It was a good feeling, but I was just trying to make sure that I wasn’t just satisfied with that, just continuing to go out there and making sure I wrestled my best no matter what,” Enright says.
Enright fought hard in her next two matches, unfortunately losing to Saint Laurence freshman, Nina Nesi, which put her to the ⅚ medal match. She then went for her final competition, taking the 6th place finish.
“I’m really proud of myself, but I don’t want to be satisfied with just placing there. I want to keep making it further on top of that podium,” says Enright.
Enright and Parker left it all on the mat and put their best foot forward all weekend. The work of their season was present throughout the whole state process. Regardless of placement, both girls have their support teams in place to keep them fighting during their season.
“I’m just really grateful to have [my dad], because whenever I look in the corner and I see him or when I hear him, you know, he’s my biggest supporter,” Enright says.
“They’re all my best friends and my biggest cheerleaders always. My coaches are always there to support me, you know. On and off the mat, and my parents are probably my biggest supporters,” Parker says.
