I had a chance to speak with Hernando HS wrestler Emma Bauknight. Emma placed 7th in the state in 2023 and was a District Champion. She also won numerous big tournaments including the prestigious Knockout Tournament. I asked Emma numerous questions and here’s what the future state champion hopeful had to tell TFWR.
TFWR: Emma, at what age did you start wrestling?
Bauknight: At age 10 I started training jiu jitsu and competing in tournaments and I was doing very well. One of the local high school coaches was also a member of the gym I trained at and he was the one who kind of gave me the idea about wrestling. At 14 I started high school at Springstead HS and i joined their wrestling team. Under Coach Gump I learned a lot and i fell in love with the sport. In my very first year I placed 5th and was able to get a shot at a national champion.
TFWR: How did the jiu jitsu differ from the wrestling?
Bauknight: While the two have some things in common such as referees, mats and the use of a point system, jiu jitsu is still very different from wrestling in many ways. First, and most important is the goal in jiu jitsu, which is submission. In wrestling it’s to pin. Then the rules are different as well. There’s differences in the point system and the legal takedows are different too. In jiu jitsu I often competed from my back while in wrestling thats the last place you want to be! Of the two I would say wrestling is much harder with many more serious competitors, so the opportunity to improve and grow in the sport is endless.
TFWR: What is the ultimate goal for Emma Bauknight in wrestling?
Bauknight: I am in love with the sport of wrestling and I want to take it as far as I possibly can. I definitely want to wrestle in college and go even further if I can. This past summer I competed at the world team try outs in Spokane, Washington and won two matches and almost had a third win. Next year I will be trying again to earn a spot on the world team and I am working very hard to make that a reality.
TFWR: How has wrestling prepared you for life off the mat?
Bauknight: Wrestling has taught me so many lessons. It taught me how to take a loss which was a big one for me. The discipline to not just train at my school but also off the mat in both the gym and with my club team, Phoenix Women’s Wrestling Club. It taught me to face my biggest opponants head on. It showed me how to push myself through hard times and how to get through any situation that may arise.
TFWR: So, you started at Springstead HS and recently transferred to Hernando HS. What would you say are the biggest differences between the two?
Bauknight: Springstead is where I learned to wrestle. I will always be grateful to Springstead HS, the coaches and what they all did for me. Hernando HS has a huge club and we have girls at almost every weight class who are experienced and push themselves hard. Hernando also has a team of great coaches and a dedicated female coach. They are all committed to getting their athletes into every major, important tournament with full team support. The head coach also happens to be one of the coaches for Team Florida so as an example, he was with me at Spokane for the world team trials and also at Fargo and then also brought a team to AAU Nationals. So as you can see it doesnt end after the high school season state tournament with Hernando HS, we go all year long and we compete in the international style of Freestyle too. It was just a better fit for me, personally. Again, Springstead was great and I learned a lot, but for me the move was necessary in order to accomplish all of my goals.
TFWR: What are your plans for wrestling after you graduate from Hernando HS?
Bauknight: I am starting now to look at a few different universities and I plan to attend a good college out of state. Of course I will choose a great university with a great women’s wrestling team.
TFWR: Who would you say influenced you the most in wrestling and how did they influence you?
Bauknight: Coach Gump taught me how to wrestle. My coaches at Phoenix Women’s Wrestling Club, Coach Mike Joyce and Coach Daisy Santos have definitely brought me to the next level and both of them are absolutely amazing. Coach Pritz is always there to support meat national level tournaments qand he gave me a spot on the best high school team in Florida. Being a great wrestler himself, Coach Pritz has been able to teach me so many great things that I had no idea how to do prior to coming to Hernando HS. There have been other local coaches along the way who have taken the time to work with me and teach me even more. I am blessed to have these amazing coaches.
TFWR: What does it mean to you to be a top ranked female wrestler in the TFWR State Rankings?
Bauknight: The elite girls in Florida are extremely tough and to be one of the top ranked girls is an honor. The amount of work to stay at the top and be one of the girls everyone is gunning for is NOT easy. It requires dedication and skill and a lot of hard work. I think most girls either won’t or just can’t do it. I believe I have earned my top ranking with hard work and the dedication to do what most others won’t.
TFWR: If you could wrestle one match over again, which match would it be and why?
Bauknight: Well, I went 2-1 at Fargo over the summer. I lost my 5th round consi match after holding my opponant in a pin position for about 10 seconds. She was awarded the match on criteria as we were tied at the end of regulation time. It was a very tough way to go out at Fargo.
TFWR: Who was the toughest girl you ever wrestled and what made her so tough?
Bauknight: I wrestled at 110 pounds all year in 10th grade and I was undefeated all the way up until the FHSAA Regional Championships. Cameron Galvin was a Senior and she was ranked #12 nationally. I had bumped up to 115 pounds, so she was older, bigger and stronger not to mention she was more experienced than I was. Her technique was amazing and she ended up pinning me to hand me my very first loss of the 2022-2023 season.