Fadenrecht makes Cashmere High School history

Even before she her first match at the Mat Classic XXXI, Maddie Fadenrecht had made Cashmere High School history.

Fadenrecht became the second female wrestler from Cashmere to qualify for the state tournament, the first being alumna Hunter Duke back in 2017. However, Fadenrecht was first Bulldog wrestler to compete in a girls’ tournament, going 1-2 in the Girls 120-pound division.

She, along with the other seven Bulldog wrestlers were scheduled to compete at regional tournaments on Feb. 9. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) canceled regional wrestling across the state because of weather. The WIAA expanded the Mat Classic’s 16-wrestler state bracket to a 32-wrestler format and all wrestlers who qualified for regionals advanced to the state tournament.

For Fadenrecht, who attended the Mat Classic as a spectator and team manager in the past, the experience of competing on the mats and under the lights, in front of thousands of wrestlers and fans, was memorable and “pretty cool.”

Fadenrecht opened the tournament with a loss to Sunnyside’s Riley Guerrero. She earned her first state tournament victory after her 11-9 decision over Decauter’s Zekiah Popp in the consolation bracket. She noted that wrestling Popp was difficult in that she was unable to prepare for the match like she did against Guerrero.

“Because of the way the tournament format worked, we knew who we were facing in the first round a week ahead of time,” Fadenrecht said. “The second girl (Popp), I had no idea who she was and I never saw her wrestle before, so it was cool to go and (win).”

Fadenrecht did not start wrestling until she reached high school. Her father, a wrestling coach, was initially against the idea of her wrestling against boys, but was fine with her competing against girls. She was initially going to be a manager for the team, like she had as an eight-grader, A combination of Duke joining the CHS mat squad, and the WIAA having an all-girls division turned Fadenrecht from a manager to a Bulldog wrestler.

Although Duke was in a higher weight class, she and Fadenrecht would practice together and the two traveled to girls tournaments across the state. Being around the sport as a manager and a coach’s daughter, Fadenrecht understood wrestling, but competing in girls’ tournaments exposed her to a atmosphere different than she had seen in other sports.

“There were over 100 different girls and they were all very friendly,” Fadenrecht said of her first experience at a girls’ tournament. “Boys are different, they’ll sometimes glare at each other before a match. With girls, you can have a full conversation and then you’ll go on the mat and wrestle. At the end, they’ll give you a hug and a ‘good luck with your season. It’s a completely different atmosphere than any other sport.”

Fadenrecht recalled one competitor, Quincy’s Cynthia Diaz, who she had met her freshman year. She noted how any time Diaz would see her and Duke at tournaments, she would walk over and give them a hug.

“She’s one of the friendliest girls you’ll ever meet, but you see her on the mat and she completely changes,” Fadenrecht added.

Fadenrecht also filled in the 120-pound spot in Cashmere lineup during league duals. While she mostly won her matches via forfeit, she picked up a couple of wins against male wrestlers from other teams. She noted that her father’s mindset has changed since she joined the CHS wrestling is OK with the notion that she is competing against girls and boys.

“He’s been very happy with how I’m doing,” she added.

Before the 2018-19 season, Fadenrecht had spent the offseason attending freestyle practices at the middle school, and wrestling camps in Okanogan and Tonasket. She said the Tonasket camp helped her a lot and exposed her to more wrestling camps. She also worked Lady Tiger wrestlers, including Cailee Denison, the daughter of the Tonasket wrestling head coach Cole Denison. Fadenrecht, along with teammate Debra Dodson, also attended a camp at Washington State University.

In addition to traveling to wrestling camps, Fadenrecht began working out in the mornings and implementing other ways to help her get jump start on her junior season.

“Wrestling is very rewarding,” Fadenrecht said. “They say on teams, ‘you’re only as good as your worst player.’ With wrestling, you are only as good as you are. Whatever you put in, that’s what you get.”

Fadenrecht’s favorite memory of her wrestling career - so far - happened on Feb. 2 when she placed fourth at the Region 4 Sub-Regional North tournament.

“I had placed at tournaments before,” Fadenrecht said. “At one tournament there were only three girls in my bracket, and the other there were only four and I got fourth. Placing at (sub-regionals), I had to win two matches to get there and they were not easy matches. I had to work hard for those. I was really proud for doing that.”

Fadenrecht said she plans to return to the CHS mats for her senior year. Her preparation for the 2019-2020 season began the day after the Mat Classic as she was among the over 1,700 athletes who competed in the WSWA Folkstyle State tournament at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 17, finishing seventh in the 122-pound division. 

As part of her training, she plans to compete in greco-roman and freestyle wrestling tournaments, as well as implement more weight lifting into her schedule.

Like all student athletes, Fadenrecht balances her sports with her school work and FFA commitments and takes her hardest classes in the fall in order to lighten her load for the spring.

Fadenrecht already has her goals set for her senior season. She not only plans to return to the Mat Classic, but wants to place in the top eight of her division.

“It’s been a goal of mine since I was a freshman,” Fadenrecht added. “At first, I made it past sub-regionals, then I made it to state. Now I want to place and possibly win it all if I can.”

Cashmere wrestling Head Coach Ken Hoyt has complimented Fadenrecht's work ethic and dedication to improving her wrestling skills. Hoyt explained that Fadenrecht is not a “typical kid” and when she throws herself into something, she puts in all of her effort. He noted that she is still learning how to be an athlete and has a lot of work to do in terms of improving her technique and ability, yet her attitude is “100 percent” positive.

“She has to get stronger … and develop that athletic prowess that a lot of kids (at state-level competition) have, but being who she is, I think she’ll get there,” Hoyt said.