When seventh-grader Kelsey Holzmueller steps onto the wrestling mat, she's not just competing—she's breaking stereotypes and showing what dedication looks like in a sport where girls remain the minority.

Though Unity Point School doesn't offer wrestling, Kelsey represents her school through the Carbondale Community High School Junior Sports program, which provides athletic opportunities for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The program allows Kelsey to pursue her passion for wrestling alongside her Unity Point education.

"I really like wrestling with my brother in the basement," Kelsey says with a smile, explaining how she first became interested in wrestling. Her older brother, now a freshman on the Carbondale High School wrestling team, has been an inspiration. The siblings even have a wrestling mat in their basement where they practice together.

Wrestling isn't Kelsey's only athletic pursuit. She plays basketball, softball, and volleyball, and occasionally runs track at Unity Point. On top of that, she swims year-round—with the SIU team during the school year and another team during summer.

But wrestling holds a special place among her activities. After starting in fifth grade, taking a year off, and returning this year, Kelsey has shown remarkable perseverance in a challenging sport. Her current season record stands at 3-18, statistics that might discourage many athletes.

"I've done a lot better this season," she says confidently, demonstrating the resilience that defines successful wrestlers.

One of the unique aspects of Kelsey's journey is that she competes against both boys and girls, depending on the meet. Wrestling is organized by weight class rather than gender, placing Kelsey, who competes in the 98-102 pound bracket, against opponents of similar size. This season, she's wrestled approximately six girls and fifteen boys.

When asked about this mixed-gender competition, Kelsey explains that it's simply a normal part of the sport. "They know that even though I'm a woman, I still can wrestle the boys," she says. "They're all really nice people. I'll talk to all my people before their match."

Recently, Kelsey competed in regionals, placing third in her all-girls bracket. This qualification advanced her to sectionals in Belleville, where she'll face six competitors. If she performs well, she'll move on to state the following weekend.

The path isn't easy. "There are matches where you will get slammed down onto the mat," Kelsey admits. "It hurts a lot." But she emphasizes that safety remains paramount—referees monitor matches closely, and competitors check on each other afterward. "They never want to do anything to hurt you," she explains.

For Kelsey, wrestling teaches valuable life lessons about perseverance and growth. "Even if you don't win every match, you can just go on to the next one and learn from your mistakes," she advises. "Learn from your mistakes because you always get better."

This wisdom extends beyond the mat. As a student who loves literature "because I love to read" and science "because I really like to learn about different things," Kelsey brings the same determination to her academics that she shows in athletics.

At Unity Point, a school she describes as having "lots of great teachers who love to help you do better," Kelsey exemplifies the well-rounded student-athlete. She represents not just herself and her school, but also the growing community of female wrestlers pushing boundaries in what has traditionally been a male-dominated sport.

As she prepares for sectionals with a chance to advance to state, Kelsey continues writing her own chapter in the evolving story of girls' wrestling—one match at a time.