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The pinner got pinned.
Morgan Leonhardt got a taste of her own medicine at the girls state wrestling tournament. The worst part for the Gibsonburg senior was the fact it was all the way down Leonhardt’s throat before she knew what was going on.
Steubenville’s Talea Guntrum ambushed Leonhardt for a pin in 32 seconds at 120 pounds in the semifinals in Columbus. Guntrum finished first among four nationally ranked prior state champs in the semifinals.
“It’s so easy to get caught in a bad position and before you know it you can be out,” Leonhardt said. “The next time I see her, there will be a different outcome. I didn’t get a chance to wrestle. I didn’t have a chance to take a shot, or even fight.
"I was caught in a bad position. It was awful. I cried for five or six hours. I needed a break. I was ready for the tournament to be over.”
High school wrestling girls Gibsonburg's Zweifel experiences lifetime of emotions at state wrestling tourney
With all the pressure, stress and expectations, sometimes someone needs to put a pin on you. And yes, Leonhardt was the one who had to get up for a change.
But it was also a freedom and relief to finally exhale. She wasn't there for it mentally as she notched a pin in her next match, before falling 7-0 to finish fourth.
Surprising, however, she mostly sidestepped anger and she was already on the road to recovery in her mind.
“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “One of the worst feelings ever. Setbacks don’t define who you are, it’s the way you come back. Just because I had a screw up at state doesn’t mean I won’t come back. Setbacks are the perfect setups for comebacks.
"It was humbling. It reminded me to get back in the room. I’m not the best, but I’ll get there.”
Leonhardt is still relatively new to the sport.
“Those girls have been wrestling since they were fresh out of the womb,” she said of the semifinals. “I’ve been wrestling for three years; there’s no reason for me to be upset, there’s more room for growth.”
Leonhardt could feel a target on her back as a defending state champ this season.
“There were a lot of girls out there who thought they could beat me or were trying their hardest to beat me,” she said. “Some girls I know they thought they could beat me, I don’t know why? I’m a state champ for a reason. I loved it. Each year the competition increases so much.
"The only way I’m going to be the best is to beat the best. The only way I’m going to keep getting better is if these other girls keep getting better.”
Teammate Allison Schroeder is getting better.
“My drilling partner, aka my best friend finally qualified to state,” Leonhardt said. “That was one of the most exciting moments in my career.”
Leonhardt might see Guntrum again at Fargo this summer. Leonhardt hopes to win four matches there after splitting four matches last summer.
She aspires to win at least two national championships as she continues her career at Otterbein. She loves the campus, she’ll study nursing and it’s not too far from home.
“I love the coach and the assistant coach,” she said. “They’re amazing. They’re a little laid back but they’ll help me advance and grow in the sport. There’s so much talent there to be the best.”
Leonhardt finished high school with 116 wins and 13 losses. A remarkable 103 of the victories came via pin, including No. 100 in the spotlight for a district crown.
“I’d rather get a match done and over with,” she said. “Get the job done as fast as possible. Go out and wrestle my match with confidence, knowing I can beat anybody. I was aiming to pin every girl I could to set the bar high.”
Leonhardt often works out three times in the same day to keep the pin machine rolling.
“I already know I have the strength advantage and any chance I have to practice to improve my technique, I do that,” she said. “It’s a perfect mixture of strength and technique.”
Her devastating loss at state might actually add a final ingredient. She knows her identity is more the work and love than her record.
Two state championships would have been great. One state crown and a renewed and adjusted perspective is even better.
A journey is more than pins and tourney wins; they include adversity.
Look out for Leonhardt. She learns everything fast, including how to respond.
“Once I started wrestling, it became my life,” she said. “Wrestling, lifting, watching film, watching my diet. I got so invested, ‘This is who I am. I’m a wrestler.’ I realized I’m so much more than a wrestler. Wrestling is just a fun part of the journey.
"A loss isn’t who I am. I’m more than a wrestler.”
She couldn’t pin it any better.
[email protected]
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Gibsonburg wrestling Morgan Leonhardt recovers after OHSAA state setback
Continue reading...
