Women’s wrestling team building its culture during inaugural year

By RAEGAN NEUFELD

Tiger Media Network

In its first year, the Fort Hays State University women’s wrestling team is focused on creating an environment that keeps new recruits coming to the program.

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.

“They help push you to be your best self, either in school or on the mat,” freshman Piper Cadden said of her teammates. “They’ll help you with technique or help you cut weight, just being there for moral support.”

As its first members, the team is also working to shape the program for years to come.

“Everyone knows that whatever culture we build this first year is the culture that will stick,” said sophomore Lila Bloomer. “Everyone’s 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.”

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’s wrestling head coach at Chadron State and as one of the first assistant coaches for the men’s and women’s teams at Indian Hills Community College.  

“Sometimes it is fun starting something from the ground floor,” Jeffery said. “If that’s 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.” 

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.

“It is harder when you don’t have the tradition and past results, but if (the athletes) believe in the direction of the program, that is the big selling point,” he said.

Bloomer was one of the wrestlers who had been at Chadron. In addition to the familiarity of Jeffery’s coaching, she was also drawn to FHSU by her prior knowledge.

“I’d thought about coming to Hays before I’d thought about wrestling in college,” she said. “It was an opportunity in front of me that I knew I should take.” 

Similarly, Cadden saw Jeffery in action at Chadron on a visit and at a college open during her senior year.

“I 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’s what drew me to follow Coach Jeffery over here,” she said.

The team’s main focus for this year is development. Jeffery is most looking forward to seeing the continued progress each wrestler makes.

“It is weird not being able to compete fully, and I can’t go out there and coach our athletes at these opens, but it is still nice to see that they’re progressing, and they’re growing as people as well,” he said. 

Cadden and Bloomer were two of the five FHSU wrestlers who competed in the Maverick Open 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.

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’s annual Bob Smith Open.

“Since I came on my college visit, all I’ve heard about is how supportive the community is, and how with all clinics and camps we’ve had here, there’s always a super big turnout,” Bloomer said. “I think it’ll be really nice to give all of the people that support us something to support and they can see us compete.”

The Bob Smith Open will be at 9 a.m. on Dec. 3 in Gross Memorial Coliseum.