#WomensWednesday: Ragan overcomes 2018 injury scare to win U.S. Open and return to Final X
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Alli Ragan battles Abby Nette in the 59 kg finals at the 2019 U.S. Open in Las Vegas. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
For those who follow international wrestling, it was probably not a surprise that two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan of the Sunkist Kids was able to win a U.S. Open gold medal at 59 kg last week in Las Vegas. That is what World medalists do.
However, winning the U.S. Open was a big deal, not only to Ragan but to the entire U.S. women’s wrestling program. It was not very long ago that Ragan faced the prospect that she may not be able to wrestle ever again, let alone at a level that would allow her to become a 2019 U.S. Open champion.
Consider what Ragan had to say, after walking off the raised mat at the South Point Arena immediately after securing a dominant 10-0 technical fall victory in the finals over 2018 U23 World Team member Abigail Nette.
“It feels good. It’s good to be back in the competition. I haven’t been in the Open since 2015, I think. Last year, a little bit ago, I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to wrestle again, so it’s good to be here and be back again,” she said.
Rewind back to last summer, after Alli Ragan won Final X to secure a spot on the 2018 U.S. Senior World Team. Her focus was entirely on going to Budapest in October, with the plan to turn those World silver medals into a 2019 World gold medal. However, her body did not cooperate with that plan.
Ragan was injured, and went through a complete medical protocol to determine what to do about it. When all the facts came in, in spite of a desire to compete, Ragan was forced to withdraw from the World Championships. She needed surgery and rehabilitation.
It was a very difficult time for her, especially when she had to watch the competition in Budapest that she had qualified to enter.
“It was really hard, but you have to take care of your body. If the doctors say you shouldn’t wrestle because you might be paralyzed, you probably shouldn’t wrestle. Definitely surgery helped me. Mentally and physically, I feel like I’m better than I’ve ever been, so that’s dangerous,” said Ragan.
Clearly, part of the reason that Alli Ragan was competing at a championship level in Las Vegas last week was due to her hard work, commitment, toughness and attitude. Another part included the efforts of the medical support that she received in her recovery. Another big part, in her mind, was the people around her at her Regional Training Center, the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in Iowa.
“It’s pretty easy in the Iowa room, I feel like. I was walking on the treadmill because that’s the only thing I could do for a little bit, and I’d just be watching practice and be like ‘I can’t wait.’ I learned so much wrestling being off the mat, just watching while you’re doing your own thing. It was really a good time actually,” she said.
Ragan was one of three Hawkeye Wrestling Club RTC members on the women’s side to win U.S. Open titles, along with Kayla Miracle (62 kg) and Forrest Molinari (65 kg). Add in the success of the rest of the Hawkeye WC, including their top-notch men’s freestyle athletes, and the Hawkeye WC was able to win the overall RTC Cup for the U.S. Open. Ragan thrives from the environment around her on a daily basis.
“Oh I love it. I love being a part of a team. I love that atmosphere that it is, the guys, all the girls. It’s great and our coaches, you can’t really beat them,” she said.
The U.S. Open was not Ragan’s first competition since returning from her injury. She was able to win her match at the Beat the Streets Los Angeles event in late March, where she defeated Sarita of India, 9-1. Ragan even nailed a beautiful back arch throw. She admits to being a bit nervous in that return to the mat.
“We did Beat the Streets a couple weekends ago, and I was like ‘Oh my God, this is so weird.’ It was definitely good to get that one out of the way before the Open,” she said.
With the U.S. Open in the rear view mirror now, Ragan can focus on getting ready for Final X: Lincoln on June 15, when she faces an opponent to be determined from the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh in May. She is in familiar territory, having gone through the Final X process last year.
Winning the Open and making Final X is part of the bigger picture which drives Ragan to reach the next level in her wrestling.
“That was very important. It’s just a step to become a World Champ, and that’s my goal this year. One step out of the way is done, so June 15th is the next step. I’m excited,” said Ragan.
For those who follow international wrestling, it was probably not a surprise that two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan of the Sunkist Kids was able to win a U.S. Open gold medal at 59 kg last week in Las Vegas. That is what World medalists do.
However, winning the U.S. Open was a big deal, not only to Ragan but to the entire U.S. women’s wrestling program. It was not very long ago that Ragan faced the prospect that she may not be able to wrestle ever again, let alone at a level that would allow her to become a 2019 U.S. Open champion.
Consider what Ragan had to say, after walking off the raised mat at the South Point Arena immediately after securing a dominant 10-0 technical fall victory in the finals over 2018 U23 World Team member Abigail Nette.
“It feels good. It’s good to be back in the competition. I haven’t been in the Open since 2015, I think. Last year, a little bit ago, I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to wrestle again, so it’s good to be here and be back again,” she said.
Rewind back to last summer, after Alli Ragan won Final X to secure a spot on the 2018 U.S. Senior World Team. Her focus was entirely on going to Budapest in October, with the plan to turn those World silver medals into a 2019 World gold medal. However, her body did not cooperate with that plan.
Ragan was injured, and went through a complete medical protocol to determine what to do about it. When all the facts came in, in spite of a desire to compete, Ragan was forced to withdraw from the World Championships. She needed surgery and rehabilitation.
It was a very difficult time for her, especially when she had to watch the competition in Budapest that she had qualified to enter.
“It was really hard, but you have to take care of your body. If the doctors say you shouldn’t wrestle because you might be paralyzed, you probably shouldn’t wrestle. Definitely surgery helped me. Mentally and physically, I feel like I’m better than I’ve ever been, so that’s dangerous,” said Ragan.
Clearly, part of the reason that Alli Ragan was competing at a championship level in Las Vegas last week was due to her hard work, commitment, toughness and attitude. Another part included the efforts of the medical support that she received in her recovery. Another big part, in her mind, was the people around her at her Regional Training Center, the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in Iowa.
“It’s pretty easy in the Iowa room, I feel like. I was walking on the treadmill because that’s the only thing I could do for a little bit, and I’d just be watching practice and be like ‘I can’t wait.’ I learned so much wrestling being off the mat, just watching while you’re doing your own thing. It was really a good time actually,” she said.
Ragan was one of three Hawkeye Wrestling Club RTC members on the women’s side to win U.S. Open titles, along with Kayla Miracle (62 kg) and Forrest Molinari (65 kg). Add in the success of the rest of the Hawkeye WC, including their top-notch men’s freestyle athletes, and the Hawkeye WC was able to win the overall RTC Cup for the U.S. Open. Ragan thrives from the environment around her on a daily basis.
“Oh I love it. I love being a part of a team. I love that atmosphere that it is, the guys, all the girls. It’s great and our coaches, you can’t really beat them,” she said.
The U.S. Open was not Ragan’s first competition since returning from her injury. She was able to win her match at the Beat the Streets Los Angeles event in late March, where she defeated Sarita of India, 9-1. Ragan even nailed a beautiful back arch throw. She admits to being a bit nervous in that return to the mat.
“We did Beat the Streets a couple weekends ago, and I was like ‘Oh my God, this is so weird.’ It was definitely good to get that one out of the way before the Open,” she said.
With the U.S. Open in the rear view mirror now, Ragan can focus on getting ready for Final X: Lincoln on June 15, when she faces an opponent to be determined from the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh in May. She is in familiar territory, having gone through the Final X process last year.
Winning the Open and making Final X is part of the bigger picture which drives Ragan to reach the next level in her wrestling.
“That was very important. It’s just a step to become a World Champ, and that’s my goal this year. One step out of the way is done, so June 15th is the next step. I’m excited,” said Ragan.
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