Perry's Carolyn Gecker is already an All-American, will wrestle in 16U national semifinal

FARGO, N.D. – Perry’s Carolyn Geckler is already a known commodity as a two-time junior high wrestling state champion.

After this summer of destruction, it’s safe to say the incoming freshman isn’t going to sneak up on anyone.

What started with a national title in March at the U15 championships in Washington pushed on to a Pan-Am gold medal in June .

Fast forward to the 16U Freestyle National championships in Fargo, N.D., on Saturday and Geckler is just making her shadow bigger.

“Let them target me,” Geckler said. “If you keep on training hard then nothing else matters. You have to keep going.”

Competing at 118 pounds, Geckler opened with an easy 10-0 win over Kansas’ Marina Loera and then pinned regional placer Reagan Mathers of Arizona and tech falled Folkstyle national champ Aubree Gutierrez of California 13-0.

That brought sixth-seeded Ava Strayer of Indiana in the quarterfinals, where the third-seeded Geckler won 7-3 with some great counter wrestling to become an All-American.

“I think this is where it all comes together,” Geckler said. “I’ve been training since I was in first grade. Before then, I was some little kid that was pretty good. Now, I’m actually winning big stuff.”

She’ll have a wrestler with an upset on her mind in the semifinals when 31st-seeded Haley Gonzales of New York matches up with her Sunday morning.

“This is building my confidence so much,” Geckler said. “Before this I was terrified. I think I’m going to do well. It’s just another match now.”

Who is still alive from the Greater Akron/Canton area?

Fifth-seeded Bella Ndinga Mbappe of Walsh Jesuit is still alive and needs just one win to become an All-American.

The sophomore opened with three wins, including a 7-5 victory over two-time regional runner-up Steve Joyce Martin of California. Unfortunately, Wisconsin state champ Emjay Neumann of Wisconsin dropped Mbappe (118) to the bottom half of the bracket in the quarterfinals.

Which Ohio wrestlers reached the semifinals?

16U Freestyle: Libertie Nigh, Urbana, 94; Carolyn Geckler, 118, Perry; Deionna Borders, Berea-Midpark, 235

Junior Freestyle: Makennah Craft, Jackson, 100; Chloe Dearwester, Cincinnati Harrison, 110; Alexandria Alli, Wyoming Seminary, Pa./Ashley, 170

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Perry's Carolyn Gecker is already an All-American, will wrestle in 16U national semifinal