“[Wrestling] is a sport where you can’t hide,” Senior Callie Carr said. “You have to face challenges head-on, and that’s something that [has] really shaped who I am.”
Hinsdale South’s wrestling star, Callie Carr, just wrapped up her high school career, taking 3rd at the State Championships, and is looking forward to starting her NCAA wrestling career.
Women’s Wrestling was first introduced to the Olympics in 2004. Since then, it has turned into the fastest growing female sport. In 2025, the NCAA added Women’s Wrestling as the 91st championship sport, and the first championship recently took place in March of this year.
From a young age, Carr was always watching her brothers wrestle. When she started, it quickly became a sport she loved.
Carr has competed for the Girls Wrestling team at South for the past four years. Some of the biggest milestones in her career include being a IHSA State Champion and reaching her 100th win. In addition, Carr deeply values the impact she’s had on HSHS wrestling.
“One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been helping grow girls wrestling at Hinsdale South,” Carr said.
Carr’s success has not come easily as during the wrestling season; the girls have a demanding schedule and practice multiple hours a day after school. Outside of school, Carr trains at a wrestling club and mostly trains with boys, which she says has “[pushed her] to [her] limits every day and has made [her] stronger, both physically and mentally”.
In addition, she was able to compete above the usual high school level through being a member of the national dual team. This spring, she plans to take on a new role as a coach to younger wrestlers.
A major challenge for many high school athletes is balancing sports, school work, and other extracurriculars. Even with a rigorous training schedule, Carr has maintained involvement in activities other than wrestling, such as photography.
“Balancing everything hasn’t always been easy, but it’s taught me a lot about discipline and time management,” Carr said. “In a way, wrestling and school have pushed me to become more focused and driven in everything I do.”
Even though she had numerous coaches reaching out, Carr didn’t have plans to wrestle in college, but as the State Tournament approached, she recognized that she wasn’t ready for her wrestling career to end just yet.
“I realized how much the sport meant to me and that I wasn’t ready to let it go,” Carr said.
Already knowing the Elmhurst coach, who believed in her abilities and had a strong connection with her, Carr felt confident committing to Elmhurst College.
In college, Carr doesn’t plan to stop her winning streak–she hopes to eventually become a national champion. She also hopes to end the stigma about Division III schools.
“Since it’s all one division, I want to show that Division III athletes can compete right alongside Division I athletes,” Carr said. “We put in the same work, face the same challenges, and deserve to be seen and respected just as much.”
She emphasized that “[going] where your heart feels right” is more important than going to the biggest school.
When asked about advice she would give to aspiring college athletes, she said, “At the end of the day, if you get the opportunity to play your sport in college, that’s something not everyone gets to experience.”
