Junior Lauren Watson won an individual title at 110 pounds to help the Ankeny girls’ wrestling team defend its crown in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Friday at Ankeny. The fifth-ranked Watson advanced to the final with a 12-9 decision over No. 3 Aubrey Hoveland of Mason City before pinning Alyssa Wheeler of Carroll in 3 minutes 8 seconds to raise her record to 28-6.
Watson is a two-time state qualifier who placed third in Class 2A at 105 last season. She now boasts a career mark of 98-28.
Here is some inside info on Watson:
How is the season going thus far?
So far the season is going smoothly. Our team has racked up a solid number of dual wins, and lots of girls are stepping up and have made major improvements compared to last year.
What has been the highlight for you?
My major highlights have been placing third at Donnybrook against good competition. I then went on to win Ogden and the Bob Sharp Invitational with upsets along the way. Getting to take part in the Ankeny vs Raccoon River dual following Iowa vs Grand View was a super fun experience I got to spend with my team. I thought we performed well considering we had some girls sitting out due to injuries!
I know you had a tough bracket at the tournament on Friday. How do you feel like you wrestled?
I was definitely a little nervous to wrestle at Bob Sharp because I have already taken a loss from Hoveland this season and a loss from Wheeler last year. But, I truly feel as if my confidence and eagerness overtook those nerves and I left it all on the mat during those matches. Now that being said, I definitely have a lot of little fundamental skills I need to work on before regionals.
What did you think of your team’s performance?
I was very proud of my teammates and the effort they put in at our home tournament. I know everyone has been working very hard in practice leading up to this tournament. We had many girls in the finals, and some of them came out on top. It was exciting to see that Ankeny took first (overall)!
You are closing in on 100 wins for your career. What will that mean to you to reach that milestone?
That has been a goal of mine for the past three years. It was really inspiring seeing my teammates such as Nora Bockes and Trudy Haag accomplishing 100 wins earlier this season. To me, acquiring 100 wins is just a reflection of the hard work I have put into the sport during the season and offseason. I could have never made it this far without the support of my coaches and teammates.
I know you attend school at Bondurant-Farrar, but have been able to compete for Ankeny through a sharing agreement. With the way the sport of girls’ wrestling has exploded, do you think Bondurant-Farrar will have its own program soon?
Of course, I know for a fact that with the uprising numbers of girls participating that Bondurant will start up its program at some point. I’m super excited to watch the sport grow within many districts, but I have been a part of the Ankeny team for three years now. I have grown lifelong relationships with girls, and the coaches have made a forever impact on my life. At this point, I hope to finish what I started by competing with Ankeny for my senior year.
When did you first start wrestling?
I began wresting in seventh grade, so five years ago. I was one of two girls on an all-boys team, and the field of competition was solely boys. I never would have expected the sport to start growing so quickly soon after I joined.
A friend of mine teaches at Bondurant-Farrar and told me that you were a great kid to have in class. Is Mr. D (Rick Dobesh) your favorite teacher?
I absolutely love Mr. Dobesh, also known as “Mr. Dobe”. He is always in the hallways with his yard stick he carries, and he constantly makes positive remarks on my performances. I would 100 percent consider him my biggest supporter from the Bondurant district. And yes, he is my favorite teacher. Just don’t tell my other seven.
What are your individual goals for the rest of the season?
Obviously, the main goal on my mind currently is placing top two at regionals so I qualify for the state tournament. But, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have some high goals that include making the podium at the state tournament.
Do you think this team can contend for a state championship?
I truly believe that our team can win a state title. After we beat Southeast Polk in a major dual, I saw so many of my teammates’ confidence rise. I think our team really needed that victory so we could prove to ourselves that we belong with this competition, and we have the strength to win it all.
Would you like to wrestle in college?
I have such a major passion for wrestling that I don’t know if I can leave it behind after high school. College wrestling is definitely in the works for me, but I would also love to be a coach for other girl wrestlers and leave an impact on them similar to the impact the Ankeny coaches have made on me. I’m excited to see where the future takes me.