Since Trinity and Amara graduated, how have you stepped into the leader role?

“It was my duty as one of the older girls on the team, and one of the ones who is there to push the team (and) it was right for me to step up,” senior Caitlin Van Praag said, “but I feel like all the girls step up as leaders when they need to…everybody’s pushing each other, holding each other accountable, (so) we can come together as a whole.” 

 Can you describe your relationship with your teammates?

“We’re basically sisters (and) we’re there in the room together, bleeding together, sweating together, crying together, (so) there isn’t a closer bond we could have (because of) the pain we go through, the challenges we overcome together and we celebrate together,” Van Praag said.

When did you start wrestling?

“I started wrestling my sophomore year (though) I played basketball my freshmen year and it wasn’t really my thing… so coach Phil came up to coach LaBarge and was like: ‘Who’s this girl?’ and coach LaBarge said, ‘Oh – that’s Caitlyn and she plays basketball.’ So he talked to me and then my sophomore year it clicked as soon as I stepped into the (wrestling) room,” she said. 

What has your wrestling journey been like?

“It’s been up and down – there are times when I’m like ‘Man, I lost this match, and I should’ve won’. Of course, there’s going to be days (where) you don’t want to go and those days where you don’t want to put in the work,” Van Praag said. “Having a goal in your mind to get better and to win and succeed… that whole road of ups and downs comes out (to be) great.”

What are your goals for this season?

“To get better everyday – taking it one day at a time, but the end goal would be to place at state since I’ve been unsuccessful with qualifying, (still) I think I have a good chance of placing this year,” Caitlin said. 

What is different about the girls wrestling team this season?

“I’d say we all get along really well, there is no one (being) left out, there is no drama and we all want to see each other succeed (so) we push each other to the max everyday and there’s no letting off the gas,” Van Praag said. 

Who are the girls wrestlers to watch out for? 

“I’d definitely look for (junior) Chloe Spears, (junior Brooke Downs) and (sophomore) Veronica Madrid (since) they’re all going to have a big impact on the team (though) our lighter weights as well like (junior) Lauren Horton – I think you should look out for everybody though,” she said.