Republic enters the new girls wrestling season with more depth, more experience, and more proven success than at any point in its short history. Almost the entire roster is back, and a strong freshman class moves in behind them. Coach Eric Nolan likes the direction — and the potential — of the group.
Only one wrestler graduated from last year’s lineup, a team that finished 9–2 in dual meets and competed well throughout the schedule. Much of that success came from athletes who were new to wrestling when they joined the program and learned on the fly.
Millie Waterman leads the returners. She became Republic’s first girls state qualifier last season at 120 pounds, then followed it with another productive offseason. “She’s even taken things further this offseason and been more present, gone to more of our activities,” Nolan said. “She’s just a great kid all in all.”
Gabby Shanks won 20 matches last year and earned wins over state medalists. Nolan expects more growth after a full summer of work. Aara Shade also recorded more than 20 victories, placed at districts, and finished runner-up at Midwest Nationals in Bloomington, Illinois. Nolan called her “a leader because of doing the right thing a lot, being a good teammate,” and expects her in the 155–170 range.
Experience is strong through the middle and lower weights. Sakura Wilcutt held a varsity spot most of last year and spent the offseason building on it. Rachel Clark, now a senior, started as a manager before giving the sport a try — and finished with 20 wins. “She showed great improvement,” Nolan said.
Bre-Elle Gutierrez returns at 105–110 after a 20-plus-win season that included district advancement and several tournament medals. “Real athletic, another multi-sport kid,” Nolan said. “She has a good chance to be varsity for us.”
Newcomers will push for spots right away. Two former eighth-grade state champions headline the freshman class — Mabel Rogers and Savannah Bratten. Rogers “does a lot in the offseason and really seeks out opportunities to get better,” Nolan said. Bratten “has already shown signs of being a high-quality wrestler.”
Chloe Simpson, the COC middle-school champion and a former youth state finalist, adds another option with a gritty style. “She brings a hard-nosed approach to the sport,” Nolan said.
Freshman Reese Tate projects at 100–105. She’s new to wrestling but has developed quickly. “You learn a lot quicker when you surround yourself with other people that already have a good base of knowledge,” Nolan said. Annyshna Lealaiauloto is another possibility at 105 or 110. She is less experienced, but Nolan believes her athleticism gives her room to grow.
The program’s progress shows in the core of veterans who now guide the room. Nolan pointed to Waterman, Clark, Shanks, and Shade as upperclassmen who set the standard. “They’ll do a great job of bringing these new girls in and showing them what our team’s all about,” he said.
The program checked off major firsts in recent seasons — including its first state qualifier — and the lineup this winter suggests that more are within reach.
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