Bartlett’s Lilly White learned the hard way about letting the outcome define the experience.
Last season, White finished outside of the medal round at state. It was a stunning setback, but now as a senior, she’s reminding herself to appreciate the wonder and beauty in front of her.
“I think mindset is the most important part,” White said. “I’ve been trying to have fun with my team, stay relaxed and enjoy the moment. I wasn’t rushing anything or forcing anything unnecessary.
“I just stayed patient, worked my moves and wrestled smart. I just treated it like my own match and focused on what I do best.”
White was at her best again Saturday afternoon, securing a 4-0 decision over Glenbard North senior Keagan Edwards in the 130-pound championship match of the Schaumburg Sectional.
It was the second sectional title in three years for White, who advances to the state meet that begins Feb. 27 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. Norah Cwik, a senior, also qualified for the Hawks by finishing fourth at 110.
For White (36-3), it was a moment of truth.
“Lilly is a one-of-a-kind athlete,” Bartlett coach Brian Caputo. “Everything she does is about being the best possible wrestler, whether it’s her diet or preparation.
“It’s not just about winning with her but about being a good person.”
Sophomore 145-pounder Melanie Nava credited White for helping her qualify for the sectional.
“As a new wrestler, I learned a lot from Lilly,” she said. “She’s loving, smart, a very kind-hearted person who stands up for us. She doesn’t just say she’s going to work hard.
“She shows it every single practice. She pushes herself and pushes all of us to be better.”
After finishing fifth as a sophomore, White experienced the disappointment of not earning a medal at state as a junior.
“I took that to heart,” she said. “I spent the entire offseason training, working with my coaches on both my wrestling and my mindset. I’ve been fine-tuning everything.
“That’s helped me wrestle better and push harder toward what I want. I want to see myself on that podium. These next two weeks, we’ll keep sharpening everything.”
White improved her career record to 117-14. When she finished fifth as a sophomore, that surprisingly was her first year of wrestling competition.
She was already a savvy, seasoned veteran, however, with a background in jiujitsu. Like wrestling, jiujitsu emphasizes takedowns, control and submission holds instead of punches or kicks.
“I started when I was 9,” White said. “I just love grappling in general. I think it’s great for girls to have that outlet. Starting in jiujitsu helped me be comfortable in scrambles and physical situations.
“The biggest adjustment was learning not to go to my back. Once I figured that out, the transition helped me a lot. I grew up training mostly with boys, so that environment never felt intimidating.”
White has an effervescent, ebullient personality. By her own admission, she’s loud and personable but never disruptive or rude. Her favorite outdoor activities are ice fishing or hunting.
“I like making jokes and talking to people,” she said. “I enjoy presentations. I’ve always been competitive. I tried cheerleading first, but it wasn’t quite competitive enough for me.
“When I started jiujitsu and began competing against boys, I loved the challenge.”
White won her three sectional matches by a combined seven points.
“I love the toughest matches,” she said. “I like walking off the mat feeling like I’ve been in a battle.
“It means a lot when people say that was a good match. It shows how tough and strong you are — and that’s what I chase.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.