Junior College Nationals 2026

 I'm putting a date on this post because we want to go back for sure!  Junior College Nationals was so fun.  (Okay, also stressful), but really really awesome.  

We bought our plane tickets before we knew if Libby would get to compete.  She's on the team that was the returning National Champs, and she wasn't varsity for the season.  But her coach got to take 15 girls for the 10 weight classes.  After taking 3rd at her District tournament, she qualified!  So we were so excited to get to watch Hunter, Izzy and Libby compete.  (Mak just missed qualifying!)

In search up info on the tournament, I found the media pass application.  I figured, why not!  So I sent it to the Shoreline Area News editor and she applied for me to get a pass.  They denied at first, but I looked at what she sent them, and she didn't say which schools I would be there to cover.  So I replied to the email about how Shoreline had 3 athletes competing, so I'd be there for 2 Big Bend athletes and 1 Indian Hills athlete.  They APPROVED!  So I got to be on the floor with my camera.  I'm not an amazing photographer, but I did get some good shots and got to be mat side with my favorite wrestlers. 

I already wrote about this in the article, and on FB, but Libby won her first match.  She unfortunately injured her shoulder in the process.  That made the rest of the tournament tough.  She was winning her 2nd match, but it got away from her.  That girl ended up taking 6th.  So if Libby had stayed healthy, she would have made the podium for sure.  Next year. 

Izzy won 2 matches, getting as far as Libby in the tournament (since Libby had a first round bye).  

And Hunter placed 8th, Shoreline's first All American (that we know of) in wrestling.

So proud!

It was also just SO FUN to have all my kids together.  

It was SO FUN to stay with my cousin Stephanie and her family.  Part of the reason we were so tired after the weekend was staying up late hanging out with them.  But we had to!  They are awesome.

Libby is excited to get back to Nationals next year.  On the podium for sure.

Ben is also feeling more interested in wrestling in college. That was an unexpected outcome of the weekend.  We'll see where life takes him.  

My cousin's husband is a doctor, so we asked about the quickest ER.  Got in so fast for a quick check on her shoulder.  Partially separated AC joint. So she should be back in action pretty quickly.  They do have off season practices.  

Then, Derek and Sarah flew home and Ben and I flew to Orlando for Brad and Amanda's wedding.  Let me tell you, a 5 am flight (central time) on daylight savings morning...not my best move.  But we made it for the wedding no problem.