admin
08-01-2006, 03:47 PM
BY MR. TWISTER
Illinois Matmen Staff
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/chase_caitlyn01.gifFargo, North Dakota -- Caitlyn Chase had many demons to battle in order to begin her quest for a third ASICS 110 pound Junior National Freestyle Championship. There was the decision of what weight class to train for 102 or 110. There was her recent failure during Illinois folkstyle season due to injury. And there was just plain old being able to face her own fears.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Prior to Fargo Caitlyn was facing fear. "I was stuck in this vicious cycle of failure that I could not escape," said Chase. "Just the thought of losing, triggered a fear in me that would cause me to fail. This was a fear that had dominated and tormented me all year. I needed to understand and face this fear that had taken control of my spirit." Decisions, decisions! What a dilemma Chase had. There was the chance to cut from her natural 112 pounds down to 102, the smaller weight class with few top notch wrestlers in it. Or accept the challenge of defending her national title in the larger 110 weight class against the best female wrestlers in the country.
Chase spent time during her senior year in the hospital - twice, and never got a chance to help her Glenbard North team. She never really was able to get control of her weight and there were many who doubted Chase’s abilities or her attitude. Some perceived her as cocky or a flash in the pan. The previous year Chase had been on a serious tear winning big matches at the Illinois Dual Team state while taking the state 103 champ to his back, becoming the first girl to qualify for the boys individual state tournament, and wrestling in the USA Women’s Olympic Trials. "I had my senior year all planned," said Chase. "I knew what goals I wanted to achieve with my wrestling. I had specific goals for my high school season competing against boys, as well as goals I wanted to achieve against women on the Fila junior and senior level."
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/chase_caitlyn02.gifWell in the end it all worked out for Chase as the First Lady of Illinois wrestling captured her third 110-pound national championship. The victory over Alyssa Lampe was extra sweet because the 110 pound bracket was loaded with former national champs and girls that placed in their respective states against the boys. In fact the top four placers were named to the ASICS first team All American team for 2006, including Chase of course. The 29 person bracket featured six former national champions in it, two who did not even place when the dust finally settled in the Fargodome.
The rough route to the finals included beating All Americans Whitney Condor (Washington) by pinfall after losing to her twice previously, Alyssa Lampe (Wisconsin), Helen Marqouis (Maryland), and Katherine Fulp-Allen (California) in her closest match. All had placed at their respective boys’ state tournament except Chase this past season. "I knew I was going to have a rough bracket," said Chase. "The 110 weight class was my weight class. I won that weight the last two years. That weight has always been one of the biggest brackets with the deepest and toughest competition. These wrestlers are women I will wrestle for many years on the senior level. If I was going 102 only because of a fear that I may lose at 110, then that was not a valid reason. I just took it a match at a time. Throughout the tournament I was really calm and focused."
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/chase_caitlyn03.gifIn the finals against Lampe, the USGWA 2006 Folkstyle 103 pound national champion, Chase wasted no time making her presence felt, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first period. Lampe, who also placed second in the Wisconsin boys state tournament responded in the second period taking a 2-0 lead. Chase in turn executed a fireman to a Kelly tip to tie the match at 2-2 and then hit a tilt to secure the victory. "I was on the bottom after I hit the tilt and knew I had already won the match even though there was only 20 seconds left," said Chase. "I was really excited. I was shocked that I teched her in the first period." Lampe beat Joey Miller (2005 Freestyle 103 Junior National Champ) and All American Samantha Lopez (California) to get to the finals.
Upon returning home Chase took a couple of days to reflect back on all that she has accomplished in her career and on growing up on the mat in front of everyone’s eyes. "As I competed in my last high school tournament I was at peace with myself," said Chase. "The fog that had surrounded me for the last year has lifted and I could see everything so clearly now. It is as if I had awakened from a long slumber refreshed and full of energy. I had no fears or worries about my wrestling, only excitement. It did not matter who my opponent was or the outcome because I had just faced my toughest opponent of my life, (FEAR), and I was victorious!"
Illinois Matmen Staff
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/chase_caitlyn01.gifFargo, North Dakota -- Caitlyn Chase had many demons to battle in order to begin her quest for a third ASICS 110 pound Junior National Freestyle Championship. There was the decision of what weight class to train for 102 or 110. There was her recent failure during Illinois folkstyle season due to injury. And there was just plain old being able to face her own fears.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Prior to Fargo Caitlyn was facing fear. "I was stuck in this vicious cycle of failure that I could not escape," said Chase. "Just the thought of losing, triggered a fear in me that would cause me to fail. This was a fear that had dominated and tormented me all year. I needed to understand and face this fear that had taken control of my spirit." Decisions, decisions! What a dilemma Chase had. There was the chance to cut from her natural 112 pounds down to 102, the smaller weight class with few top notch wrestlers in it. Or accept the challenge of defending her national title in the larger 110 weight class against the best female wrestlers in the country.
Chase spent time during her senior year in the hospital - twice, and never got a chance to help her Glenbard North team. She never really was able to get control of her weight and there were many who doubted Chase’s abilities or her attitude. Some perceived her as cocky or a flash in the pan. The previous year Chase had been on a serious tear winning big matches at the Illinois Dual Team state while taking the state 103 champ to his back, becoming the first girl to qualify for the boys individual state tournament, and wrestling in the USA Women’s Olympic Trials. "I had my senior year all planned," said Chase. "I knew what goals I wanted to achieve with my wrestling. I had specific goals for my high school season competing against boys, as well as goals I wanted to achieve against women on the Fila junior and senior level."
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/chase_caitlyn02.gifWell in the end it all worked out for Chase as the First Lady of Illinois wrestling captured her third 110-pound national championship. The victory over Alyssa Lampe was extra sweet because the 110 pound bracket was loaded with former national champs and girls that placed in their respective states against the boys. In fact the top four placers were named to the ASICS first team All American team for 2006, including Chase of course. The 29 person bracket featured six former national champions in it, two who did not even place when the dust finally settled in the Fargodome.
The rough route to the finals included beating All Americans Whitney Condor (Washington) by pinfall after losing to her twice previously, Alyssa Lampe (Wisconsin), Helen Marqouis (Maryland), and Katherine Fulp-Allen (California) in her closest match. All had placed at their respective boys’ state tournament except Chase this past season. "I knew I was going to have a rough bracket," said Chase. "The 110 weight class was my weight class. I won that weight the last two years. That weight has always been one of the biggest brackets with the deepest and toughest competition. These wrestlers are women I will wrestle for many years on the senior level. If I was going 102 only because of a fear that I may lose at 110, then that was not a valid reason. I just took it a match at a time. Throughout the tournament I was really calm and focused."
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/chase_caitlyn03.gifIn the finals against Lampe, the USGWA 2006 Folkstyle 103 pound national champion, Chase wasted no time making her presence felt, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first period. Lampe, who also placed second in the Wisconsin boys state tournament responded in the second period taking a 2-0 lead. Chase in turn executed a fireman to a Kelly tip to tie the match at 2-2 and then hit a tilt to secure the victory. "I was on the bottom after I hit the tilt and knew I had already won the match even though there was only 20 seconds left," said Chase. "I was really excited. I was shocked that I teched her in the first period." Lampe beat Joey Miller (2005 Freestyle 103 Junior National Champ) and All American Samantha Lopez (California) to get to the finals.
Upon returning home Chase took a couple of days to reflect back on all that she has accomplished in her career and on growing up on the mat in front of everyone’s eyes. "As I competed in my last high school tournament I was at peace with myself," said Chase. "The fog that had surrounded me for the last year has lifted and I could see everything so clearly now. It is as if I had awakened from a long slumber refreshed and full of energy. I had no fears or worries about my wrestling, only excitement. It did not matter who my opponent was or the outcome because I had just faced my toughest opponent of my life, (FEAR), and I was victorious!"