Coming off of a third-place finish at the 2023 Mat Classic, the Yelm High School girls wrestling team entered the 2023-24 season with a new head coach in Lisa Ellis and a blend of accomplished veterans and promising young talent.
While Ellis noted that it wasn’t easy at the beginning of the season to adjust to her new role, the Tornados are rounding into form with the district tournament less than a month away.
On Dec. 2, the Tornados took home first place in the Jump On In Invitational Tournament at YHS without a full varsity roster. Ellis, a former collegiate wrestler and professional MMA fighter, said she learned a lot about her team following the victory.
“It was neat because I wasn’t even looking at the team score because we didn’t even have a full roster. I wasn’t really focused on that,” Ellis said. “I was just focused on each match for the girls, trying to get positive notes for each of the matches even if their hands weren’t raised.”
Ellis said the Tornados’ small roster has made it challenging to compete at times, as multiple players have battled injuries. But team captains Madisyn Erickson, Samantha Blank and Emma Norman have shined on the mat: Erickson is undefeated, Blank has just one loss, and Norman is “on fire,” Ellis said.
“I see those girls doing really well at state if they’re on their game, and I see a few of the other girls coming up and possibly placing, as well,” Ellis added.
Erickson moved up a weight class in her senior season, hoping to continue her dominance. Entering this season, she was 82-7 in her Tornados’ career, including 45-3 in a junior season that was capped off by a state championship in the 120-pound bracket.
“It’s been a good experience testing the waters and seeing what next level I can get to,” Erickson said. “In order to go back to back, I think it’ll take the same as last year, lots of conditioning, putting in the time and effort, and having faith in God. I just have to keep showing up to practice and doing 110% every time.”
Blank, a junior who finished second in the 135-pound weight class at the 2023 Mat Classic, said the Tornados have grown as a team and as individuals under Ellis’ tutelage, describing the team as a family that is more connected than last year. She said, personally, she appreciates how her coach pushes her to reach her goals.
“I wanted to get out from being on the bottom. My main goal was to use something other than one throw and get out from the bottom,” Blank said. “I’ve been pushing myself in practice and putting myself on bottom every time we have the option so that I can grow.”
Norman said the team’s biggest improvement has come behind the scenes in their conditioning. While the team expects to win each match, small improvements regardless of win or loss can be rewarding later in the season.
“What makes us proud is lasting 15 or 30 seconds longer than we did last time, not getting pinned and working a new move,” she said. “One girl got out of a pin and she kept rolling out and got off the mat. It was like she had won the match because we were cheering her on just for doing the moves that we had taught in the mat room.”
Each team captain noted how close team members are off the mat and how their collective mentality is wired toward the same goals. The veterans, especially for seniors like Erickson and Norman in their final season, are passing the torch to another group that excites Ellis.
“I think next year’s team looks really promising too. They have potential,” she said.
The Tornados are wrapping up the regular season, including the Lady Knights Invitational, Saturday, Jan. 27, at Kamiak High School, before the district tournament on Feb. 10.
