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Native American Heritage feature: Harlow Skenandore has big goals and dreams in wrestling

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Photo 1: Harlow at last year’s Indigenous Fashion show modeling one of her cousin’s traditional ribbon skirts.; Photo 2 Harlow with her award from the 2024 U15 World Team (Photo by courtesy of Clyde and Alex Skenandore.)

At age 15, Harlow Skenandore of Seymour, Wisconsin, loves wrestling and has set high goals for herself in the sport. This love has developed over time since she started at six-years-old when she faced her share of difficulties. Her parents Clyde and Alex remember those early days of her career.

“From the start of this, she's always been the only girl. I always would have to remind Clyde. It takes a lot for her to walk in the wrestling room to be the only girl. She really didn't have any girl training partners until the age of 10. She started at six-years-old. For me, it’s the courage she had to stick with it. She faced a lot of haters, I guess you could say. People kept asking her, ‘why do you do it?’ And she just says because she loves it. And I just think it's made her the person that she is, strong minded and courageous. She also has a lot of supporters. We have to remind her she's got more supporters than the haters,” said Alex.

Harlow remembers it a little bit differently.

“Well, in the beginning, I don't know why I stuck with it. I cried every day at practice when I was little. I actually did have a good time. I just wouldn't show it to my parents. I think deep down, I thought it was fun,” she said.

Everybody agrees that Harlow is all-in for wrestling now. A sophomore at Pulaski High School, Harlow is nationally ranked and climbing. Wrestling has become a way of life for her.

“It's just funny how the tables have turned. When she started, Clyde would have to go out on the mat with her, kneel there, watch and sit right with her. Finally, when she switched to Askren Wrestling Academy, Coach Josh Wagner said, 'Clyde, no parents on the mat. Harlow's got to do this herself.' From that point on, she was able to just go out there. Now we can't get her to not go to practice. If she's sick, if she's injured, she still goes. She never misses. Very dedicated,” said Alex.

Harlow is Native American, a member of the Oneida Nation, and her family lives on the reservation just outside of Green Bay. She attends Pulaski High School, a nearby public high school, chosen because it is close to where the family lives. Although the Oneida Nation was initially located in upstate New York, a large number of Oneida citizens relocated to Wisconsin, where they were offered land in the early 1800’s by the U.S. government. Both sides of Harlow’s family have lived in Wisconsin for a number of generations.

Harlow has played other sports in the past, including taekwondo, jiu jitsu and boxing, and other activities like ballet. Harlow learned about wrestling from her father, who was exposed to the sport by his father who also wrestled. While sports like basketball and lacrosse are more common among the Oneida kids in Wisconsin, Harlow found a home in the wrestling community.  

In 2001, Dan Skenandore of Oneida Nation High School won a Wisconsin state high school wrestling title at heavyweight. He became the first athlete from his high school to win a state title in any sport. Dan Skenandore was featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd after his historic achievement.

Although Harlow is not related to Dan Skenandore, the family is very much aware of Dan’s achievement as a fellow member of the Oneida Nation. In 2024, Harlow Skenandore became a Wisconsin state girls wrestling champion, winning the title at 145 pounds as a freshman and finishing with a 28-1 record. Harlow won in spite of an injury which could have sidelined her. Harlow and her parents, after speaking with local doctors, decided to take the risk and let her wrestle at the States.

“Going into the States, I tore some ligaments in my hands and the doctors weren't really big on me doing the state tournament. I don't know. I just did it anyway. It was fun and it was a good experience and something I'll never forget,” said Harlow.

Harlow knows a few other wrestlers who are also Oneida, as well as others who are Native American from a different nation. She was not aware that her achievement by winning a state title was something which many others were following closely.

“At the Askren club, there are a couple little Native American boys. Harlow got embarrassed a couple weeks ago when one of the little boys asked her if she was Harlow. She said yes, and he told her that he watched her all through the state tournament and she's the reason he started wrestling. We thought that was very cool. So, she got a picture with him,” said Alex.

Harlow is not comfortable being in the spotlight, according to her parents. However, the response from others who are Oneida was meaningful to Harlow, and part of the pride she has in her heritage.

“I take a lot of pride in it because, whenever I accomplish something like that, so many people came up to my mom and dad and said they were watching me on TV. It's just really cool that everyone took time out of their day to watch me,” said Harlow.

Her parents Clyde and Alex, as well as other family members, have made it a point to expose Harlow to the customs and traditions of the Oneida people. She has been taught a variety of things about her heritage at school. A few years ago, Harlow joined a group of Oneida youth, and they went snowshoeing and also made Dream Catchers. She was a Jingle Girl when was four years old, and her parents took her with the family to a number of Pow Wows.

“Her grandfather always makes our traditional corn soup with the white corn. That's like one of Harlow's favorite things. She'll eat several bowls when he makes it. It's a whole day's process. She always looks forward when he makes that,” said Alex.

At this time, Harlow is focused on becoming the best wrestler she can be. Others point to her tremendous work ethic and passion for the sport as reasons for her improvement and growth on the mat. With the support of her parents and her club coaches, Harlow has travelled to many places across the nation, seeking to wrestle against the best competition available.  

“It's really fun. I like competing against the best girls in the country and know what I have to work on to keep getting better. I'm really big into it. I'm really competitive,” said Harlow.

Harlow is both a fan of wrestling and student of the game. She has a number of role models in the sport which she follows closely.

“On the men's side, it’s Kyle Snyder, David Taylor, Jordan Burroughs, and I also really like watching Seth Gross. Then on the women's side, I like watching Amit Elor, Helen Maroulis, Kennedy Blades and Ronna Gross. They're all really fun to watch. I like to learn stuff from watching them, and I always watch them when they compete,” she said.

Competitiveness is a family trait in the Skenandore household. As her mom says, “It's right down to who can tie their shoes the fastest in our house. Everything's a competition.”

Her competitive nature extends to success in the classroom, as well.

“I definitely get good grades in school. I try my best in school, just like anything else. I try to be the best at everything,” she said.

Harlow uses her decade of wrestling experience to help her teammates and serve as a quiet leader for others.

“I help the girls on my Pulaski High School team, just because a lot of them haven't been wrestling long, just starting their freshman year. I get to teach them and show them different things during practice. I feel like I help other people out that way. At my club practices, I just practice hard. I feel like if I do that, they'll practice hard and compete the whole practice. I think we both get better that way,” said Harlow.

All of this adds up to a highly-motivated young wrestler who is not afraid to dream big.

“I really want to make it to the Olympics. That's definitely my big goal, and I would obviously like to make a World Team. I always look forward. I am focused on the World Team Trials because that's one step closer and that's basically what I train all year for. That's always on my mind,” she said.

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This feature is part of USA Wrestling’s ongoing content series to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Stay tuned to USA Wrestling’s website and social media platforms for continued coverage of Native American Heritage Month as we spotlight the contributions to wrestling made by this unique community of individuals.

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