Westview’s girls wrestling had really taken off this year with the season ending in being ranked #10 in the state of 180, and four wrestlers qualifying for state, with two being state medalists, and one being a state finalist.
One person in particular, Audre Herron, 11, was able to triumph this season, earning achievements such as holding the number one spot in her 235-weight class, and earning 3rd place at state.
Now, going from unranked last year to earning the achievements she did this year, with only one and a half school years of wrestling experience is no easy feat, so Herron had to work hard for her success.
Audre began wrestling her sophomore year to just try something new.
“I was a bum last year. I didn’t really take wrestling serious,” said Herron.
But junior year was different for Audre. She was able to find herself making significant progress in her ability.
“I feel like now I’m actually putting the work in and trying to do the best I can. I feel like I’m tougher now. I know what can happen if I don’t do what I need to do,” said Herron.
Some more achievements Audre has earned include a 90% (36-4) win percentage, 6 tournament titles including Metro, and 30 pins, sharing some impressive feats with teammate Kaylynn Lyons, 10.
Along with “being number one” for a while, Herron said her “best accomplishment has been beating the previous number one wrestler.”
Herron’s work ethic and passion for the sport has been a key to her success.
“I think my work ethic has been a key to my accomplishments. I try to improve the most I can for the whole practice,” said Herron. “I’ve improved by focusing more and just locking in.”
Another reason for Herron’s progress is her mindset and competitive nature.
“I try to motivate my teammates and show leadership. I also motivate myself. My losses made me want to work harder.”
The girls wrestling coaches have also helped Herron.
“My coaches show a lot of support. They make sure we know what we’re doing and motivate us.”
When Herron was number one, she felt pressured. To deal with the pressure she practiced everything she could and did her best to keep a strong mindset.
“It’s just a number if you think about it, anyone can be number one, you just have to know your stuff,” said Herron.
This concludes the 23/24 season for Westview girl’s wrestling. The two-year-old program has a lot to build off of and look forward to next year, with one word describing Audre Herron and the whole team as a whole, impressive.
