Girls' wrestling honored

NEW LONDON — The New London girls' wrestling team was recently honored at a banquet that included the wrestlers, coaches, families and friends. In its fourth year, the team has grown from only a couple of wrestlers to 13, with five in high school and eight in junior high. Gwen Voltz and Hailie Pylant are two graduating seniors who serve as team co-captains. Voltz is the team's first four-year letterman, and was named team leader by her coaches. She plans to study criminal justice at Kent State, and she credits wrestling for the close friendships she has gained. It also encouraged to be active and strive to be the best she could be. The coaches named Pylant outstanding wrestler. She will study pre-veterinary science at Hiram College and agrees with Voltz that she has made good friends through the sport. She says being part of the team was a bonding experience, which helped give her the experience to overcome failure. Head coach Jim Hudson and assistant Bill Shreve also named Brooke Wuensch as most improved and Madison Crockett as outstanding first-year wrestler. Hudson said, "We're incredibly proud of this group. What they've accomplished academically is just as impressive as anything they've done in competition. They truly represent what it means to be student/athletes."