The Northern Michigan University USOEC women’s freestyle wrestling team went to Iowa City, Iowa from April 20 through 23 to compete in the U.S. Wrestling Olympic Team Trials, capturing five medals.
The USOEC athletes walked away from the competition with three silver medals and two bronze medals.
The team won medals at every level, NMU head coach Shannyn Gillespie said. With veteran athletes performing, the packed arena created a much larger atmosphere for them.
“We came up a little bit short, but that’s what they needed to set up for next time,” Gillespie said. “Performing in front of so many people is great motivation and good help. The team really responded well to the atmosphere there.”
Freshman Erin Golston, a 19-year-old from Lake in the Hills, Ill., won three matches and lost two, placing in the top six at 48 kg.
Emily Martin, a former NMU student, also went 3-2 in the same weight class. Candace Workman, another former NMU student, went 2-2. Golston faced Workman and did not face Martin.
“Erin did pretty well,” Gillespie said. “Although the performance didn’t make the Olympic Team, she is doing well to start setting up towards getting there in 2016. I’m definitely looking for her to improve her success.”
Golston is currently ranked 13th in the nation in 48 kg. Workman is 14th in the nation, right behind her former NMU teammate.
In the 55 kg weight class, NMU student Schuyler Brown stands at 12th in the nation.
Sophomore Melissa Apodaca is 14th in the nation in the 63 kg class, and Erin Clodgo, former USOEC competitor, is placed 11th. Post-Bacc. Laura Conway is placed 10th in the nation in the 72 kg class.
Earning medals for competing, former USOEC member Alyssa Lampe took second place silver at trials in the 48 kg. Whitney Conder, another former USOEC, took third place bronze.
Four out of 13 wrestlers that competed were current or former NMU student-athletes.
In the 55 kg, former USOEC Hele Maroulis took silver, with five out of 11 wrestlers who competed being current or former student-athletes.
In 63 kg, former USOEC Adeline Gray placed second for the silver, and Clodgo took the bronze. Four out of 17 wrestlers were current or former NMU-athletes.
Gillespie said the team left Iowa looking towards the future, and people should keep their eyes out for Olympic potential from the team.
“Every second at Iowa was packed,” Gillespie said. “Everyone stepped up to the plate, and a lot of it was really stressful. Still, in the end, everyone performed well. With such a good effort from the team, I hope more administration and parents get involved over time.”
