Benton Community’s Mo Brown has grown through wrestling

VAN HORNE — Benton Community senior Mo Brown’s athletic career started on the basketball court.

But, she was always interested in wrestling and even considered wrestling with the boys before the sport became sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

“I wanted to wrestle with the boys, but my mom wasn’t a big fan of that,” Brown said. “I was playing basketball and didn’t like it. As soon as it got sanctioned, I wanted to give it a try.”

Brown started her wrestling career at the 235-pound weight class but has since worked her way to 170.

“It’s been an interesting ride,” Brown said.

Her ride on the wrestling mat came to an end Thursday night in the Bobcats’ home gym, as Brown capped off her wrestling career on senior night.

It also marked the last time she will suit up for Benton Community. Brown will forego the rest of the season because of an ongoing health concern.

“It’s special,” Brown said. “It was nice to hear the crowd erupt when you won. It’s bittersweet, especially having started wrestling when it was first sanctioned. It was great to go out on a high note.”

The senior indeed went out on a high note. She went 2-0 in the Bobcats’ triangular with West Delaware and Solon.

In her match against West Delaware’s Gracie Heim, Brown was trailing 8-0 in the third period. She dug deep, got a reversal, and ended up winning by fall in 5:42. The Bobcats also won the dual against the Hawks, 52-28.

“I used everything in my mental toolbox,” Brown said. “I knew I had to do it for my team and get that win for them. When I saw I had the opportunity to get the pin, I made sure I took it.”

Brown also defeated Solon’s Adlie Miller by fall in 4:47, but the Spartans were victorious in that dual, 45-36.

Not only based on her senior night performance, but how she interacts with her teammates, Benton Community Coach Josh Hoeck truly believes she is one of the team’s strongest leaders.

His assessment comes down to her “cheerleader” mentality.

“She gets us riled up during practices and meets,” Hoeck said. “She gets people to fall in line with what they should be doing. She’s not afraid to tell the girls when there are things that can be done differently.”

The relationships Brown has cultivated through the sport of wrestling is something she has really enjoyed. When interacting with her teammates, she found a perfect blend between being a friend, while also being a leader.

“Making relationships with my teammates is really nice,” Brown said. “I love that I can be myself around them, and they aren’t afraid to come up and talk to me.

“I have enjoyed being that strong person that people can look up to.”

It took some time to learn wrestling, but she has grown leaps and bounds since first joining the team.

Hoeck sees it not only through wrestling, but how Brown also has changed as a person.

“She’s definitely more confident as a wrestler, but more so as a person,” Hoeck said. “She’s changed her body for the better and isn’t afraid to show that leadership.”

As she reflected on her career with Benton Community girls’ wrestling, Brown is simply grateful for the sport.

It’s taught her that when the going gets tough, you have to toe the line and push through.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to wrestle,” Brown said. “It’s taught me so much about mental strength. It’s hard wrestling and pushing through when you are tired. It’s given me the strength to keep going through things, because when you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”