WHO’S NEXT? USAW STAR OF THE FUTURE
Hildebrandt sets sights on 2016 Olympic berth
By Richard Immel Coming off a career year on the women’s wrestling circuit, young American star Sarah Hildebrandt is set- ting her sights on 2016 and the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Hildebrandt captured gold at the 2013
Pan American Championships in Panama City, Panama in addition to making both the 2013 Junior and University World Teams, attributing confidence as the key ingredient to both her domestic and inter- national success. “I have seen a lot of growth in myself
as a wrestler over the past year, but more than anything I have been more confident in my wrestling skills,” Hildebrandt said. Growing up in the suburban midwest
town of Granger, Ind. Hildebrandt’s love for wrestling developed while watching her older brother compete on the mat. Her instant connection to the sport spurred Hildebrandt to attempt to start a women’s wrestling club at her middle school. Recognizing her passion for wrestling, Hildebrandt’s middle school coach invited her to join the men’s wrestling team in seventh grade and Hildebrandt never looked back, continu- ing with the sport all the way to the col- lege ranks. Hildebrandt signed with the newly renamed King University in 2011 with dreams of winning a WCWA champi- onship, a dream that was ultimately real- ized this season as a Junior. “It’s a goal I‘ve always had to be a
WCWA champ,” Hildebrandt said. “It was really stressing me out falling short my first two years but finally getting that mon- key off my back was a wonderful experi- ence.” King University achieved the pinnacle
in 2014 as a team, earning the program’s first WCWA team national championship led by a talented cast of women’s stars including Hildebrandt. Making headway on the national and international scene gave Hildebrandt a focused perspective that lended itself to her recent successes on the mat this sea- son.
30 USA Wrestler
King University standout Sarah Hildebrandt has excelled on the collegiate level and also wrestling on the Senior level in women’s freestyle. Larry Slater photo.
“I made my first world team my fresh-
man year of college and it really changed wrestling for me, it put my goals for the future into perspective and helped me believe I could make it to the Olympics someday.” U.S. National Coach Terry Steiner con-
siders Hildebrandt one of the United State’s most talented up-and-coming prospects. “I only see bigger and better things on
the horizon for Sarah Hildebrandt,” Steiner said. “She has a very good feel for the sport and qualities you cannot teach as a coach, some natural instincts. I look for many bright spots in the future of Sarah Hildebrandt.” While Hildebrandt is a leader on the
mat, she is also very involved in her local community belonging to many clubs and organizations at King, including being involved in student government and pres-
ident of the King University Student- Athlete Advisory Committee. Hildebrandt also spends her time away
from wrestling enjoying a good book from time to time, her favorite being the Harry Potter franchise. Another important thing for any wrestler
to have is a strong supporting cast at home, a blessing Hildebrandt cherishes. Hildebrandt attributes a great bulk of her success to her strong family support and being able to witness her parents achieve their goals. Her parents own and operate a national frozen yogurt shop - “Urban Swirl” - which now has four locations nationwide after only being open for the past three years. Moving forward, Hildebrandt plans to alternate between 53 kg/116.8 lbs. and 55 kg/121 lbs. while chasing her dreams of being an Olympic champion for the United States in 2016.
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