Girls wrestling team seeks first place plaque this season
December 2, 2020
Updated Missouri State High School Activities Association rules state that wrestlers, like two time State Champion junior Faith Cole, are no longer permitted to wrestle the boys in duel meets. Though there is this setback, Head Coach Bernice Blanco still expects Cole to go far in her wrestling career this year.
On Dec. 2, the girls wrestling team will face Timberland in their first dual of the season. Two state medalists are returning for the upcoming season in senior Josette Partney and junior Faith Cole. In addition, State qualifier, junior Seraphina Blackmon rejoins the team that took second overall at State last season.
This year, these girls have their eyes on a first-place plaque, and Head Coach Bernice Blanco has high aspirations for the group. She believes this can be the season where if each of the girls could give their all, then the whole team would be able to celebrate the glory of placing first.
“They’re tough and they’re really getting it,” Blanco said. “So if they could stretch it out, everybody in the team could get a state medal. It’s [within reach]. They have the coaches, they have the work ethic, they can do it.”
With new restrictions in St. Louis County, all winter athletes except swimming and diving are required to wear a mask while practicing and competing.
Blackmon’s family was initially hesitant about joining the season. Although she is eager to return to the State competition, it was a difficult decision to rejoin the team after hearing about the new COVID-19 restrictions.
“[Before the season] my parents decided on not letting me wrestle, but then they came together and they thought about it and they said, ‘If you really are safe about it and you really want to wrestle, you are old enough to make your own decision’,” Blackmon said.
As for how this will affect the rest of the team as a whole, Blanco thinks the new hurdle will only make the team stronger.
“You know, I think wearing a face mask is only gonna make us tougher conditioning-wise,” Blanco said. “We learn how to breathe with the face mask on. It’s tough. It’s not easy, but we’ll manage.”
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