Credit to Ankita Pandurangi

At the state tournament over the weekend of February 23-25, our top girls wrestler became a state finalist in just her junior year of high school. The face of the Francis Howell North Wrestling team, Isabelle Apple, has done it yet again. From the beginning of her varsity wrestling career here at FHN, she has made a huge impact upon the program as a whole, not only with her stellar performances at every competition, her final placement at state is one that hasn’t occurred in over 20 years.

“She has really set the new standard for the girls wrestling program,” Coach Christopher Brown said. “It is a pretty high level getting to the finals as a third year wrestler.”

For all varsity athletes, making the trip to state is a huge accomplishment on its own, much less standing on the podium with a medal. Isabelle Apple’s breakthrough season is impacting not just her own career, but her teammates too, as well as the mentality of athletes all over the school. Francis Howell North is not known for being a athletic powerhouse, but Apple is showing how hard work and perseverance can set you apart from the crowd, and give you a higher success. While this applies to all of the sports at our school, it hits home the closest with other members of the FHN girls wrestling team, including another girls wrestler, sophomore Aubrey Peterson.

“I’m so proud of Izzy for being a finalist at state,” Peterson said. “Obviously it stings that no one else placed, but it allows us to reflect on the season and get some extra training in to hopefully be up on the podium next year.”