When Charlotte “Lizzy” Pryor steps onto the mat, everything else fades away. “When I step on the mat, I feel as though the world suddenly silences. I’m focused in and ready to face whoever is in front of me. I walk up to the table, check in, and put my band on. I say a short prayer asking God for protection over both me and my opponent, and then I’m ready to wrestle.”
A sophomore at Chandler High School, Lizzy has already built an impressive resume on the mat. “My record last year was 34-12 for my freshman season. My significant places are third in 5A girls’ regionals, fourth in 5A girls state, 5th at Super Girl 64, fourth at our conference in Ada, and third at Joe Cole in Cleveland.”
This season, her goals are clear and personal. “My personal goals for this season are to place higher in state than I did last year, have better discipline, and also get off of bottom every once in a while. I think this will make myself better but also help me to be a better addition to the team.”
Her passion for wrestling is fueled by her teammates and the growth she’s seen in the sport locally. “Living in a small town it’s hard to have enough athletes to fill up a roster, especially for wrestling. When I first started wrestling, there were only eight girls participating in the wrestling room. Now, on the high school girls team alone, we have eight girls. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve grown.”
Leadership comes naturally to her. “I don’t believe the term ‘team leader’ is something you earn only because you’re an upperclassman, but that it is deserved through work and commitment to the team. I would definitely say if there were a vice-team-leader for the girls’ team, I would be it.”
Her vision for the future is as strong as her drive. “When I graduate, I want my name to be on the banners hanging in our wrestling room showing that I placed at state all four years. I want to show everyone in my hometown that wrestling is a girl sport and that they can love it just as much as I do.”
