After four minutes and 21 seconds of wrestling, the buzzer rings. It’s junior Claire Guydon’s game, and she’s won with a score of 16-1. She’s won on a technical fall — a so-called mercy rule when one opponent is up by 15 points — a rule that’s helped Guydon win all of her other State matches.
Guydon is now the state champion.
“Winning state felt surreal. It was really exciting, though,” Guydon said.
Guydon had a total of 31 pins throughout the season with the fastest being 24 seconds. Overall, her record this year is 49-2 with a post-season record of 12-0. Her success is unmatched in the state.
“I attribute my success to lots of mat time over the summer and spending extra time practicing,” Guydon said.
Much of her success Guydon also attributes to her coaches, family and friends.
“Claire has a great support system,” head coach William Durning said, “her family does everything to help her be successful.”
Guydon’s success doesn’t come from nowhere, it’s the result of linear improvement.
Although Guydon said her freshman wrestling season was “not successful” with a record of 31-21, she still was district champion. She was also district champion her sophomore year, but that year, she also placed third at regionals.
“She has grown so much in the last year,” head coach William Durning said. “She has great physical abilities, but more importantly she puts herself in the positions in matches that allow her to open up her offense and score points. It was a dominant performance.”
Not only is Guydon now a State Champion, but she is also an All-American. Becoming a High School All-American wrestler requires year-round training, competing in elite national tournaments, and placing top 8 in major, reputable tournaments. Additionally, an All-American must have a 3.5+ GPA.
“She does more than what is expected, and she reviews her wins and losses on how to improve,” coach Anthony Lyczkoswki said. “Over the past three years, her confidence has grown. She has the confidence to go out there and put it on the line and it shows. Like the ‘you have to beat me’ kind of attitude.”
Guydon also puts in the needed work that a good sportsman.
“Claire puts the time in,” Durning said. “She goes to club practice and hits the weightroom hard. Rest, hydration, and nutrition are important parts of excelling as a wrestler. Claire is confident in her training. We never have to worry if she is ready to perform. She does all the right things all the time.”
To her coaches and supporters, this State win is just the beginning of an illustrious career in her future.
“Claire winning State was a great accomplishment,” Durning said, “and I think this is a stepping stone for her to be one of the elite student-athletes in the Nation. She is only a junior, and she is already a problem for everyone she steps on the mat with, and it is only going to get worse for them as she gets better. Claire has an unbelievable will to win.”
