'I'm excited to represent my community and make everyone at home proud'

Joining the two local boys at the Fargo Nationals will be four local trailblazing girls.This time, they are putting Clyde and Attica in the national spotlight.Incoming senior Avery Gaskalla and incoming sophomore Meredith "Mimi" Greenslade represent the Fliers, while incoming juniors Kiera Depinet and Kendyll Salyer represent the Tigers.Depinet, Greenslade, and Salyer are on the Ohio National Women's Team, while Gaskalla is on the Ohio Junior's National Team, and in the women's division there is only freestyle. Greco Roman is not a recognized Olympic wrestling style yet.They are competing this month at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, also known as Fargo Nationals. It will be held at the Fargodome, on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. The week-long event from July 10th-July 19th brings thousands of the nation's best high school wrestlers together for a bracket-style double-elimination competition, where only the top eight can call themselves the All-American wrestler.Gaskalla, Greenslade and Salyer, are competing for the first time at Fargo while Depinet is making a return trip back to the competition.Depinet went 4-2 last year."It's an honor to be able to represent my state and my community," Depinet said. "I get to wrestle against the best wrestlers in the country, and meet new people and coaches."Salyer knows the opportunity is huge, and isn't taking it for granted."It's very exciting to have qualified for Fargo," Salyer said. "It's a privilege."For Gaskalla, she is still trying to wrap her head around it."The fact that I qualified to wrestle at one of the biggest high school wrestling tournaments in the country … it's going to make me better and it's just crazy that I get to compete," Gaskalla said.Being able to compete at a prestigious tournament isn't lost on Greenslade. Ever since she started into wrestling, she has always wanted to qualify for the USA Wrestling sponsored event, and do it through the regional qualifier that was held in Lousiville, Kentucky."Being able to compete at basically the Super Bowl of high school wrestling for Olympic styles, there is no bigger stage," said Greenslade of the tournament. "Achieving the goal of mine to qualify through the regional qualifier feels amazing honestly."Why Fargo for these young women?For Salyer, it's about exploring a different type of wrestling style that she hopes will get her noticed by colleges that will be at Fargo."Freestyle is what girls wrestle in college," Salyer said. "I really like freestyle and think its fun. It's super-fast paced in a freestyle match and could be over very quickly if you aren't careful."Gaskalla is focused on becoming a better wrestler, especially since this is her senior year."Knowing that it will make me a better wrestler and having qualified to be there to wrestle other wrestlers from across the country is my why for Fargo, other than fighting for a spot on the podium," Gaskalla said.The next goal for Greenslade is to earn All-American status at the tournament."I'm ready to give it everything I got to get it." Greenslade said.For Depinet, representing the community is one thing, but her own goal is different than everyone else's."I am ready for the challenges and experience that this will bring," Depinet said. "I want to do my best, push my limits, but also have fun. I need to remind myself to enjoy the ride and be grateful."Depinet also shared the traditional icebreaker at the competition that helps make lifelong friends."One fun thing is the trading of your state's gear with other wrestlers," Depinet said. "It's a fun way to meet other wrestlers and make friends. Plus, the chocolate milk at the university cafe is the best."None of them have really taken a break since the end of wrestling season in March. Greenslade has been training at The Barn Athletics in Findlay with coach Ben Kirian, and at Phillips Trained Wrestling in Norwalk with coach Chris Phillips. She also has been competing during the spring and summer, with most recently competing in the National Women's Duals last month.Greenslade's primary drill partner at Phillips is Salyer, who attends twice a week and sometimes multiple times a day.Training beside her at The Barn Athletics in Findlay as well has been Depinet, sometimes up to two times a day. Depinet has also been going to camps and recently competed as well in the National Women's Duals through Team Ohio.Gaskalla has been preparing for Fargo by going to The Barn Athletics in Findlay as well and competed in the National Duals in the junior division, which helped prepare her for what's about to come at Fargo.All four women will head to Ohio Northern University and attend a three day camp that is mandatory for all Team Ohio that is competing at Fargo before heading off to the Fargodome on Thursday.With the competition so close, the ladies of both Clyde and Seneca East have a few to thank for making it possible. Without the support of their local communities behind them, they wouldn't be able to attend.Throughout the summer, the girls have been fundraising to raise the funds to attend Fargo, and to put girls wrestling for Northwest Ohio on the map.For the Lady Fliers, it's not just about them going to Fargo, but it's also about supporting the girls wrestling program that has grown."The support from our community has been absolutely amazing," Greenslade said. "Avery and I have always had the best support system-our friends, family, and our Flier Amateur Wrestling family have always been there with us in so many ways when it comes to wrestling. The support for Fargo has gone beyond that; local businesses, charities, and even people we don't know have helped us out and it honestly means so much. A lot of people aren't donating just for us; they believe in growing girls wrestling and creating more chances for girls like us. That's what makes it so special."Gaskalla added: "The support has been crazy. You don't even realize the amount of people that care about what we do and want to help us get to where we want to go. It's not just Fargo; it's the community standing behind the program."For the Tigers, the support means being able to send two representatives to the national stage."I've had a lot of support," Depinet said. "Everyone has been amazing and I'm grateful to everyone that has donated towards my trip and has wished me good luck. I'm excited to represent my community and make everyone at home proud."