Two Willowbrook freshmen girls make Willowbrook Wrestling history

Left: Pictured are Willowbrook freshmen Gabi Caruso (left) and Samantha Williams, who made school history this past winter season by becoming the first female wrestlers to complete a season at Willowbrook. Right: Williams (left) and Caruso pose with the Willowbrook Wrestling plaque.

For years, members of the Willowbrook Wrestling Team have been setting records and winning state and national titles, continuing the legacy and tradition of excellence of the sport and Willowbrook athletics. But this past winter season, two new wrestlers accomplished a first for the team and are setting the stage for the future of high school wrestling.

Freshmen Gabi Caruso and Samantha Williams are the first female wrestlers to complete a season at Willowbrook – and they have every intention of returning to the mat next year.

“I can honestly say no wrestler I ever coached worked harder or showed more mental toughness and heart than both of these young ladies,” said Matt Cochran, Coach of the Willowbrook Wrestling Freshmen Team. “By the end of the year, both girls were leaders on the team.”

Cochran, who has been coaching wrestling since 2002 and is a 1998 Willowbrook graduate (where he was a member of the Willowbrook Wrestling Team), added it was an amazing experience to watch Caruso and Williams improve throughout the year as they made history at Willowbrook.

“They both took their lumps at the beginning of the season,” Cochran said. “They came in with very little wrestling experience and had to wrestling boys on top of being inexperienced. Both young ladies showed true grit and determination and maintained a focus on technique and conditioning. Because of their work ethic and tenacity, both ended the year on positive notes.”

Caruso and Williams have been wrestling since seventh grade and said they enjoy the technical aspects of the sport, as well as seeing the hard work pay off in practice and in competition. They said being on a team with all boys had its challenges, and they were grateful to have each other for support. The girls added they were treated just like everyone else in the group.

“As a female in this sport, you have to put in extra effort – no one is going to hand it to you just because you’re a girl,” Williams said. “Being a part of the Willowbrook Wrestling Team was a great experience – they welcomed us and pushed us, just like we were ‘one of the boys.’”

Williams added she plans to possibly pursue wrestling at the collegiate level, and she hopes she and Caruso are opening doors to increase the popularity of women’s wrestling.

“I want to show girls this is a sport you can do – it’s for anybody,” Williams said. “I hope it might encourage more colleges to start a women’s wrestling division.”

Highlights of Williams’ season included winning her last three matches via fall, with all three falls coming in the first period.

Caruso ended the year in the starting lineup for the freshmen team for her weight class. She won four of her last six matches (against boys) and pinned two boys, including a fall in a defining match in the dual-meet team victory against Downers Grove South. She also earned the freshmen team Most Improved award.

“I want to show people you can do anything, as long as you put in the effort and want to do it,” Caruso said.

Along with wrestling, Caruso also is involved in Willowbrook Theatre and is a member of the Girls Softball Team. Williams is a member of the Girls Cross-Country and the Girls Track & Field teams.

Brandon Murphy, Head Coach of the Willowbrook Wrestling Team and Willowbrook alumnus (class of 2001), said he couldn’t be more proud of the girls for their achievements.

“They are pioneers in our program and throughout the state,” Murphy said. “They are true trailblazers and broke down barriers and stereotypes – it’s very inspiring.”

Cochran agreed.

“I see girls wrestling as having a bright future in Illinois and throughout the country,” Cochran said. “The best part about coaching these two young ladies is they are role models for my six children, five of whom are daughters. Samantha and Gabi are amazing people, amazing students, amazing teammates and are tougher than nails. They are now part of the Willowbrook Wrestling Family forever.”