CARTHAGE, Mo. — In its third year at Carthage High School, the girls wrestling program qualified three girls to this year’s MSHSAA Class 2 Wrestling Championships. In preparation for state competition, Carthage News Online sat down with Hadley White (106 lbs.), Kaylee James (140 lbs.) and Irish Lee (145 lbs.) – the newest generation of ladies making waves in the world’s first sport.
Carthage News Online: What do you feel is the biggest reason you wrestle?
Kaylee James: I feel like the biggest reason I wrestle is because it’s something that just always make me calm. It has been there for me on the best days and the worst. It taught me many lessons in life, and it just has brought me closer to people I love.
Hadley White: My dad, he wrestled when he was in high school and he would always tell me about it and it sounded cool.
Irish Lee: It’s gives me confidence in who I am as a person and has built my character in many ways.
CNO: How did you get your start wrestling?
KJ: I started because of my dad. My little brother did wrestling for a year and I saw the connection they had, and I wanted to be a part of that. So I joined wrestling and quit gymnastics.
HW: I started in Junior High and I had a really good coach that pushed me but also made it really fun.
IL: In junior high I wanted to do a sport where I could show my strength unlike swimming or basketball a contact sport was a nice place where I could show my perseverance.
CNO: What has been your biggest motivation to keep working and getting better?
KJ: My biggest motivation is just knowing every single day I will get better. Just knowing I go to the wrestling room and give it 110% each day, makes me want to go every single day.
HW: My sister, she is older than me and I always want to make her proud and she is serving a church mission right now so I am doing this for her even though she can’t watch me.
IL: My family and friends push me to be the best version of myself I can be on the mat. They believe in me and are always there to support me and I don´t want to let them down.
CNO: What was your goal at the beginning of the year?
KJ: My goal at the beginning of the year was to get 1st at State.
HW: To do better than last year and improve one match at a time.
IL: It was to place at state.
CNO: Has that changed now?
KJ: No, it hasn’t changed – it’s been the same goal ever since freshman year.
HW: It hasn’t really changed because it is a good goal to have just take it one match and step at a time.
IL: I still would like to place but that is not my overall goal. My goal is to keep growing as a wrestler and just to get 1% better every day.
CNO: Who would you say is your biggest role model?
KJ: My biggest role model is definitely my dad. He’s pushed to my limit and beyond that he’s always been there for me he’s just someone that has the same passion for the Word as I do.
HW: My dad, he always puts everything into whatever he is doing and that pushes me to do the same.
IL: My dad. Even when he is going through challenges he always keeps his head high and his kindness never wavers. He is the strongest person I know and I will always aspire to be more like him.
CNO: If you weren’t wrestling, you would probably be…
KJ: I would probably still be in gymnastics or still do volleyball.
HW: Running.
IL: Focusing on academics.
CNO: Wrestling is a lot like life in that …
KJ: It just shows you how to be humble and disciplined.
HW: We have many times when we feel like we can’t get through a struggle or point in our life but we have to get past that wall any way we can and keep going. We will be able to get through and overcome or win our struggle. and you get out what you put in.
IL: You are alone – you have teammates like in life you have family and friends. But when it comes down to it you have to have yourself to count on. You’ll have to overcome challenges like you will on the mat.
CNO: Something most people don’t know about me is…
KJ: I’ve done tennis.
HW: I love Jesus Christ and everything I do is for him I am also a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
IL: I HATE pasta.
We wish the ladies the best in this year’s state competition. State brackets can be found at trackwrestling.com
