Jonathan Alder’s Ava Ater (black) pins London’s Hannah Howard (white) during the match at 120 pounds. The senior grappler claimed her 100th career win on Friday night.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Jonathan Alder’s Ava Ater is not just the newest member to claim 100 career wrestling wins, but the first Lady Pioneer to do so.
Friday evening was packed with mat action with both the boys and girls programs competing alongside one another.
Results from the boys match will be featured in Wednesday’s newspaper.
The evening also featured a tribute to Alder’s senior class which saw Ater, Madison Hall and Leslie Sanchez honored.
On the girls’ mat, the Lady Pioneers went up against London and Marion Harding. With limited rosters on both sides, no team score was kept.
The teams from Harding and London joined forces against JA.
The midway portion of the lineup drew the most attention.
Ater prompted a celebration after she earned her 100th career victory.
She did so with a first-period pin against London’s 120-pounder Hannah Howard.
“It was amazing,” Ater said about the milestone. “I had a tough time today working through my pain and working throughout the week. I was very on edge tonight because I knew a lot of people were going to be here.”
At 100 pounds, JA’s Tristen Gregory pinned Harding’s Leeanne Barry in the third period.
JA’s 110-pounder Natalie Musil (110) scored a 9-0 major decision against Harding’s Emily Vice.
Victoria Bobrova (155) followed with a first-period pin against London’s Alana Sells.
Marion Harding’s Kierra Snyder (130) defeated Alder’s Allison Funk with a first- period pin.
At 155 pounds, Harding’s Ebonie Harding also claimed a first-period pin against JA’s Hall.
Sanchez (170) secured a first-period pin for Alder against Harding’s Chanel Kellog.
In the last match of the night, JA’s Annie Saxour (235) notched a second- period pin against Harding’s SunChyna Tobias.
The Lady Pioneers will be back on the mat during Saturday’s Delaware Hayes Invitational (10 a.m.).
Making history
Following her 100th career win, Ater reflected on her time as a grappler. The journey to her milestone was not something she had ever thought was possible.
“I did not,” Ater said after being asked if she saw herself as a member of the 100-win club. “My freshman year filled with a lot of losses and just figuring it out.
“I had 10 wins my freshman year.”
Adopting a competitive mindset early on, she wanted to prove herself by being the “best version” she could attain.
“I’ll go through a season of something and go ‘oh I was awful’ and I’ll come back the next season and go ‘wow, I did great’,” she said. “That’s how I got better and better.”
Ater sought to keep herself healthy prior to Friday’s action while also taking advantage of the senior night festivities.
“It was a lot of just ‘work through your pain, but don’t hurt yourself too much,’” she said.
“I’ve thought about it, but I don’t really know what to say,” coach Mike Jurek said.
“When she was a freshman, she didn’t have an idea of how to make a single takedown.”
Ater has a unique perspective as a lady grappler. When she began her journey, girls wrestling was not sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The sport was moved under the OHSAA umbrella her junior season.
The sport, national and in Ohio, has continued to grow as 44 states now sanction girls wrestling, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
“For me personally, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, but I know it is a big deal for other people,” Ater said. “I like making stepping stones for other people and I want the girls on my team to achieve the same stuff that I’ve done and more.”
“There wouldn’t be a girls team without her,” Jurek said. “We decided to do a girls team because of her… the sky is the limit for her.”
While she “loves” making history locally, she added that she wants others to make their own paths in the sport.
“In the beginning, it was just boys wrestling, but now we are taking a stand,” Ater said.
Finally attaining her 100th win was a breath of fresh air.
“Finally getting that recognition was like ‘thank goodness,’” she said. “Because it takes a lot for girls to get recognition, especially when you have boys wrestling right next to you.”
She has another milestone left in her journey as she has the potential to be the first Lady Pioneer to qualify for the state tournament in all four years.
“I definitely want to achieve that and hopefully place in three of those years,” Ater said.
“Watching her develop from a freshman with no experience to what she’s doing now… everything she’s gotten she’s earned herself,” Jurek said. “I am just super proud of her.”