VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Hi-Liner/Farmers Union Wrestler of the Week for the week ending December 21, 2024 is Hailey Ford. Hailey Ford is an 8th grader at VCHS and wrestles 130lbs for Hi-Liner Girl’s Wrestling. She wrestled her best tournament of the season at the VC Holiday Tournament, going 5-1. Her only loss, came in the second round, and that was to Annalesia Bishop of Williams County. Hailey would crank out 3 wins in a row after that, advancing her to the 3rd and 4th place match. In the match for 3rd and 4th place, Hailey would again face her 2nd round foe, Annalesia Bishop. This time though, Hailey turned the tables-but it would take a while. At the completion of the match, the match was tied 1-1. After the first overtime, the match was still 1-1. After the second overtime, the match was tied 2-2. This meant going to a third and final overtime period called “Ultimate” overtime. Due to scoring first in the regulation match, Hailey was given the choice (top or bottom) in ultimate overtime. Hailey chose the bottom position. She had 30 seconds to get away. Get away, she wins, doesn’t get away, she loses. Just 11 seconds into the period, Hailey got an escape, and thus cementing the victory and 3rd place! The total match time was 8 minutes, 11 seconds.
Coaches note: One of Hailey’s strong points is her ability “just go out and wrestle”. She doesn’t over-analyze, and she believes in herself. She doesn’t get too high after wins, and doesn’t get to low after losses and she remains positive through almost situation the sport of wrestling can throw at her.
Interesting Fact: In the Grand Forks Sertoma tournament, Hailey faced Alexis Schneider of Napoleon, ND. Alexis has NEVER lost in ND in past 4 years. She is ranked #10 in the U.S. She is 18-0 with 16 pins this year. There are 2 girls that Alexis did not pin. Hailey is one of those girls!
Hailey answered her “Wrestler of the Week Questionnaire” as follows:
Parents: Shaun and Stephanie Ford
Brothers/sisters: Olivia, Joseph, Curtis, and Sandra Ford
Pets:Scooter (cat), Jinx (cat), and Moose (dog)
School activities/sports you’re in: just wrestling this year
Hobbies: going to the lake with family and friends well when it’s summer
Favorite class in school: science
Favorite teacher of all time (Kindergarten through now): Mr Star
What do you want to be when you “grow up”?: I have zero clue
Favorite supper food: butter noodles with salt
Favorite school lunch: popcorn chicken with rice
Favorite junk food: ice cream
What time do you go to bed on weekends? Around 10
What time do you usually get up on weekends? (when there are no tournaments): 11
The team went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse in Grand Forks after the Sertoma Tourney. What did you order?: boneless wings
Counting this year as “1”, how many years have you been in wrestling? This is my 5th year
Favorite wrestling move: arm bar
Favorite wrestling position?(top, bottom, neutral): bottom
Most memorable wrestling moment so far: just being with the team and all the trips
Hardest part about the sport of wrestling: keeping your mind in a good mind set
What would you say to a girl that is thinking about joining VCHS Girl Wrestling?: it’s definitely worth it you will love all the other girls and have lots of fun with us.
Wrestler Of the Week is sponsored by Farmers Union Insurance – Tyler Van Bruggen.
Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Thomsen