McAlester girls wrestling returning key grapplers

McAlester girls wrestling will look to build on last season’s success with successful grapplers returning from last year’s team.

Girls wrestling has been fast growing since it became a sanctioned sport five years ago and McAlester has worked diligently to stay on the forefront of that growth.

In recent years, they haven’t had enough wrestlers to make a team but individual Lady Buffaloes have still impressed.

Last season, Jordyn Washington qualified for the state tournament. C. Hill qualified and placed at the state tournament.

With others who qualified for state rounding out the team’s talented roster, the Lady Buffaloes know they’re a force to be reckoned with, coach Kydel Billy said.

“A couple of years ago, every time you wrestled with somebody from McAlester it was usually like, ‘oh, that’s McAlester, easy win,’” Billy said. “McAlester ain’t an easy win anymore (SIC).”

After seeing success in the program from both the boys and girls last season, the scent of success is in the air for wrestlers like Emery Turner.

Turner, a junior, began wrestling in the seventh grade after watching some wrestling videos a teacher displayed in the classroom. She tried out for wrestling and though it was difficult, she knew she had a new passion.

“I hated it probably the first week but then after that it was really fun,” Turner said. “It’s not for everybody but I loved it.”

Turner missed the start of the season last year but worked her way back to place second at the state tournament in her class.

Turner has watched as the sport she loves grow around her. She’s not just invested in making sure the girls team has success, but that the program as a whole is working to accomplish its objectives.

“We’re all working really hard to do better than we did last year,” Turner said. “Even for the boys, a goal they have is making it to state and getting a title, that’s something that everyone should work hard to do because you’re only as good as your team makes you to be.”

McAlester will host its Black and Gold dual Dec. 1 at the McAlester Activity Center.