Faust to wrestle at Mo. college
JEFFERSON TWP — Wrestling and Brittany Faust are quite the couple.
The two will remain together for a while as the Knoch senior has decided to wrestle at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo.
The NAIA school is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference and hosted the Women's College Wrestling Association Nationals last season.
"A lot of the top collegiate women's wrestling programs are in that league," Faust said. "NAIA is where most of the best women's programs are. I was recruited by NAIA schools."
Faust, who plans to major in exercise science, becomes Knoch's first wrestler to continue with the sport in college.
"Brittany is the epitome of dedication and hard work," Knoch wrestling coach Mark McLaughlin said. "We've had other kids who might have gone on to wrestle in college, but they chose not to stay with the program.
"Brittany persevered through injuries or she would have had a better high school career, even wrestling against boys."
Faust was one of the first youngsters to join the Knoch elementary wrestling program when the sport was introduced in the school district.
She wound up winning 13 matches this year and had about 50 wins in her high school career, despite missing all of her sophomore year with injuries.
"I'm going to miss high school wrestling because wrestling against boys was how I grew up in the sport," Faust said. "It's definitely going to be a challenge facing women who have two or three years more experience than me."
Four Missouri Valley women wrestlers earned all-American status last year, finishing among the top six nationally, and assistant coach Rachel Billerbeck was a two-time all-American at the school.
"She's going to a well-established program and the (wrestling) room will be a challenge for Brittany," McLaughlin said. "That's what she needs."
Faust placed fifth in the women's freestyle nationals in Fargo, N.D., last year. She also placed second at the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Folkstyle Nationals in Michigan and second at the USA Folkstyle Nationals in Oklahoma City.
Last weekend, she won the 124-pound weight class at the Pennsylvania State Girls Freestyle Championships and will be the state's top representative at the nationals in Fargo in July.
Faust defeated Shadiya Howell of Laurel Highland, the folkstyle national champion, 1-0, 4-0 in the state freestyle finals.
Faust has suffered a few concussions during her career, but they haven't stopped her.
"I'm aware of the dangers that come with concussions," Faust said. "I'm more careful now than I used to be. I don't play football anymore and I don't ride a motorcycle as much.
"Wrestling against boys all this time hasn't been a factor there. Injuries come with this sport. Whether you're on the mat against a boy or a girl, wrestling's wrestling."
