To many, 2 minutes may not seem that long. To many, 2 minutes may not seem important, but those 2 minutes mean everything to a wrestler. It’s 2 minutes of rolling around in a mat pushing oneselves to their mental and physical limits in order to get someone on their back. But who would want to spend hours of a week doing that? Warren Senior, Ashley Bridges is one of the few girls to take up that challenge.
Alongside with 7 other girls, Ashley made history at Warren for being part of Warren’s first official girls wrestling team this past 2022-2023 season. Girls wrestling has not been part of IHSA for too long, just this past 2022 year the sport finally had a girl’s state final. This sport has been rapidly growing and seems to continue to grow, 180 schools were signed up for IHSA’s girls wrestling program 2022 season but this 2023 season had 256 schools signed up. This sport has come so far, it has made history and has broken gender roles which is why Ashley loves this sport.
Ashley revealed that just like any sport she must dedicate long hours a week into wrestling as well as her academic, work, and social life. Her very busy schedule is something that never goes unnoticed that her teammate, Sophie Dolinar, reveals “Personally, I don’t think she is stressed about her schedule; she is very strong and can get through a lot of stuff.”
Ashley herself confesses she needs a busy schedule to avoid slowing down to keep her afloat since keeping busy is something she has always done. To prove she does really well as a student-athlete she disclosed the awards she’s won. Ashley is part of all 3 National Honor Societies at Warren which include the regular NHS, the Spanish NHS, and the French NHS. Following this, she has also received the title as an all-american athlete this past summer. Head varsity wrestling coach, coach Janecek, recognizes her ability to be a stellar athlete and student, “Ashley is someone who is dedicated to getting a lot of things done. She has a lot of interests. Because of her work ethic, those interests do not often seem to interfere with each other.”
Revealed in a face to face interview, Ashley gives huge credit to all the sports she’s done leading up to her D1 wrestling offers and the acceptances to prestigious schools. “There is pain and there is injury, your body can be down but because your down doesn’t mean your hurt”, Ashley reveals this is advice she takes into consideration everyday so she gives thanks to these wise words she’s been given. Ashley herself confesses she has no mentor in her life to thank but that does not mean she is not a mentor herself to her teammates and outside of the mats. “Ashley has given me a lot of advice, but some that stuck with me, I don’t remember exactly how it went, was, “Don’t worry about the coaches or anyone else. Just do the best you can do.” or something close to that.”, discloses sophomore Sophie Dolinar. Ashley is becoming a team leader for the younger girl’s on her team but she also is a team leader in the summer at Camp Barnabas.
In south west Missouri over the summer, Ashley served at a camp that provides individuals with special needs a summer camp experience. Ashley gives time aside from her busy wrestling schedule to make time to serve at this camp every year because, “I want to understand the differences in people”, learning the differences in people is something that Ashley wants to understand because of the field she wants to work in, fire science. “Opening horizons” is the word she uses to describe anytime she tries anything because it is something she states life is all about.
Also this past summer, she decided to push herself and her wrestling career to the next level at the respected Iowa Wrestling camp. Ashley Bridges is someone who is never afraid to try something new even if it is something that is out of the norm that was set by society. Former teammate, Isabella Miron states “She is one of the few people in this world to always say yes, I don’t think I’ve heard her say no to anything.”.
All her hard work she has put into her season, pre seasons, private sessions, open mats and in general cardio workouts ended in a big accomplishment just this past September. Ashley Bridges recently committed to Western Illinois where she will continue to pursue her wrestling career as a D1 athlete and continue her studies majoring in fire science, “I think it’s funny I have to personally shout out my friend who told me to get into this sport so, thanks to them, I love my life!”. The future is looking bright for this Warren senior as she continues to balance her active schedule never letting her foot off the gas pedal. Lastly, Ashley suggests, “My last message to those girls who think they can’t, I have to just say, yes you can. Do it.”
