Lily Ahlvin looking to leave a legacy at Notre Dame wrestling

The sport of girls wrestling made great strides during 2023.

The Semoball Awards expanded the finalist list to 10 because there were at least 10 female wrestlers who made it to the state tournament, including one champion in Sikeston. The sport looked like it was growing among the big three, but the growth has stalled in certain places.

Notre Dame is one of those places.

Lily Ahlvin wrestled alongside Emma Steimle last year when the Bulldogs were a small squad with five boys and two girls. The boys team more than doubled in size this year but Ahlvin was left as the lone girl.

And unless there is an influx of freshmen next year, Ahlvin might be the end of an era.

“It’s hard to think about because you want the team to continue,” Ahlvin said. “You want there to be a girls wrestling team and it’s kind of sad to think that you’re the last one, but it’s kind of rewarding that you get to leave it and you get that legacy,” Ahlvin said.

Ahlvin was the lone girl senior on the team, but wasn’t alone during senior night on Jan. 8. Last year seniors Steimle and Ethan Jackson came back to support this year seniors and Ahlvin won her match against St. Pius X.

“I love my team and I love how close we are with each other even though it’s an independent sport,” Ahlvin said. “All of them treat me like I’m a part of the team. They don’t single me out. They don’t treat me any different. They treat me like any of them and I love that about it.”

Ahlvin is 4-2 entering the Sikeston tri-meet on Wednesday, Jan. 17, and leading up to the SEMO Conference Tournament on Friday-Saturday, Jan.19-20, hosted by Cape Central. Due to no school being able to put together full lineups for varsity duel meets, girls wrestling matches are placed in between boys junior varsity and varsity matches with the same effect as exhibitions. The opportunities have been limited for Ahlvin, but she is entering the biggest local tournament better than ever.

“I used to be very lethargic with all my moves,” Ahlvin said. “I’ve definitely gotten a lot faster and overall better wrestling.”

Ahlvin finished last season 15-7 but ended with an injury in the semifinal match of the Class 1 District 1 Tournament. She’s healthy now and is looking to finish her career at the state tournament.

“Last year I hurt my spine really bad and wasn’t able to compete in state,” Ahlvin said. “Making it to state is my goal this year.”