Maddie Kubicki – South’s own nationally ranked wrestler
Maddie Kubicki (freshman), is one of the four girl wrestlers on the 2019-2020 wrestling team and is entering her first year of South wrestling, but is no stranger to the mat.
Kubicki has been wrestling for eleven years and comes from a wrestling family. “My brother wrestled and so did my dad in high school and some of his brothers did too,” said Kubicki, ” so seeing a [wrestling] practice and seeing my brother [wrestle] is how I got started.” Kubicki’s time and dedication has payed off and gone in her favor on the mat; she is often placed high in many tournaments including taking second at the one of the biggest wrestling tournaments Fargo.
Kubicki is starting off her first year with three fellow female wrestlers by her side; the four girl wrestlers being the most girls South has ever had on the team. Most would think that being on a team full of boys would be challenging and intimidating for those of the opposite gender, but not for Kubicki; she is actually used to being the only girl on the mat, and having three more girls to wrestle with this year is something she is not usually used to, but enjoys it. “I’m not used to having this many girls wrestling with me, but I’m glad there are [more girls] and that it’s growing.” Said Kubicki.
When asked if she was ever intimidated from the boys on the team, her response was quick, “No not at all”, Kubicki said, “Sometimes I think they might be more intimidated by me if I can beat them.”
Kubicki is proud of how far she has come in her wrestling journey and how she has continued to grow as a wrestler. She had many people, including coaches, discourage her for being a girl wrestler, but she never once let them overpower her; her strength and determination lead her to continue with her wrestling journey; even leading her to be ranked 8th in the nation for girls wrestling.
Watch Maddie Kubicki and the rest of the girls wrestlers in their next match this Saturday in Harrison.