Sallisaw Takedown Club member, Stilwell soon-to-be senior wrestler, hoping 3rd time’s the charm at Fargo
Adrianna Chronister, a member of the Sallisaw Takedown Club and soon-tobe senior Stilwell Lady Indians wrestler, qualified for her third consecutive USA Nationals Junior/Age 16-and-Younger Tournament, which will begin Saturday in Fargo, N.D.
“I’m really excited,” said Chronister, who will be wrestling at 140 pounds in the freestyle portion of the event. “I think I’m ready to go out there and be able to give it my all, and push myself past my limits — and, hopefully, place. That’s my goal this year.”
Chronister indeed is hoping the third time’s the charm for her in Fargo.
“My first year I went up there, I did OK — I didn’t do great,” she said. “Last year, I really did well. I was proud of myself. I was one (win) away from placing as an All-American, but I didn’t make it that far. This year, my goal is to place. My first goal is to be a national champion, but to place would be awesome. Just going up there honestly is an opportunity. Just being able to do better more and more each time is something amazing to me.”
Unfortunately, Stilwell doesn’t offer the same summer opportunities as the Sallisaw Takedown Club does, so Chronister has been coming during the summer to workout with the local wrestling organization.
“We really don’t have anything like this for Stilwell,” she said. “I heard about this (Sallisaw Takedown Club) from (Sallisaw Black Diamonds’ Class 4A 106-pound state champion) Cason Craft’s mother (Kara Craft). I started coming down here. I really like (Sallisaw boys wrestling) Coach (Mark) Smith. He’s an awesome coach. He really does well with us (Sallisaw Takedown Club members). I just started coming back every year.”
With this upcoming 2024-25 high school wrestling season being the final one for Chronister, she does have aspirations of wrestling at the next level.
“I’ve thought about it (wrestling in college) quite a bit,” Chronister said. I’ve had some colleges reach out to me. I would love to wrestle in college.”
The big event in Fargo will have its share of college coaches and scouts, so Chronister is hoping something will break favorably for her in that regard while she is competing in the USA Nationals Junior/Age 16-and-Younger Tournament.
“That would be awesome,” she said. “I would love the opportunity to be able to go and do things like that and see what it’s like to wrestle in college — and if I would enjoy it, which I’m sure I would.”
Chronister, wrestling at 135 pounds for the Lady Indians as a junior last season, was the Class 5A state runnerup at this past state tournament in February at Oklahoma City’s Jim Norick State Fair Arena. She opened with a pinfall win over McLoud’s Laine Walker in the state quarterfinals, then pinned Carleona Hockert of Billings in the state semifinals. However, Chronister was defeated 6-1 by Caddo’s Gage Vaughn in the state final.
Editor’s Note: Look for a story previewing the Sallisaw Black Diamonds wrestling trio of Cole Mayfield, Bodie Adams and Cason Craft heading to Fargo in Friday’s edition.
