Something clicked for Warren sophomore Erin Bush during the offseason.
After finishing with a 5-8 record last season, Bush has placed in the top three in the 170-pound weight class in every tournament she has entered but one, and she won the Round Lake Regional last week.
“What made me flip the switch from last year to this year was getting into the right mindset,” Bush said. “I took the offseason to reset and get my head where it needed to be. There was no way I would let that slide. I did that and beat myself up for that now. I didn’t know back then.
“I was not going to let it happen ever again. I started going to the gym more and to summer camp and tried to get myself ready mentally and physically.”
Warren first-year coach Nick Grujanac, who was an assistant at Lake Forest last season, said Bush (30-7) and her teammates are reaping the benefits of their hard work
Eight of the Blue Devils’ 20 girls wrestlers advanced to the New Trier Sectional that begins Feb. 14. In addition to Bush, Natasha Flores at 105, Aaliyah Vazquez at 115, Alyssa Bentley at 120, Jane Kelly at 130, Tyanna Jackson at 145, Ashley Fugelseth at 155 and Kaylee Farias at 235 will try to punch their tickets to the state meet in Bloomington later this month.
“Erin has really wrestled well,” Grujanac said. “She’s such a hard worker and an incredible competitor. She’s gotten more vocal as the season has gone on. She’s made stellar improvement as the season has progressed.”
Some of Bush’s strengths are unusual for her weight class, according to Grujanac.
“Erin is incredibly good at hand fighting and is very good working for pins on top,” he said. “She’s improved on her takedowns in the last couple of weeks. She has strength and speed. She’s definitely different than most of the girls at 170. She’s taller and lanky with an athletic build.”
Bush was a successful judo competitor before she decided to give up the sport for wrestling in eighth grade. Bush’s father Scott was happy about that, especially since he was a standout wrestler at Glenbrook North and Oakton Community College.
“I thought it was a perfect fit,” Scott Bush said. “As a former wrestler, I’ve watched the growth of girls wrestling with excitement, and seeing those opportunities open up for her has been incredible. I was thrilled and am ecstatic about her future.
“I see a bright future ahead of Erin, maybe one that includes a state title. She’s determined to become a scholarship athlete.”
Erin Bush certainly doesn’t regret her decision.
“I did judo for six years prior, but he was like, ‘Wrestling is very similar with the dedication and hard work and discipline,’” she said. “I decided to try wrestling. It was so much fun. I loved it.
“I love that you kill yourself in practice and you train so hard, but the feeling you get after you win, just knowing how bad you want it and how hard you worked, it’s a different feeling than any other sport I’ve played.”
Fugelseth said she trains with Bush on a regular basis and experiences Bush’s competitiveness firsthand.
“Erin is a hard worker who doesn’t give up,” Fugelseth said. “Being her partner in practice is a good challenge and really helps us both push ourselves to be the best we can.”
Bentley said Bush is also a good team leader.
“Erin always holds other accountable,” Bentley said. “She always pushes everyone in the room to do their best, and on a side note, she’s very good at toe tag.”
Bush, who only wrestled against boys in her first year in the sport in eighth grade, points to her training as a major factor in her progress.
“I expect a lot of myself, and I push myself to that limit and further,” she said. “I drill my moves like no tomorrow and train hard and tough, and if I don’t get something right, I keep on repeating it or ask my coach to help me out.”
Bush has the utmost confidence in her preparation.
“No one trains as hard as I do, and no one has the background in fighting like I do,” she said. “I’ve done everything in my power to be the best I can be.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
