Father-daughter bond leads to wrestling career for Solon’s Kara VeDepo

VAN HORNE — Kara VeDepo’s first wrestling opponent was someone who has been there since day one.

The Solon senior got started in wrestling at a young age with her father, Joe, who wrestled for Iowa City Regina.

“We always had the matches on TV,” VeDepo said. “He would teach me little things in the living room. I wrestled with him there. I went to Solon’s youth club when it first started. I really enjoyed it.

“From there, the love grew.”

Solon head coach Jacob Munson remembers VeDepo’s early start in wrestling like it was yesterday. He also remembers the support she had from her dad in her youth wrestling days.

“When I first started working with Kara was nearly six years ago when we started a girls’ club,” Munson said. “She actually came in with a broken leg and wanted to wrestle, so she came in with her dad. She and her dad would roll around and try and learn some of the moves.”

VeDepo has wrestled ever since the early days of Solon’s youth girls’ wrestling program. Now, in her final season for the Spartans, she has found herself in a territory she thrives in.

Consider her a powerhouse lightweight for Solon’s lineup — a duty she doesn’t take lightly.

“Setting the tone early makes everyone excited,” VeDepo said. “It gives the team energy.”

Munson also believes VeDepo’s spot in the lineup is exactly where she needs to be.

“Anytime we can start with Kara, and she can set a tone for our program, is good for us,” Munson said. “She is calm, cool, collected and gives 100 percent in every match. She keeps composure from going out for warm-ups to getting her hand raised.”

Last week, VeDepo got her hand raised twice during Solon’s triangular with West Delaware and Benton Community. She won by a 9-0 major decision over the Hawks’ Addison Schulte and got a 1-minute fall over the Bobcats’ Maria Davis.

“I think I performed pretty well,” VeDepo said. “My gas tank has definitely improved. I knew if I stuck to what I knew, I’d be all right.”

Having wrestled for quite some time, VeDepo has been able to grow and improve as a wrestler. It wasn’t until after her second high school season when she started to turn the corner and compete at the high level she does now.

“It’s taken a lot to get to where I am,” VeDepo said. “My freshman and sophomore year, I didn’t think I was anything special. I just started working during the offseason and started seeing pretty good results. I’ve just been driving.”

VeDepo’s coach has been along for the ride since the first day she stepped on the mat.

And, he’s enjoyed every minute of it.

“I’ve coached Kara through junior high and now high school,” Munson said. “It’s been fun to watch her progression as a wrestler, and her successes have been well-deserved.”

Some of those successes include being a two-time state qualifier Solon and earning a fourth-place finish at 100 pounds at state last season.

Another success has been becoming part of the culture within Solon’s girls’ wrestling program, which VeDepo considers her favorite part of this journey.

“We are always there for each other after a tough loss or a good win,” VeDepo said. “It doesn’t matter. We are supportive and that’s just the type of culture that we have here.”

Aside from the highs and lows, one thing is certain for VeDepo. Her love for wrestling wouldn’t be what it is without her dad.

“It means a lot to me that he got me started,” VeDepo said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be involved in this. I look forward to it every day. It’s my escape.”