Gabrielle Skidmore, a 17-year-old resident of Spooner, is soon getting the opportunity of a lifetime. She has been asked to travel to Japan and wrestle, along with 5 other members of the Wisconsin Women’s National wrestling team. Kevin Black, the coach of the team has arranged this with the Japanese team that traveled to the United States last June. They will be leaving March 21, for 10 days in Japan. The trip provides the very uncommon privilege of training along with not just another country, but with the most well known female wrestling program in the world.
"I have been presented with the opportunity to train in Japan with a few select members of the Wisconsin wrestling team. The estimated total cost for the trip is $3,000. My parents have agreed to give me $2,000 if I raise $1,000 for the trip. I have a website set up for anyone interested in donating at www.gofundme.com/gabby-skidmore. I have been wrestling since I was 4 years old, I am currently 17. I wrestle on the boys high school team in Cumberland, Wi., and wrestled for the Spooner team for 8 years. I have been with the Wisconsin women's freestyle team for 2 years.
"I am ranked 5th in the nation at 112lbs for girls freestyle wrestling. My goal for the past few years has been to compete out of the United States and I am hoping that this will kick-start that achievement! I am a 6x Wisconsin girls state champion, twice while at Cumberland, and 4 times for Spooner, and have been blessed with the opportunities of training with some of the best girls in the country, Two of my training partners placed 2nd at the world level, I aspire to be on the world team with them! I have also trained at the United States Olympic Training Center and have gone to camps with clinicians such as Helen Maroulis (first US Olympic gold medalist in women's freestyle), Haley Augello ( 2016 women's freestyle Olympian), John and Ben Peterson (both gold and silver medalist in the 1972 and 76 Olympics), and have trained alongside the women's freestyle world team and the men's Greco Roman world team members."
Last Update: Mar 21, 2018 7:38 am CDT
