{"id":76302,"date":"2023-11-09T11:11:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T17:11:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=76302"},"modified":"2023-11-09T11:11:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T17:11:51","slug":"womens-wrestling-team-building-its-culture-during-inaugural-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=76302","title":{"rendered":"Women’s wrestling team building its culture during inaugural year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By RAEGAN NEUFELD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its first year, the Fort Hays State University women\u2019s wrestling team is focused on creating an environment that keeps new recruits coming to the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Team competition does not start until the 2024-25 season. In the meantime, the 17 wrestlers are using this year to hone their skills, whether it be during practice or competing unattached at tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Bloomer<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThey help push you to be your best self, either in school or on the mat,\u201d freshman Piper Cadden said of her teammates. \u201cThey\u2019ll help you with technique or help you cut weight, just being there for moral support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As its first members, the team is also working to shape the program for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone knows that whatever culture we build this first year is the culture that will stick,\u201d said sophomore Lila Bloomer. \u201cEveryone\u2019s been trying to make it a place that you want to be, and I think all the girls that are here are here for the right reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While starting a program from scratch is difficult, it’s a challenge head coach Alijah Jeffery has experience with. Prior to being hired at FHSU, he served as the first women\u2019s wrestling head coach at Chadron State and as one of the first assistant coaches for the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams at Indian Hills Community College.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes it is fun starting something from the ground floor,\u201d Jeffery said. \u201cIf that\u2019s what (the school) is looking to do, then we can build a great program and the right student-athletes will come to be a part of it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Jeffery<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

While three of his athletes followed Jeffery from Chadron State, sharing his vision for the program at FHSU was one of the keys to recruiting the rest of the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is harder when you don\u2019t have the tradition and past results, but if (the athletes) believe in the direction of the program, that is the big selling point,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloomer was one of the wrestlers who had been at Chadron. In addition to the familiarity of Jeffery\u2019s coaching, she was also drawn to FHSU by her prior knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d thought about coming to Hays before I\u2019d thought about wrestling in college,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was an opportunity in front of me that I knew I should take.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, Cadden saw Jeffery in action at Chadron on a visit and at a college open during her senior year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI saw how he coached the girls, how they interacted with each other and I knew it was an environment I really wanted to be a part of, so that\u2019s what drew me to follow Coach Jeffery over here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Cadden<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The team\u2019s main focus for this year is development. Jeffery is most looking forward to seeing the continued progress each wrestler makes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is weird not being able to compete fully, and I can\u2019t go out there and coach our athletes at these opens, but it is still nice to see that they\u2019re progressing, and they\u2019re growing as people as well,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cadden and Bloomer were two of the five FHSU wrestlers who competed in the Maverick Open<\/a> last week, their first competition of the season. Cadden placed first in her weight class and did not lose a single match, while Bloomer finished second in her weight class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cadden, Bloomer and the rest of the team can compete unattached in as many tournaments as they want to this season. One that is set on the schedule is FHSU\u2019s annual Bob Smith Open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince I came on my college visit, all I\u2019ve heard about is how supportive the community is, and how with all clinics and camps we\u2019ve had here, there\u2019s always a super big turnout,\u201d Bloomer said. \u201cI think it\u2019ll be really nice to give all of the people that support us something to support and they can see us compete.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bob Smith Open will be at 9 a.m. on Dec. 3 in Gross Memorial Coliseum.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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