Former Sallisaw wrestler ready for sophomore season at Simpson College

INDIANOLA, Iowa — Former Sallisaw Lady Diamonds wrestler Emma Wissman will begin her sophomore season wrestling for Simpson College, located in Indianola, Iowa, on Saturday when she and her Storm teammates host the Luther Hill Invitational on Saturday in Indianola.

“I wouldn’t say I’m anxious,” Wissman said. “I’m just more eager and excited to get it going, and see what the season has to offer me. I’m really looking forward to (the new season).”

Wissman said she learned a lot during her freshman season.

“I learned how to be more intense,” she said. “I definitely learned on my technical skills that will help me going into this season.”

Wissman did say her transition from being a high school wrestler for the Lady Diamonds to becoming a collegiate wrestler for Simpson College was not an easy one.

“I would say it was pretty difficult,” Wissman said. “There were a lot of learning curves from going folkstyle to freestyle, but the coaches here are really good at handling that transition, and making that transition better.” After wrestling at 110 as a freshman for Simpson, Wissman will drop down to 103 for her sophomore season. She thinks it will all work out for her at a lower weight. “I’m not really concerned about the drop down,” she said. “I’m been managing my weight pretty well. I’m just like three pounds over for Saturday. It was a pretty good and easy cut (to drop to 103 pounds). I did it really healthy, so I’m excited to see how strong I feel from going to 110 to 103.”

She’s hoping she will be ranked very high at 103 after her performance on Saturday.

“I’m fourth in our region at 110 (pounds), but I’m going down to 103,” Wissman said. ”So, I’m excited to see what they’ll rank me at 103 after this weekend.”

As a team, the Storm has been preseason ranked No. 2 in the nation behind the University of Iowa.

“We have some really good incoming freshmen,” Wissman said. “Hopefully, we’ll get up there (to the national tournament) this year.”

Wissman has high hopes she and the Storm can indeed make it to the national tournament.

“We have the University of Iowa in our region, so that’s going to be pretty tough,” the former Lady Diamond wrestler said. “We’re one of the toughest teams in our region, so I’m excited to give it a shot and qualify for nationals this year.”

Last year, Wissman was sixth at the regional meet at 110 pounds and missed the cut to qualify for the national tournament.

“I got sixth place (at the regional tournament in 2024),” she said. “Fourth place (and up) goes. We had a really hard region last year. We had some of the top wrestling teams — like Iowa and McKendree (in Lebanon, Ill.). This year, they re-did the regions, so it will be a little bit easier — other than Iowa.”