Lucky Number 7

Lucky number 7

The girl your coach warned you about

Paige Trahan| Sports editor

Bonner Springs High School has finally begun an all-girls wrestling program and among them is nationally ranked, freshman wrestler, Olivia Stean.

Stean is ranked 7th in the nation for the 132 lbs weight class. While Stean competed with other girls to achieve this title, she prefers to wrestle boys.

“I like the challenge,” Stean said. “I feel like I’m a lot stronger than the girls, plus it’s a lot more satisfying when I beat boys.”

She has competed with Bonner for three years (since seventh grade) and it all started when wrestling coach and weights teacher, Brandon Jobe approached her to come out for wrestling.

“I’ve known Olivia since 7th grade when she started wrestling with our middle school team,” Jobe said. “I immediately noticed her love of the sport of wrestling, and her drive to be successful is incredible.”

Coach Jobe is excited to see her compete at the high school level and is expecting big things for her first year.

“I expect Olivia to compete for a state medal in her freshman year, which is very unusual!” Jobe said. “She’s going to turn some heads in the near future.”

Stean’s family had a big part in her wrestling career. According to Stean, a huge reason she is wrestling is because of her dad.

“Olivia has wrestling in her blood, her father was a state champion wrestler at Bonner Springs in 1992,” Jobe said.

According to Olivia, her dad was actually trying to convince her brother to wrestle but she ended up falling in love with the sport despite its challenges.

“It feels like girls have to work 10 times harder for the same results,” Stean said. “I had to cut 10 pounds in a week once and I was really struggling.”

Regardless of the struggles, this is Stean’s calling and with her national ranking, she has been an inspiration to other girls and has brought her newfound fame.

“People have recognized me, it’s crazy!” Stean said. “Even when I travel for tournaments I have people come up to me, I am so grateful”

Jobe said Olivia and Chloe Knapp will be the girls to watch in Bonner’s first year with a girls wrestling team. They are ready to get the season started and dominate on the mats!