White County Warriorettes wrestler Zoey Clemons has been part of the program from the very beginning, and now, in her third and final season, the senior is focused on leaving her mark, one pin at a time.
Clemons entered the sport when the girls’ wrestling program first launched at White County High School, growing alongside it as both an athlete and a leader. As she opens her senior year, Clemons said she is not chasing a specific milestone, just the satisfaction of adding to her record and continuing to improve.
Clemons said her mindset shifted during her sophomore season, when she discovered the possibility of wrestling beyond high school. Since then, Clemons has started exploring college opportunities, seeing her role on the mat in a whole new light.
“It’s like an eye opener,” Clemons said. “It’s kind of like you’re a big sister to all the little wrestlers or like some of your teammates that are younger than you.”
That leadership role has become even more meaningful as the season has flown by. Clemons said her senior year feels like a blur, balancing school, wrestling, and her favorite off-the-mat commitment, Young Life events at her church.
Clemons said she often dedicates hours each day to both wrestling practice and her church activities, finding purpose in both. At practice, Clemons said her focus is on sharpening her technique and mastering new moves, knowing that hesitation can be costly in a match.
“The hardest part is the movements of everything that we learn,” Clemons said. “We go over so much in a day you have to be able to move through it without stopping or thinking about it.”
Clemons said that mental edge can make the difference between winning and losing.
“If you’re in the lead and you stop to think, that gives them a chance to get an extra point or pin you in the middle of [a match.]” Clemons said.
In wrestling, constant engagement is key: Backing away or failing to stay active can hand points to an opponent. Clemons said that rule mirrors her overall approach to the sport and to life.