West Delaware’s Anna O’Rear shining on and off the wrestling mat

CENTER POINT — A few years ago, West Delaware’s Anna O’Rear was faced with a unique decision — how to spend her free time during the winter and spring months.

With a plethora of activities to choose from, one extracurricular stood out among the rest — wrestling.

O’Rear chose to step out on the mat after watching her older sister, Abigail, suit up in orange and black shortly after the sport was sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

“I wasn’t going to go out, because I had other opportunities,” O’Rear said. “Those fell through, and I just decided to try wrestling.”

Nearly three years into the sport, Anna, a junior, has positioned herself as one of the leaders for the Hawks.

In Thursday night’s triangular with Alburnett and Center Point-Urbana, O’Rear went 2-0, winning both matches with first-period falls.

During the Hawks’ dual against the Stormin’ Pointers, O’Rear started the dual with a fall and all of her teammates followed suit, as West Delaware won by fall in all contested matches.

West Delaware went 1-1 on the night, defeating Center Point-Urbana, 54-0, and falling to Alburnett, 44-36.

As a leader, it is important to O’Rear to set the tone for the dual and give her teammates something they can follow.

“Getting the dual win and a pin kind of hypes the team up,” O’Rear said. “It just gives our team a good feeling on the night.”

While O’Rear may be a quiet leader, West Delaware Coach Dale Meyer knows many Hawks aspire to be like her.

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“You can count on that no matter who she is wrestling, you are going to get her best every single time,” Meyer said. “She’s super athletic and competitive, and I think that rubs off on her teammates.”

Not only does O’Rear lead the current generation of Hawks, but she’s also putting in time on the mat with West Delaware’s youth girls’ wrestling program.

For O’Rear, it’s a duty she doesn’t take lightly.

“It’s really important for the future of the West Delaware girls’ wrestling program,” O’Rear said. “It also helps me to better understand wrestling. Seeing the little girls grow is great and when they get into high school, hopefully I’ll get to see them become great wrestlers.”

With Meyer also leading the youth girls’ wrestling program, he’s noticed the significant impact O’Rear and teammate Alivia White, among others, have made on the young Hawks.

“We are trying to build this program from the ground up,” Meyer said. “The little girls look up to them. (Anna’s) not a big talker, but she works with those little girls and shows moves with me. They are playing such a big part in growing this thing at West Delaware.

“We are very fortunate to have them as positive role models for these little girls.”

Inspiring the future generation is sort of a full circle moment for O’Rear. Her mom, Jewel, is one of the assistant coaches for West Delaware, giving her the chance to help with wrestling and provide encouragement.

It’s an experience O’Rear is grateful to have — her mom being in her corner.

“It’s really nice being able to go to her,” O’Rear said. “She understands me, so it’s nice to be doing this with her. We have watched wrestling, but she’s also learning with me. I think she enjoys it and is glad she can be there with me.”

While O’Rear is an inspiration to her teammates and young girls, she knows wrestling also is greater than the wins and losses.

It comes down to something she’s seen improve from last year to this year. It’s also something she believes will take her far this season.

“I’ve felt like I’ve had more confidence in myself this year,” O’Rear said. “I think that’s led me to win more matches than I would have last year.

“It’s all about believing in myself and being confident in what I can do. I’m going to keep improving, and we’ll see what happens at State this year.”