Confidence, Attitude Growing for Cyclone Girls’ Wrestlers

Confidence, Attitude Growing for Cyclone Girls’ Wrestlers -

(1-29-26) - Harlan Community girls’ wrestling Coach Tarah Devlin likes the positivity her wrestlers have shown this season.

“Their attitudes have been phenomenal throughout this entire season, and we're trying to stay as positive as we can with being as small and mighty as we are. And so they've really taught me a lot in that aspect of just being more positive and making sure that we're healthy and good to go.”

Elle Stephens is back after missing the beginning of the season with an injury. She’s gone 11-2 since her return to the mat and is ranked 3rd at 130 pounds in Class 2A. Devlin says Stephens is still working her way back physically.

“When you're out with an injury it's hard to maintain that high level of conditioning that you need as a wrestler and she's really fought hard to get back into the room and condition as much as possible.”

Meanwhile, Haley Lopez, who’s 13-13 on the season, continues to work at become the best wrestler she can be.

“It's been fun to watch her grow and continue to learn new techniques and ask all the questions,” said Devlin. “Watching her at practice in the wrestling room, there's been times that she's just shadow wrestling just to make sure that the moves make sense in her head before she actually tries it on somebody.”

For Danica Schwery, building confidence has been an important part of her progress during this sophomore campaign, according to Devlin.

“That's been a huge thing for Danica is just being able to get her more confident in herself and her abilities. She knows what to do. It's just being able to apply it once you're out on the mats.”

State Qualifying for girls’ wrestling will take place on Friday and Cyclones squad will travel to Nevada.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats