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VUHS Wrestlers Have An Exciting Year


photo provided
Cara Strona
photo provided
Cara Strona

Wednesday January 18, 2012

By Cookie Steponaitis

       While Geoffrey Grant admits to learning a lot of wrestling moves by just hanging out and wrestling his older brother and cousins, his first formal exposure to the sport came in the ninth grade. Discovering that he was good at it was wonderful, but what really stuck with Geoffrey in that first year was the realization that if he set a goal and worked as hard as he was capable of anything was possible. “I was the JV State Champion my first year,” shared Geoffrey. “Each year after that I set goals and mostly was able to attain them. In my junior year I broke my hand and was out for part of the season but this year I reached my goal of 100 career wins.” Geoffrey plans on being involved with teaching younger wrestlers wherever he goes in addition to continuing his work with the youth wrestling program.

   While he is not sure if he will wrestle in college he knows one thing for certain. “Wrestling is hands down the hardest sport out there,” reflected Geoffrey. “For those who don’t believe me, step on the line and onto the mat and try it.” Geoffrey credited his two coaches Nathan Kittredge and Scott Bissonette for encouraging him and helping him reach his goals. When asked about the rest of the season, Geoffrey just smiled and dropped a hint, “We are far from done,” he shared. “There are still a few more goals to reach!”

    Pint sized and packing a powerful wallop, VUHS senior Cara Strona started wrestling in fifth grade and has been in love with the sport ever since.  Nate Kittredge and Scott Bissonette have been her coaches since freshman year and have witnessed her work ethic and people underestimating her skills because she is small and female. With a current 92 wins record and aiming to reach 100 this season, Cara shared that, “Wrestling has taught me discipline; to never give up, hard work, and have determination.

   I have earned a Wrestling Scholarship to Midland University in Nebraska, but haven't fully decided on where to attend college yet.” While the season is far from over and there are still opponents to face and training to be done, Cara does admit to smiling quietly when the stunned look appears on someone in the crowd or from an opponent on the mat. “I guess they think I am too small,” she shares. “Oh, well! Surprise!”


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