McKendree’s Cam Guerin continues her wrestling dream

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cam Guerin had an epiphany as a youth wrestler.

Female wrestling had been well established at the time in her home state of Washington and her vision started to come into focus.

“I had an epiphany of how far I wanted to go in the sport,” said Guerin, a senior for McKendree (Ill.) University from Yakima, Wash. “I wanted to do my best at the high school, college and Olympic and world levels. I think there was a point when I was about 13 when I turned the switch and knew that is what I wanted to do.”

Guerin’s career continues to skyrocket, becoming a four-time finalist at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Alliant Energy PowerHouse. She defeated Aurora (Ill.) University’s Alexis Janiak, 12-0, in the semifinal, which was a rematch of last year’s national final.

Guerin gave the mat a slap after closing the technical superiority victory.

“I was just so ready to get out there and wrestle,” Guerin said. “I’ve never felt this good in my career.

“I love wrestling so much. I was pumped to keep advancing. I know, in my heart, how much I’ve put into this sport and I deserve nothing less.”

Guerin has carved her notable niche in the sport. She was a four-time state champion in Washington. Guerin won a Junior National title in 2020 and is a two-time Pan-Am champion, competing on two Junior World Teams.

Six-time world champion and two-time Olympian Adeline Gray and two-time Junior World champion and U.S. World Team member Victoria Anthony were early influences. Guerin always had in mind of blazing her own wrestling trail.

“I saw them when I was younger,” Guerin said. “I started getting older and started training with them, so that was amazing. I never looked to follow in their footsteps because I know I’m going to be creating my own.”

Guerin has her sights on her future accomplishments but maintains an appreciation for the past. Washington sanctioned girls’ wrestling well before her freshman year at A.C. Davis High School in 2014.

“I’ve been really blessed,” Guerin said. “I won four state titles in Washington. It’s amazing (but) it’s still crazy to see how many states aren’t sanctioned yet. It makes me really grateful my state has been sanctioned for a long time.”

Regardless of whether she joins former teammate Emily Shilson as a four-time NCWWC champion, wrestling will remain a major part of her life. She has already qualified for and plans to compete in April’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials, placing fourth at the event in 2020. Guerin plans to return for her final eligibility with the Bearcats next season and then wrestle internationally full-time.

“I’m going to keep wrestling until I make an Olympic or World team,” Guerin said. “I’m going to go until I can’t anymore.”

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