by Taylor Cotie

On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Greensboro College wrestling team honored three of their senior athletes. The event took place during a match against Shenandoah University in Hanes Gymnasium. The Pride lost by a close score of 29-26.

The three seniors, Trevor Carter, Brandon Williams and Isabella Ruiz were honored for their dedication to the GC wrestling team. They were surrounded by friends, family and loved ones during the event. The Collegian was able to ask them some questions about their wrestling careers and time at GC.

“I have been wrestling since my freshman year of high school,” said female wrestler, Isabella Ruiz, a senior from San Antonio, Texas. “The most challenging part of my wrestling career has been my mindset. For wrestling, you always have to have an ‘I am going to win mindset.’ Any kind of hesitation can hurt your performance even if you are a top wrestler. However, as I got older, I have become more confident and more comfortable with trying new techniques.”

Women’s wrestling was first offered as a varsity inter-collegiate sport at Greensboro College in the fall of 2020. Ruiz is the only female wrestler at GC.

“The sport has come so far for females, and it has been so exciting to see,” she said. “There are universities that are adding women’s wrestling every year. North Carolina just sanctioned high school women’s wrestling and they just had the first state tournament last week, which has been exciting. The excitement around it is also growing which is exciting to see.”

Ruiz said after she graduates, she hopes to intern abroad in England for a year before going to grad school.

Trevor Carter has been a four-year starter and served as a team captain for two years on Greensboro College’s wrestling team.

“I have been wrestling since the fifth grade with only a few breaks in between,” Carter said.

“The most exciting part of wrestling in college was finding other individuals who had the same passion that I did and people who were better than me.

“The most challenging part of being a student athlete at the collegiate level has been balancing athletics, classwork and life outside of the two.”

Following graduation, Carter wants to attend the police academy.

Fifth-year senior Brandon Williams has been wrestling since the seventh grade.

“I decided to come to Greensboro College as I can be close to home and still wrestle,” he said.

“My favorite memory is probably riding in the vans my freshman year and sophomore year while telling stories and having fun with my team.”

Williams plans on starting his own business after graduation and helping others.

The wrestling team is preparing for the NCAA SE Regionals that will be held at York College in York, Pa., in Feb. 24 and 25.