Morgan Leonhardt got a taste of her own medicine at the girls state wrestling tournament. The worst part for the Gibsonburg senior was the fact it was all the way down Leonhardt’s throat before she knew what was going on.
Steubenville’s Talea Guntrum ambushed Leonhardt for a pin in 32 seconds at 120 pounds in the semifinals in Columbus. Guntrum finished first among four nationally ranked prior state champs in the semifinals.
“It’s so easy to get caught in a bad position and before you know it you can be out,” Leonhardt said. “The next time I see her, there will be a different outcome. I didn’t get a chance to wrestle. I didn’t have a chance to take a shot, or even fight.
"I was caught in a bad position. It was awful. I cried for five or six hours. I needed a break. I was ready for the tournament to be over.”
High school wrestling girls Gibsonburg's Zweifel experiences lifetime of emotions at state wrestling tourney
With all the pressure, stress and expectations, sometimes someone needs to put a pin on you. And yes, Leonhardt was the one who had to get up for a change.
But it was also a freedom and relief to finally exhale. She wasn't there for it mentally as she notched a pin in her next match, before falling 7-0 to finish fourth.
Surprising, however, she mostly sidestepped anger and she was already on the road to recovery in her mind.
“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “One of the worst feelings ever. Setbacks don’t define who you are, it’s the way you come back. Just because I had a screw up at state doesn’t mean I won’t come back. Setbacks are the perfect setups for comebacks.
"It was humbling. It reminded me to get back in the room. I’m not the best, but I’ll get there.”
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Leonhardt is still relatively new to the sport.
“Those girls have been wrestling since they were fresh out of the womb,” she said of the semifinals. “I’ve been wrestling for three years; there’s no reason for me to be upset, there’s more room for growth.”
Leonhardt could feel a target on her back as a defending state champ this season.
“There were a lot of girls out there who thought they could beat me or were trying their hardest to beat me,” she said. “Some girls I know they thought they could beat me, I don’t know why? I’m a state champ for a reason. I loved it. Each year the competition increases so much.
"The only way I’m going to be the best is to beat the best. The only way I’m going to keep getting better is if these other girls keep getting better.”
You must be registered for see images
Teammate Allison Schroeder is getting better.
“My drilling partner, aka my best friend finally qualified to state,” Leonhardt said. “That was one of the most exciting moments in my career.”
Leonhardt might see Guntrum again at Fargo this summer. Leonhardt hopes to win four matches there after splitting four matches last summer.
She aspires to win at least two national championships as she continues her career at Otterbein. She loves the campus, she’ll study nursing and it’s not too far from home.
“I love the coach and the assistant coach,” she said. “They’re amazing. They’re a little laid back but they’ll help me advance and grow in the sport. There’s so much talent there to be the best.”
Leonhardt finished high school with 116 wins and 13 losses. A remarkable 103 of the victories came via pin, including No. 100 in the spotlight for a district crown.
“I’d rather get a match done and over with,” she said. “Get the job done as fast as possible. Go out and wrestle my match with confidence, knowing I can beat anybody. I was aiming to pin every girl I could to set the bar high.”
Leonhardt often works out three times in the same day to keep the pin machine rolling.
“I already know I have the strength advantage and any chance I have to practice to improve my technique, I do that,” she said. “It’s a perfect mixture of strength and technique.”
Her devastating loss at state might actually add a final ingredient. She knows her identity is more the work and love than her record.
Two state championships would have been great. One state crown and a renewed and adjusted perspective is even better.
A journey is more than pins and tourney wins; they include adversity.
Look out for Leonhardt. She learns everything fast, including how to respond.
“Once I started wrestling, it became my life,” she said. “Wrestling, lifting, watching film, watching my diet. I got so invested, ‘This is who I am. I’m a wrestler.’ I realized I’m so much more than a wrestler. Wrestling is just a fun part of the journey.
"A loss isn’t who I am. I’m more than a wrestler.”
She couldn’t pin it any better.
[email protected]
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Gibsonburg wrestling Morgan Leonhardt recovers after OHSAA state setback
Continue reading...
