Sport: Girls Wrestling

Head coach: Wade Pinkston

Last season placement: Last season, Lafayette finished as MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Champions and came 6th overall in the State tournament.

What are your goals for the season? “Our expectations are the same as always. I expect effort, dedication and desire. Without any of those things, you’re not going to improve and improving is the ultimate goal. As long as we take care of improving, all the other things will take care of themselves. As a program, our ultimate goal is to put wrestlers on the national stage. Everything else is just practice and stepping stones to being the best there is,” Pinkston said.

Wrestlers to watch: Coach Pinkston believes that the seniors will step up this season and be standout players. Seniors Aliyah Grammar and Hannah Henderson already compete at the national level. Grammer finished 4th in State and Henderson placed 5th.

“[Grammer and Henderson] compete all over the country, and senior Ashlee Dakin is a state level wrestler and the next step for her is, if she chooses, to become a national wrestler,” Pinkston said.

Ashlee Dakin

Background: Dakin has been wrestling since her freshman year, and made it to the State tournament last year. She ended up losing in the first round by a pin.

Goals for the Season: “The goals I have for this season would be to perform better at state. Not only do I wish to qualify again but I hope to help the girls team get a state trophy. I hope I can have the ability to continue to contribute to a part of the history of girls wrestling,” Dakin said.

Can you describe the team chemistry? “We work hard together and hold each other accountable. Each person works for not only themselves but for the team. Something that excites me about this year is the opportunity to be a leader as a senior for the underclassman. I hope to be someone they can look up to when they need help and advice. I’m excited to see the team grow,” Dakin said.