Pioneer Valley wrestler Courtney Tompkins is her own toughest critic. Despite having just returned home from the wrestling nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla.—where the junior took third place and earned All-American honors for the second year in a row—Tompkins wasn’t as thrilled as would be expected.
“Third place was my goal but I made a mistake—I should have taken first,” she said.
Although she accomplished what she set out to do this season, Tompkins thinks she could have done better. With that in mind, she’s set some goals for her next trip to nationals.
“Next year, I need to not over think my moves. I want to get first place in state and nationals,” Tompkins said. “I can do it; I just have to work hard.”
PVHS wrestling coach Kevin Ilac said Courtney was right where she wanted to be at the tournament.
“Her goal was to be better than last year and she was—she always has next year,” Ilac said.
The coach added that part of what makes Tompkins such a successful wrestler is an athletic build; the junior is both strong and agile.
“She is an outstanding on-top wrestler—when she’s scouted they always warn their wrestlers not to let her get on top,” Ilac said.
For her efforts at nationals, Tompkins was recently awarded Female Athlete of the Week at the Santa Barbara County Athletic Roundtable. In her third year as a wrestler, Tompkins’ record after nationals stands at 43-7.
Tompkins is now training in freestyle wrestling for the first time. Freestyle is the type of wrestling used in college and uses different scoring.
Tompkins’ accomplishments have also earned her the chance to wrestle for the California National Team if she places in the top three of her weight class (154 lbs.) at the upcoming freestyle tournaments in Las Vegas and Fresno.
According to Ilac, Tompkins’ skill with wrestling has caught the eye of Missouri Baptist and Lindenwood universities. He said the talented wrestler will transition well to the college level.
