Avalin Barry '27 Recruiting Profile

I joined the Norwin Lady Knights wrestling team in November of 2023. Though I joined the team late, I made a grand amount of progress in only 3 months. Prior to this past season I have never wrestled before a day in my life. At the beginning of January, I earned 2nd place wrestling 148lb at the Southmoreland girl's tournament. On February 3rd I wrestled at North Allegany's girl's invitational and was awarded 5th place in the 148lb class. My coaches had high hopes for me qualifying at Districts and Reginals to make it to States but my journey fell short. On February 6th at practice I broke my fibula, tore a ligament between my tibia and fibula, and to top it off sustained a high ankle sprain. Needless to say, my season came to an early and quite bitter end. The severity of the injures I sustained resulted in the need for me to have surgery to install a titanium plate, 5 screws, and a tight rope of stiches across the torn ligament in my right ankle. Being a 15 year old athlete, I never wanted metal in my body so early in life, however this is the only way that I will be able to wrestle again without causing any more damage to my ankle. Once my ankle is fully recovered, I plan on returning to wrestling in early June to learn some freestyle before I go back to Folkstyle in August. Wrestling has taught me invaluable lessons and morals that I will continue to use throughout my life. Injuries can root fear inside the depths of one's mind, but I will not let a 1 in 1000 accident stop me from getting a little better every day and coming back next season even stronger. My main goals for my sophomore season are to improve my technique and qualify for states in 2025. Next season I want to make a testimony that anyone can overcome an injury and become better than they are everywhere. If I can do that, I am a champion no matter what. After high school I would like to go to college and major in journalism or communications. If I get a scholarship and find a school that would enable me to pursue journalism or communications, I would be more than happy to wrestle in college. Wrestling has improved my life in unimaginable ways. I am happier, I met some really great girls I wouldn't have met if I never joined wrestling, and I became more mentally and phyiscally fit than I have ever been. Wrestling was a blessing even though I got injured and I am ready for what lies ahead.