By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Geneseo High School junior Lydia King, left, recently reached 100th wrestling match wins. She is photographed with GHS Wrestling Coach Carly Rusk. Photo by Garrett Newman
Lydia King made history at Geneseo High School when she reached her 100th win in the Girls’ Wrestling Quad Meet held Jan. 2 in the GHS gym.
King, the daughter of David and Rachel King and a junior at GHS, said she was aware that match would be her 100th win after she won her first two matches earlier in the meet.
She said, “As soon as I pinned the girl, I heard everyone cheering for me. I saw my parents, teammates and coaches were very excited.”
King’s interest in wrestling began when she was in eight grade and it was in her freshman year at GHS that Girls’ Wrestling became an official sport at the high school.
She said she chose to be part of the girls’ wrestling team as a result of her brother having been on the wrestling team at GHS… “I chose this sport because of my brother. (Owen King who graduated from GHS in 2025) I watched him wrestle since I was little, and as soon as I heard other girls were doing it in eighth grade, I knew that I needed to join!”
She also plays softball.
“Wrestling means so much to me,” King said. “It has taught me so many lessons and has put me through hard things, but those hard things have changed my mindset completely. My wrestling coaches mean everything to me. They stay with me even when I’m down. They never give up on me and always push me forward.”
When King was asked about wrestling being considered an “individual sport,” she agreed, but added, “But you and your teammates go through the same hard practices so when you accomplish something big, everyone knows and is excited for you.”
Her favorite memory in wrestling thus far was “winning at State against a girl I lost to at Sectionals and being able to medal my first year at State. Also, seeing my family cheer for me!”
She added, “Being the first Geneseo girl to reach 100 wins is a huge accomplishment, especially during my junior year. I worked so hard for that moment and getting it at home was even more amazing because more people were able to some and cheer me and my team on.”
King’s goals include winning at the State Wrestling Meets in her junior and senior years of high school “and to compete in college!”
SOME FUN QUESTIONS KING ANSWERED:
Any advice for young wrestlers? - King answered, “When you first join wrestling, don’t get discouraged, keep trying and working hard. Sooner than later, you will be better than you thought and you will be winning more and more matches.”
Favorite food? – “My favorite food is definitely sweet potatoes!”
What are you looking forward to most after the wrestling season? - “I am looking forward to competing in freestyle over the summer and trying to qualify for Fargo!” (King explained that “Fargo” is a “huge Freestyle Tournament in Fargo, ND, and you have to go to Freestyle State to qualify.”)