Gettysburg High grad aims at national women’s wrestling title

By STEVE HEISER

There aren’t many folks who make life-changing decisions at 8 years old.

For Montana DeLawder, however, one of the pivotal moments in her life came before she reached her ninth birthday.

“I was 8, and my family used to watch the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on TV and we would always talk about wrestling,” she said. “Then one day I brought home a flyer from school about wrestling. No one from my family wrestled, and I thought wrestling was about kicking and punching (like UFC). So, I wanted to give it a try.”

She would quickly find out that wrestling — at least on the scholastic level — didn’t involve kicking and punching, but she also quickly discovered that she enjoyed the sport immensely, even though it was dominated by males.

Over the years, she proved to be more than competitive against her male counterparts, but when she got to compete vs. females, she became dominant.

Now the Gettysburg High School graduate is one of the finest female wrestlers in the United States.

 

The King University senior is ranked second in the nation at 124 pounds among female wrestlers from NCAA schools. Tuesday night, she earned a 10-second pin vs. Newberry to finish off an 31-4 regular season for the Tornado.

The psychology major will now carry a 113-18 career record into the postseason with one paramount goal – becoming a national champion for the school located in Bristol, Tenn. – a school that’s long been known as a national female wrestling powerhouse.

It’s a goal that’s certainly not beyond reach. She’s already a three-time college All-American in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. She finished seventh as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and third as a junior. Finishing in the top eight earns All-America status.

Looking to make the final step: Now she’s hoping to make the final step to the top of the podium.

Getting there, however, won’t be easy. She’ll likely have to find a way to beat North Central’s Amani Jones, the defending champion in DeLawder’s weight class. Jones pinned Delawder in the third period of last year’s NCWWC semifinals. It’s one of Jones’ seven consecutive wins vs. DeLawder.

Despite that record, DeLawder feels good about her chances of beating the top-ranked Jones. DeLawder also said she never considered moving weights to avoid Jones, who was third at last year’s world championships.

“I want to beat her, so I wouldn’t want to move weights,” DeLawder said. “I think we know each other very well. We used to wrestle a lot in high school, and I got the best of her in high school. I definitely think the match could go my way. I just have to go out confident and wrestle smart.”

King’s interim head coach, Gracie Figueroa, also believes that DeLawder has what it takes to win a national crown.

“I absolutely believe this is her time to break through for a title,” Figueroa said. “We know she’s a stud and will scrap with anyone that steps across from her.”

DeLawder’s road for a possible national title will begin with the NCWWC Regional Championships on Saturday, Feb. 22, followed by the NCWWC National Championships in Iowa on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.

Going against the boys: Getting to this point, where she’s considered one of the better female wrestlers in the nation, hasn’t been easy.

Because of the lack of female competitors for much of her career, DeLawder spent most of her time wrestling boys and she more than held her own. At Gettysburg High, she finished her career with an 85-52 record vs. the boys for a strong Warriors program. Her 85 wins were a state record for female wrestlers.

Wrestling against the boys, for the most part, was a positive experience for DeLawder.

“Growing up I got used (to wrestling against boys),” she said. “As I got older, the boys got stronger and that created some adversity. I had to learn how to deal with that. I had to be much more technical because I wasn’t going to win on strength.

“But there wasn’t any real disrespect. I was very blessed growing up because people got used to me in the area. When I went out of the area, I would sometimes hear a few little comments, but in the area, I felt very supported.

“… I had it way better than a lot of girls I’ve met, who told me some (unfavorable) stories. My male teammates were very supportive, as were all of my coaches.”

One coach she has particular fondness for is her former head coach at Gettysburg, Chris Haines, who has created a wrestling powerhouse with the Warriors. He’s also a big supporter of female wrestling.

“He is the reason where I’m at,” she said. “He is my go-to guy for any type of advice in life or wrestling.”

DeLawder also said much of the credit for her success must go to her parents, Phoenix and Meagan.

Inspiring young girls: When she got to wrestle vs. other girls, DeLawder was nearly unbeatable, winning four MyHouse Pennsylvania State Championships. The PIAA did not start to sanction girls’ wrestling as a varsity sport until after DeLawder left Gettysburg High.

DeLawder finds herself in a similar situation in college. The NCAA will begin to sanction women’s wrestling next year, the year after DeLawder’s final year of eligibility at King.

“It’s kind of funny, but I’m happy to see (other females) get the opportunity (to compete in PIAA- and NCAA-sanctioned events),” she said.

When she started in the sport, it was relatively rare for DeLawder to see other female competitors. As she’s gotten older that’s changed dramatically. For some young girls, DeLawder’s pioneering excellence has been an inspiration.

“I didn’t really see it until I coached a little,” DeLawder said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve had girls say they are looking up to me. It’s really eye opening and means lot.”

Those young girls who look up to DeLawder are likely joining the sport for the same reasons that she did.

“I like the team aspect, but it’s still also very much an individual sport,” DeLawder said. “Everyone on the team plays a part and it’s a family-oriented environment. But you really are in control of the results. It’s on you because you are all alone.”

Olympic future? No matter what happens in the upcoming NCWWC event, DeLawder doesn’t anticipate leaving the sport anytime soon.

“I’m going to stay in wrestling. I’m going to compete for another Olympic cycle or two,” she said.

DeLawder believes becoming an Olympian is “achievable.”

“It’s pretty much been my goal since I was 8,” she said.

“There are some things I need to get dialed in. Focusing on wrestling all the time (and not having to deal with school) will help. Getting a nutrition and strength coach could be a big game-changer. I think it’s very realistic.”

Her coach, Figueroa, agrees with her star’s assessment.

“She is smart and mature, and I know she understands how much of a commitment that road would be, but I think she has the type of tenacity and work ethic to accomplish anything she wants to,” Figueroa said.

The first step for DeLawder after college may be earning a berth for the world championships. That’s not out of the question for someone who may soon become a four-time college All-American, was a two-time national duals champ in high school and was an under-23 national champ in college. She was second in her bid last year to get a world berth.

DeLawder has already gotten the opportunity to compete internationally in Spain (in the Spanish Grand Prix) and in Colombia (for the Pan Am Games). She got silver medals in both events.

Eventually, once she’s done competing, DeLawder says she’ll likely look to get into coaching. It’s a role that Figueroa believes she’s well suited for.

“I think she would also excel in the coaching field because of her immense knowledge and experience in the sport but also her ability to be personable and motivational. She’s a very intelligent and supportive young lady,” Figueroa said.

She’s also a young lady who was once an 8-year-old girl who made the unusual decision to wear a singlet and headgear, while wrestling almost exclusively against boys.

It’s a decision she’s never regretted.