WrestlHer
04-12-2007, 02:51 AM
Hello, everybody. My name is Veronica Carlson and I am a sophomore at Addison Trail. I wrestle at 135 for high school (the weights vary in women’s divisions) and I am coached by Rob Serio. I guess I will start off this blog with the question I am asked most:
“So, what made you want to join wrestling?”
I wonder this myself, at times. I was very athletic as a kid. Since I had been swimming since I was 5, I had a decent muscle build and had learned the values of hard work. My interest in wrestling sparked when I was in seventh grade. I kept seeing flyers all over the school to join the wrestling team. I knew nothing about the sport other than it was all about physical contact, and sheer competitiveness… and that’s what drew me in. I’m still not sure why, I think some people were just born to wrestle.
My first season was cut short due to a broken nose about 5 weeks in, but I still showed up to every practice hoping my coach would let me wrestle.
My eighth grade year was a bit more successful. What was previously head butts and tackles, turned into snap downs and doubles. I was introduced to girl’s wrestling after my season had ended in middle school that spring. I traveled to compete in the open girls’ state tournaments of Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and of course, Illinois, and went undefeated. I even wrestled a few senior girls in exhibition matches and won. I entered the USGWA National Championships for the middle school division in 2005, and along with winning it, I also took home the MOW award.
I continued doing camps through the spring and summertime leading up to my freshman year, including Mat Rats at GBN, and the Joe Williams Camp in West Chicago. I wanted to be ready for the world of high school wrestling.
My freshman year in high school, I made the varsity lineup at 135. I didn’t win a lot, but I worked very hard in the wrestling room, and I went the whole season without ever missing a practice. I was awarded Most Improved that year. I rarely ever gave up a pin in a match. My best match of the whole season was spent fighting off my back for a full 1 minute and 45 seconds in the first period, and then tearing a muscle in my shoulder trying not to get turned again in the next two periods. I didn’t win, but I felt I had accomplished something. I was not one to give up.
After the high school season was over, I continued training for the women’s wrestling season. I worked out and wrestled every day. That year, I placed third at USGWA High School Nationals for Folkstyle, third at Women’s Body Bar Nationals for Freestyle, and I was a runner up at Fargo Junior Nationals for the women’s division. Making All-American at Fargo enabled me to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. for 3 weeks in August with the junior and senior world team members. I met a lot of great people there, and I can’t wait to go back.
Sophomore year came around, and with it a new upcoming season. I wrestled Varsity 135 again, but had more trouble maintaining my weight this year. I worked hard, and again, never missed a practice. At the conclusion of the season, I was named one of the upcoming captains for next year.
After coming up short at USGWA Nationals last year, I was determined to make the most of it this time. The tournament was held in Livonia, Michigan, on March 30 thru April 1. Throughout the tournament, I wrestled hard and made my way to the finals. For the championship match, I wrestled Angie Miller from CA, and we went into triple overtime. I chose bottom, and ended up reversing her to her back to become a USGWA National Champion.
That was two weeks ago. As of now, I’ve been wrestling a few developmental tournaments for both Freestyle and Greco, as well as wrestling for the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club at Addison Trail.
Next week I will be going to the OTC in Colorado Springs for a week-long camp, to prepare for Women’s Bodybar Nationals on April 22. The champion of Bodybar Nationals qualifies for World Championships, so I’m going to go out and give it my all.
If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading, everyone!
~Veronica Carlson
“So, what made you want to join wrestling?”
I wonder this myself, at times. I was very athletic as a kid. Since I had been swimming since I was 5, I had a decent muscle build and had learned the values of hard work. My interest in wrestling sparked when I was in seventh grade. I kept seeing flyers all over the school to join the wrestling team. I knew nothing about the sport other than it was all about physical contact, and sheer competitiveness… and that’s what drew me in. I’m still not sure why, I think some people were just born to wrestle.
My first season was cut short due to a broken nose about 5 weeks in, but I still showed up to every practice hoping my coach would let me wrestle.
My eighth grade year was a bit more successful. What was previously head butts and tackles, turned into snap downs and doubles. I was introduced to girl’s wrestling after my season had ended in middle school that spring. I traveled to compete in the open girls’ state tournaments of Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and of course, Illinois, and went undefeated. I even wrestled a few senior girls in exhibition matches and won. I entered the USGWA National Championships for the middle school division in 2005, and along with winning it, I also took home the MOW award.
I continued doing camps through the spring and summertime leading up to my freshman year, including Mat Rats at GBN, and the Joe Williams Camp in West Chicago. I wanted to be ready for the world of high school wrestling.
My freshman year in high school, I made the varsity lineup at 135. I didn’t win a lot, but I worked very hard in the wrestling room, and I went the whole season without ever missing a practice. I was awarded Most Improved that year. I rarely ever gave up a pin in a match. My best match of the whole season was spent fighting off my back for a full 1 minute and 45 seconds in the first period, and then tearing a muscle in my shoulder trying not to get turned again in the next two periods. I didn’t win, but I felt I had accomplished something. I was not one to give up.
After the high school season was over, I continued training for the women’s wrestling season. I worked out and wrestled every day. That year, I placed third at USGWA High School Nationals for Folkstyle, third at Women’s Body Bar Nationals for Freestyle, and I was a runner up at Fargo Junior Nationals for the women’s division. Making All-American at Fargo enabled me to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. for 3 weeks in August with the junior and senior world team members. I met a lot of great people there, and I can’t wait to go back.
Sophomore year came around, and with it a new upcoming season. I wrestled Varsity 135 again, but had more trouble maintaining my weight this year. I worked hard, and again, never missed a practice. At the conclusion of the season, I was named one of the upcoming captains for next year.
After coming up short at USGWA Nationals last year, I was determined to make the most of it this time. The tournament was held in Livonia, Michigan, on March 30 thru April 1. Throughout the tournament, I wrestled hard and made my way to the finals. For the championship match, I wrestled Angie Miller from CA, and we went into triple overtime. I chose bottom, and ended up reversing her to her back to become a USGWA National Champion.
That was two weeks ago. As of now, I’ve been wrestling a few developmental tournaments for both Freestyle and Greco, as well as wrestling for the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club at Addison Trail.
Next week I will be going to the OTC in Colorado Springs for a week-long camp, to prepare for Women’s Bodybar Nationals on April 22. The champion of Bodybar Nationals qualifies for World Championships, so I’m going to go out and give it my all.
If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading, everyone!
~Veronica Carlson