Malovich opts for Grand Valley State
BUTLER TWP — When it comes to wrestling, Ana Malovich is shooting for the stars.
And who can blame her?
The Butler senior won 51 matches in the past three years while wrestling for the Golden Tornado boys team.
Now wrestling at 114 pound for the first-ever Butler girls wrestling squad and winning the prestigious Iron Man Invitational in Ohio, Malovich recently signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and wrestling career at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
Grand Valley State brought back its men’s wrestling program this year and will have its inaugural women’s team make its start in 2024.
“She’s going to a program that is very serious about winning early,” Butler girls wrestling coach Nathan Bottiger said. “Ana is one of the top high school girls wrestlers in the country and she’s only going to get better.
“Grand Valley is bringing in other nationally-ranked wrestlers along with her. They want to hit the ground running.”
Malovich, who has competed at national freestyle wrestling tournaments over recent summers, is prepared to do the same thing.
“I love what they’re building there and I really like the coach,” Malovich said. “I believe we can beat (national power) Iowa in our first year. I think we can be that good.”
Malovich also considered Lock Haven and Wartburg College in Iowa before deciding on Grand Valley.
“Ana knows how to embrace the grind,” Bottiger said. “She understands about the dedication, time and energy required in wrestling. She gives all of that and more.
“I have little doubt she’ll succeed at the next level. The competition she’s already faced at the state and national level is going to be a big help in that regard.”
Jake Short is Grand Valley State’s first women’s wrestling coach. He guided Augsburg (Minn.) to a fifth-place finish in the NWCA Women’s Nationals.
Besides envisioning ample team success with the Lakers, Malovich hopes to win a national championship on an individual basis and set herself up for the United States Olympic Trials in 2028.
“I feel like I’m going to the perfect school to accomplish those things,” she said. “I want to be the best.”
Before moving on to college, she wants to win a state title at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships this season.
“To be honest, I don’t think I would have wrestled with the boys team this year if a girls team wasn’t started,” Malovich said. “I would have probably concentrated on freestyle wrestling and prepared for college.
“It was tough wrestling against boys. They are physically stronger than me and my body got beaten up quite a bit.
“I’m thrilled we have a girls team now. Hopefully, we can have enough success this season that more girls will be attracted to wrestling in the next few years. It’s a great sport,” Malovich added.
