It was a learning experience for the Life U Women's Wrestling team over the weekend as they entered their first Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) Nationals. As the two-day tournament came to a close on February 14th, Life U's Rose Donaldson won two critical matches in the consolation bracket and emerged as Life U's first-ever women's wrestling All-American.
Fittingly, the day of reckoning happened on Valentine's Day and who better to shine on that day than Rose. Success is nothing new to the freshman from Kissimmee, Florida, having been a three-time state champion in high school. But as every student-athlete knows (or finds out very quickly), when you get to the next level, everyone you compete against is at least a high school state champion. Rose has been working hard all season long in pursuit of success at the collegiate level.
As the season progressed, she found herself ranked nationally, albeit outside the top 8 - the benchmark for All-American. At the WCWA Nationals in St. Louis, Rose lost in the second round to the #3-ranked woman in the country. "When I lost in the championship bracket it was like a blow to the stomach for me," recalls Donaldson. "But it was also a wake up call that made me focused and prepared for the consolation rounds." As the only Life U wrestler to make it to the second day of the tournament, she felt a little bit of pressure because, as she said, "I didn't want to let anybody down."
Rose battled her way back through the consolation bracket to reach the coveted "blood round" - the last elimination round when the top 8 places are assured. Wrestling against an opponent she had beaten earlier in the season was a confidence boost, but that all changed when she gave up the first takedown. "After I went down by two points early, I was determined to turn things around. When we got back up (in the neutral standing position), I got a front headlock and took her straight to her back and then stuck (pinned) her." With the result, Rose was assured a top 8 finish and All-American honors.
In describing her achievement, she can sum it up in one word: relief. It was the culmination of more than eight years of hard work and determination. "I started wrestling in junior high mostly because I didn't make the teams of the other sports I was interested in," Donaldson reflects. "So I started wrestling and never stopped. I did swim competitively too for a little while, and I was actually a pretty good, but the swimming practice time didn't match my schedule very well, so I gave it up and focused solely on wrestling."
Only a freshman, Donaldson has a few more opportunities this year and three more years to continue to improve. "My goal is to get on the podium." During the awards ceremony last weekend, the top 5 wrestlers stood on the podium while places 6-8 stood to the side. "But I've got to earn it." No doubt, her attitude and work ethic will get her to that goal.
Life U Women's Wrestling Head Coach David Mathews is confident she will reach her goals as well. Said Mathews, "This year she finished exactly where we thought she'd finish. She had a solid season and had already beaten half the women in her bracket. But past results don't mean anything on the mat, and Rose went out there on a mission and was rewarded. I'm proud of her and happy for her!" Having a freshman All-American in the program's first year of existence will also do wonders for the future. Said Mathews, "It's obviously good publicity for us and our program. We want to be successful. We set some lofty goals for this first season, and achieved many of them. So now we will set some new goals."
