Freshman Eleanor Pfab gives first-year Cedar Rapids Xavier girls’ wrestling program a state qualifier

CEDAR RAPIDS — On Friday afternoon, Eleanor Pfab was smiling from ear to ear.

It wasn’t only because she had punched her ticket to this week’s IGHSAU state tournament. It also was because she had etched her name in history, becoming Cedar Rapids Xavier’s first state qualifier in girls’ wrestling.

The feeling doesn’t get much better than that.

“It feels really good,” Pfab said. “I’m proud of myself. Coming from the first meet of the season until now is a really big achievement that I’ve done.

“I started crying after, because I was so happy.”

Head coach Henry Reicks knows this is a special accomplishment for the first-year Xavier program and Pfab.

“It’s phenomenal that in our first year we are able to get a state qualifier,” Reicks said. “To get it from a freshman is just outstanding.”

Pfab qualified for state by finishing in fourth place in the Region 5 115-pound weight class, after falling to Silvia Garcia-Vasquez of West Liberty by a narrow 8-6 decision in the third-place match.

However, finishing in fourth place didn’t happen without a fight. She had to come back after a loss in the semifinals to Cailin Reiter of Pleasant Valley, who went on to win the Region 5 115-pound title.

“Just because you have to wrestle your way back, doesn’t mean you can’t get there (state),” Pfab said. “I wanted to make it happen.”

Reicks had just as big of a smile on his face Friday afternoon, as he enjoyed witnessing history being made by the Saints’ freshman.

As her coach, Reicks has had a front row seat to Pfab’s development as a wrestler, and he believes her success on the mat is a testament to her hard work and drive to get better in practice.

“She’s done everything we’ve asked her to do,” Reicks said. “She is such a coachable athlete. I could not be more happy or proud for her.

“I cannot say enough about how hard she works. She’s deserved this.”

Even though Pfab is the lone Saint who will be competing in the state tournament starting Thursday in Coralville, the season isn’t over for Xavier. The team will practice alongside her to get her prepared for her state tournament run.

Once a team, always a team — a concept that has been instilled in the Xavier girls’ wrestling program from day one.

“Everybody will come into the practice room, because we are a team,” Reicks said. “All of her teammates will be there helping us and pushing her. We have three more practices left, so we are going to take advantage of that.

“We will be there for Eleanor to get her where she needs to be to get ready for Thursday and Friday.”

In her state tournament debut, Pfab has set her sights high. With her team behind her, there are no limits for what the freshman can do.

She knows she can reach her goals with hard work, just as she’s done all season.

“I really want to finish third or higher, but fifth or higher is OK, too,” Pfab said. “I have to push it and work really hard to get to where I want to go.”