Willard sophomore Higgenbotham Missouri girls state wrestling champion

Second girl from Willard to win state championship, hopes to eventually continue wrestling in college
In February of 2023, Catherine Dutton became the first girl from Willard to win a state wrestling championship. On March 1 of this year, Ellie Higgenbotham, 16, became the second.
Higgenbotham, a sophomore at Willard High School, won the Girls 155 Class 2 State Championship in a 4-2 decision against Dana Thee Sanchez of Francis Howell Central.
Training key
Higgenbotham said her training, both mental and physical, helped her defeat her opponent.
“The final match was just like any other match,” she said. “I knew I needed to stay focused and not let the nerves get to me. I needed to use those fundamental things that are taught to help catch her off guard. That was the only way I thought I’d be able to outmaneuver her. She (was) a strong and experienced wrestler, and it was a lot of work. I had to rely on my cardio to keep up with her and hopefully get her worn down and tired.”
In the end, Higgenbotham said, her training and her desire to win made all the difference.
“(It was) my cardio for sure,” she said, “plus, I really wanted to be a state champ.
“I train at least five days a week, (sometimes) multiple times a day. I try to get workouts in outside of the wrestling room. I aim to have a great workout partner, one that will make me work harder and hold me accountable. I believe having different partners, at different levels of experience and weights helped me get stronger and come to expect that there is always a different way to wrestle. I like to have both male and female practice partners.”
After winning, Higgenbotham said, it took a moment for the realization that she was a state champion to register with her.
“I was excited, not necessarily shocked, but more in awe,” she said. “I have been working for the past year to get to this point. I was confident going into the state series, but I knew all it takes is one misstep, one mess up.”
This is Higgenbotham’s fourth year as a wrestler. She decided to try wrestling in middle school when she found out that the district was creating a girls wrestling team.
“In seventh grade, wrestling was introduced to us as a team sport during P.E.,” she said, “and we were told they were starting a girl’s wrestling team. So, one of my friends and I decided we would try it together.”
Wrestling internationally
The state wrestling championship isn’t the only adventure Higgenbotham has had in wrestling. Last summer, she represented the United States as part of a girls wrestling team at the International School Sports Federation’s Gymnasiade in Bahrain.
“It was a great learning experience,” she said. “I wrestled outside of my comfort zone. I was able to wrestle four different wrestlers from three different countries. I (also) had the pleasure of making new friendships with other athletes, not only from all over the USA but also from other countries. I am still in contact with a few, even six months later. I was able to travel and learn about a completely different country and culture. I believe it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and will be something I remember for the rest of my life.”
College plans
After she graduates from high school, Higgenbotham plans to attend college, where she hopes to continue wrestling. As for her career, she hasn’t made a decision yet.
“I’m hoping to continue to wrestle,” she said. “As more and more schools start their programs, I know there may be more opportunities for me in a few years. So, for now, I’m looking at a couple of different schools, in Iowa, Oklahoma and North Carolina. I haven’t decided what I want to do when I grow up yet. I always wanted to be a teacher, but I’m not sure that’s where my heart is anymore. I have looked into accounting, I am also researching sports psychology and sports medicine. I still have a few years to figure it out.”
While Higgenbotham is proud of her accomplishments, she also noted that she didn’t make them on her own. She said that she owes a debt of gratitude to those who have helped her achieve her level of proficiency as a wrestler.
“I would like to thank all of my coaches,” she said. “I know they put in a lot of work, missed things with their families, and have invested in me over the years. (Also my) practice partners, teammates, supporters – (who) really are my family and friends, financial donors, and my parents. Without any of these people in my life, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love.”