Lakes wrestler Josie Larson’s strength has never been in doubt.
But for Larson, a former longtime ballet dancer, strength isn’t limited to brawn.
“You have to have a lot of balance and control in ballet,” she said.
The same can be said about wrestling.
“I’ve always been super strong, but once you get to a higher level of competition, you need more technique,” Larson said. “So we added two or three moves that worked for me this summer, and from there we added on more.”
Larson proceeded to add victory after victory this season. Completing an utterly dominant run in which she won 28 of her 29 matches in the first period, Larson pinned Clifton Central’s Payton Temple just 41 seconds into their championship match in the 190-pound weight class during the individual state meet at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington on March 1.
Larson (29-0) won all of her matches by fall, in fact, as she became Lakes’ first state champion in girls wrestling. She joins Matt Holmes, who won a Class 2A state title in 2009, as the only wrestlers in school history to accomplish the feat.
Larson, who lost to Zion-Benton’s Ileen Castrejon in the state championship match last year but helped Lakes win the team title, cried tears of joy after her historic victory.
“I was little bit surprised how I did at state,” Larson said. “I knew I was seeded first and was supposed to win it. But when I actually won it, I didn’t really know how to react.
“My initial goal was to have zero losses, but I definitely surpassed that.”
Lakes coach Mark Stave said Larson was laser-focused throughout her fourth season in the sport.
“She worked on her mindset, and once she got up on points, she’s stronger and more aggressive than most girls, so let’s put these kids away,” Stave said.
“I’ve coached her during her whole career, and you could see her potential in her sophomore year. She put in the time and the work to become better, more than any athlete we’ve had. What an amazing accomplishment.”
Stave noted that Larson, who is ranked second in the country at 190 by FloWresting and has committed to wrestle at Sacred Heart University, had just “two moves” early in her career.
“I wanted her to get technically better than her opponents,” Stave said. “She knew she was stronger and more aggressive, but sometimes she got in a situation where she didn’t know what she was going to do.”
Larson’s determination to improve reflects her commitment to wrestling. She gives it her all, according to Lakes sophomore Elise Kaylor.
“Josie truly loves this sport,” Kaylor said. “She shows up to every practice ready to work hard and always encourages her teammates when we’re down.
“Her mental toughness is unmatched, and nothing can stop her when she’s wrestling. She’s an amazing leader, not to mention a huge role model for me.”
Lakes sophomore Osmairi Medina Alvarado agreed that Larson is a good role model.
“Josie is always pushing us hard and encouraging us to keep going,” Alvarado said. “When she accomplishes something new, that motivates us to keep working hard toward our goal.”
Larson, who played center on Lakes’ flag football team and competes in the discus and the shot put in track and field, pushed herself too. That meant avoiding fast food, soda and candy.
“I realized in the beginning of the season, especially after my coaches were talking about it, that this is going to my year,” Larson said. “Once the season started, I knew it was going to go well.
“Last year motivated me. I was so close to winning the finals match. It pushed me because I didn’t want that to happen again.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
