Atlee HS female wrestler Carrie Jennings is in a class of her own
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Carrie Jennings started playing soccer at age four.聽 In sixth grade, she decided to play basketball to stay in shape for soccer.
Small, short, and weighing less than 100 pounds at the time, she made the team. When the season was done, she asked if she could try out wrestling (again to stay in shape for soccer). She also made that team. She played soccer, basketball, and wrestling all three years at CMS.
During her freshman year at Atlee High School, she still wanted to wrestle. She made than team and has been the only girl on the team. There are other local schools with girls at the JV level, but not too many at the varsity level.聽 Atlee Coach Gabe LaVey found a couple of all-girls tournaments during her freshman year. In a non-Covid year, there are typically 5 VHSL female tournaments.聽 In the first tournament she finished in 2nd place.
In her sophomore year, she started to get noticed by the VA Women’s National Team coaches.聽 She started the season ranked sixth in the state (all girls rankings). She placed second at States, which earned her a ticket to Free Style Nationals in Fargo North Dakota.
She tore some ligaments in her shoulder at Nationals. She had reconstructive surgery soon after and missed a afew months of the wresting season.聽 She was able to compete in the all-girls tournaments.
During her junior year, she started the season ranked third in the state.聽 Due to Covid, there was not much happening. Wrestling USA put on some tournaments to qualify for Folkstyle Nationals, and a recruiting showcase with college coaches watching.聽 She finished second in Virginia and was able to travel to Iowa for Nationals and the Showcase.聽 She finished second at States again and went to Nationals again in Fargo, ND.
She has been part of the VA Women’s National Team since 2019. She also is a part of Hanover Hawkeye Wrestling Club.聽 She practices/works out six to seven days a week year-round. She will attend Emory & Henry and be a part of that wrestling team in the Fall. Get to known more about her in this Q&A:
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Carrie Jennings: To see improvement every day, whether it鈥檚 perfecting a simple move in practice or beating someone I鈥檝e previously lost to in a match.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?聽
Jennings: I think the biggest challenge would be that a lot of guys don鈥檛 enjoy or think girls should be part of the sport so they refuse to wrestle with girls and don鈥檛 tend to say very nice things.聽 I think this makes beating a boy so much more satisfying and funny in a way.
What was the best advice you were ever given?聽
Jennings: To not give up no matter what, even if you know it鈥檚 someone way better than you.聽 One of the best things about the sport is that anyone can win.聽 Crazy things happen all the time.
What do you love about your sport?聽
Jennings: How tough and challenging it is.聽 You constantly challenge and have to push yourself, and I think that has helped me out a lot in everyday life.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?聽
Jennings: Not really. I try to just clear my head and tell myself positive affirmations.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Jennings: Hang out with friends and go to the gym. Work.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Jennings: That you are never alone, and even though it鈥檚 mainly an individual sport, they are always there to support you.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?聽
Jennings: Even if you lose, as long as you tried your best and saw improvement, then you won.聽 You won the experience.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.聽
Jennings: I鈥檝e made a lot of mistakes but, one of the biggest was when I gave up in a match, but the time ran out right before they called the pin.聽 I came out and, in the third period, I won the match.聽 I also learned never to give up.聽 There is always a chance.
Anything else you鈥檇 like to add?
闯别苍苍颈苍驳蝉:听 Help support Virginia Women鈥檚 Wrestling so we can get women鈥檚 wrestling sanctioned in the state.
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