The November / December. Herrin High Athletes of the Month have been decided — for the girls, Gracie Craft (11) of the girls basketball team, and for the boys, Gabe Eldridge (9) of the wrestling team.
Eldridge, only a freshman, has been chosen because of his strong early start on the wrestling team: he won both of his matches during the Centralia match.
It’s not surprising that Eldridge has performed so well. Wrestling runs in his family; he said: “It was a family thing; my family’s always done it. I started eight years ago, when I first got the flyer at school.”
As he continued his wrestling career, Eldridge encountered high points such as his performance in the Centralia match, which was only possible because of the training he took to prepare: “Over the summer, I went to every camp that I could go to.”
Even low points, such as a shoulder injury, were no matter to Eldridge. “I just tape it, pretty much,” he explained. “I just remember that if I keep working hard enough, I’ll be there with the big guys. If no one’s working as hard as me, there’s not going to be any nerves.”
Eldrigde only learned this lesson, however, because of his coach. He said: “Coach Casey has been around since I started wrestling. He’s always been able to keep me calm.”
Of course, Eldridge recognizes his teammates in: “I think teamwork is helpful because, if our team is good, we will be looked at by colleges. After matches, I try to give my teammates advice as best I can.”
While Eldridge is happy with his current victory, he has other aspirations. “I’m not really satisfied until I win the big thing: state champion by my sophomore year.” After high school, Eldridge has olympic aspirations. “There’s still people better than me,” he added. “So I can’t be all that.” But, as he concludes in advice for younger wrestlers, “Everything’s possible.”
Meanwhile, Craft got her title because she performed as the leading scorer in the Christopher game (19 points), the Carterville game (13 points) and the Anna-Jonesboro game (24 points). Additionally, Craft has scored 12 three-pointers so far during the current basketball season.
But basketball hasn’t always been her sport. “I didn’t make the eight-year-old travel team in softball, so I started basketball and it became a passion of mine,” Craft explained.
Craft chased this new passion with a rigorous regiment. “A typical day is a lot of stretching and band work. I have to get wrapped for my hip. To balance my schoolwork, I just do my homework during class.”
Craft’s regiment, though intense and guaranteeing success, did not come without challenges. “Before season one started, we had our first game and during practice, I hurt my hip and I strained a few muscles. So having that happen kind of put a bump in the road,” she said.
So, Craft had to let herself train and heal. Even the best athletes, when they’re down, need some support system. “My dad has always been there for me. He’s been to every game,” Craft said. “He knows when to humble me and when to hype me up. If I need any help, I know I can always just go to him.”
Coming from wanting to originally play softball, to being injured, Craft has grown as both a player and a person. “Basketball has really helped me grow with trust,” she explained. “It shows that not only bloodline is your family. Everyone you’re connected with, really, will be there for you and always have your back.”
Just as her father helped mentor her, Craft is ready to help young athletes grow in their own right. She advises them to: “Work on your mental health before trying to level up in the sport. Because, no matter how good you are and no matter how well you train, if you not there mentally and you’re not prepared for the game, it’s not going to matter.”
Craft’s work is not done here: she wants to score 350 points this season so she can get one step closer to joining the 1,000-point club.
If you want to find Craft after a game — you can trust she’ll be at Applebee’s for the half-off appetizers (pretzel sticks are a particular favorite).
In the end, both athletes appreciate the recognition they’ve received for their work.
“Professionally, I got a lot more stuff coming, but for right now it feels really good. I was really excited, but I had to play it off,” Eldridge said.
“It means a lot because all my hard work is being seen,” said Craft.
Moving past individual athletes, the Herrin wrestling team deserves a shoutout because of their performance at the Centralia match, scoring second, only missing first place by 3 points.
As these athletes continue with takedowns and three-pointers, Herrin High can only wait and watch how far these athletes will go.
Check out our broadcast segment on these two: https://youtu.be/NewMtL4qKC0
