Highland’s Rottmann takes 3rd place in inaugural girls individual state tournament

It was a weekend and a season that will surely stick with Highland wrestler August Rottmann the rest of her career at HHS and long after that.

Rottmann, a freshman who came out as the only girl on the Bulldogs roster this winter, made history Saturday, Feb. 26, when she defeated Maria Ferrer of Elgin Larkin to win third place in the 170-pound class of the inaugural IHSA individual girls state tournament at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Although Rottamann expected to do well at state, placing in the top four in her weight class is an achievement that still hasn’t hit her.

“No it hasn’t (quite set in yet) but I’m expecting on Monday (Feb. 28) it will,” Rottmann said.

Going to state and medaling as a freshman has definitely been a wild, challenging, and fulfilling experience for Rottman.

“As a freshman, it feels very rewarding and kind of crazy that I had this opportunity and I wasn’t expecting to be able to do this,” she said.

Rottmann began her run to the final four of the 170-pound division Friday, Feb. 25, with a victory by decision over Kelli Watkins of Lockport in the first round. She then beat Alexandra Strezlecki of Huntley in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinal round.

Then on Saturday, Feb. 26, the road got a lot tougher as Rottmann battled Rockton Honegah standout Rose Cassioppi, who was a bit heavier and stronger than Rottman.

The Highland standout held her own for a while but Cassioppi eventually wore her down and beat Rottmann by fall to move on to the 170-pound championship match.

“I was prepared for her to be really tough,” Rottmann said. “She ended up winning the whole thing and she had a good shoot (move) and that’s what you need to be a good wrestler.”

Cassioppi went on to win the 170-pound championship over Ileen Catrejon of Zion-Benton.

After dropping the semifinal match, Rottmann rebounded with a solid showing in the consolation semifinals beating Trinity White of Oak Park River Forest with a 3-2 win in the consolation semifinals.

That led her into the third-place match and Rottmann made sure she handled business there, winning by fall over Ferrer at 2:48 to take home the third-place medal.

“I knew that she (Ferrer) got worn out (fast) usually, so I focused on the first-round just doing what I needed to do. I have good cardio (conditioning) and knew that she would get worn out, so toward the end of the first period I could throw her around easy and be able to throw her back and get her pinned,” Rottmann said.

Conditioning key to success

Highland coach Shorty Ohren credited Rottmann’s strong cardio conditioning in practice with allowing her to be able to wear down opponents at state.

“There’s a lot of teams that can go those six minutes so we do a lot of cardio in practice and we’ll wrestle and then they will take off running. Then as soon as they get back they’re back into wrestling again and there’s no break,” Ohren said. “It’s all packed into it.”

Finishing with a 22-15 season, Rottmann’s performance at the state meet was the successful start of what she hopes will be an annual trip for her in the wrestling postseason. In turn, she has already raised the bar for herself for next year.

“I expected I was going to place, but I didn’t expect to place that well. I’m proud of myself for being able to do it,” Rottmann said. “Next year I’m looking to place higher. Possibly be a champion.”

The future appears bright

Ohren expects Rottmann to be even better in 2023.

“I’m hoping to get her in better wrestling form to compete better with her,” Ohren said.

Rottmann also hopes her success will bring more girls out to wrestle at Highland next season.

“I help coach with the junior club (Jr. Bulldogs wrestling) because that’s where I came from and I’m bringing some more girls in from there and trying to get them to bring some more of their friends in,” Rottmann said. “So whenever I go out and help coach them, they just get excited for me and they see how I’m doing and they just want to get up there and I want to help them with that as well.”