Grant junior Ayane Jasinski knew that finding matches against the best competition could help her win a state title this season.
So after winning a wrestle-off for a starting spot on the Bulldogs’ boys team, Jasinski lined up against her male counterparts numerous times.
“I got beat up a lot,” she joked.
But Jasinski, the 2022-23 News-Sun Girls Wrestler of the Year, got the last laugh. Wrestling in the 110-pound weight class, she advanced to the girls state meet for the second straight season and became the eighth state champion in the history of Grant’s program.
“Wrestling stronger and faster boys really helped because when I went back to wrestling girls, it was a breath of fresh air for me,” Jasinski said. “Those arm bars I was facing were a lot different wrestling girls than guys.”
Regardless of her competition, Jasinski had an advantage given her strategic thinking on the mat.
“She’s tactical and methodical,” Grant coach Mark Jolcover said. “If she does take a risk, it’s because she’s thinking a move or two ahead. She really sticks to her game plans.”
Jasinski (21-3) won four straight matches at the state meet at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington last month, including a 3-1 decision against Peoria Richwoods’ Kyley Blair in the quarterfinals to avenge a regular-season loss.
“I think that victory really gave Ayane confidence the rest of the way,” Jolcover said.
After edging Morris’ Ella McDonnell 3-2 in the semifinals, Jasinski battled Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino to a scoreless draw through three periods in the state championship match. Jasinski pulled out a 2-0 win in the final moments of overtime.
“After the buzzer sounded, it took the two refs a few seconds to say I got the takedown, so it was kind of tense,” Jasinski said. “But after they talked about it, they rightfully gave it to me.”
The state title has made the soft-spoken Jasinski the talk of the school and the Fox Lake community.
“Ayane has made everyone really proud,” Jolcover said. “She deserves it, though, because no one has worked harder to get to the top like she has.”
After finishing fourth at 110 at the 2022 state meet, Jasinski honed her skills and tried to get into top wrestling shape.
“Some coaches don’t always agree with our method, but we wrestle our kids into shape at our practices,” Jolcover said. “Why do pushups and other exercises when we can get in wrestling shape by actually wrestling? I think this kind of preparation helped someone like Ayane.”
Jasinski agrees that approach benefited her.
“I could feel my opponents getting weaker as my matches went on,” she said. “I think that’s why I was able to hold on and win in so many close matches.”
Her mental toughness was also on display at the state meet.
“It’s not easy staying positive and being strong mentally when you are being tested so physically,” Jolcover said. “Ayane seems to thrive in those situations.”
Jasinski wants to win another state title next season. But first she will try to qualify for USA Wrestling’s national freestyle tournament in Fargo, North Dakota.
“I’m going to continue to work out and go to tournaments with the Fox Lake Wrestling Club,” said Jasinski, whose father Charlie is one of the coaches of that program. “I still have a lot I want to accomplish in wrestling, so I’m not stopping now.”
Darren Day is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.