Friday, January 17, 2025
By Jed Buelow
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports, Nature Editor
Hatchet alum Alyssa Lampe changed the sport back in 2006 when she became the first female wrestler to ever compete in the WIAA Division 2 State Championship. Over the weekend, she once again changed history becoming the first female competitor to be inducted into the prestigious George Martin Wrestling Hall of Fame at a special ceremony in Green Bay.
A 2006 graduate from Tomahawk, Lampe accrued an impressive list of achievements during her high school days earning 12 letters in three sports – including nine state appearances while being named the 2004 Lumberjack Conference Runner of the Year.
Perhaps none of those achievements were as important as the trail she paved in boys’ wrestling, as she went on to compete at state three times and finished runner-up in Division 2 her senior year. The achievement forever changed the sport of wrestling across the state and country, opening the sport up to female athletes to the point where today the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation holds a female State Tournament held each and every year.
“She changed the entire face of high school wrestling in the state,” said former Hatchet head coach Bob Skubal, who was also inducted into the George Martin Wrestling Hall of Fame himself back in 2007 after an impressive coaching career that also saw him enshrined in the 2015 National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015 (Wisconsin Chapter).
Skubal said to this day he still calls her “My Hero” as she did amazing things in high school wrestling that were unheard of at the time.
“Alyssa (Lampe) was an example of what females could do if given the opportunity,” coach Skubal said in his nomination letter noting that during her career she was 133-21 for a .811 winning percentage competing against boys. In addition to all-conference honors, Lampe was the first female to win regional and sectional titles in the state of Wisconsin.
“She was a pioneer for girls across the state and nation. Alyssa made history when she became the first female to qualify for boys state her sophomore year and continued all the way to the state finals her senior year. She had the eyes of the nation on her,” Skubal added.
Another thing that likely gets lost in all the accolades is just how impressive and competitive an athlete Lampe was and continues to be to this day. Her high school career was followed by a long run competing at the national and international level in women’s freestyle wrestling representing the United States.
Lampe won gold at the 2009 Venezuela Pan American Championships and bronze in 2015 in Toronto. Some of other major accomplishments included at bronze at the World Championships in Budapest in 2013 after finishing with a bronze in Strathcona the year prior.
Lampe said it was news to her when informed she was the first female competitor to be inducted into the George Martin Wrestling Hall of Fame, which dates back to 1977, and exits for the sole purpose of recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport of wrestling in Wisconsin and beyond.
“Regardless of gender, it is a great honor,” Lampe said of being inducted into an elite group that this year also includes Terry Kramer, Dan Spilde and Carter Turner as the Class of 2019.
She added while it is great to see more girls competing and having success at the high school level in boys’ wrestling, it wasn’t as unheard of as she reached higher in the ranks noting girls from Washington and Alaska had also reached the pinnacle of wrestling by making it to state in their respective states.
And what is even more exciting is that Lampe isn’t done. After hanging it up back in 2015, she was convinced by a former coach to give it another shot and at the age of 31 is now in the process of trying to make the 2020 United States Olympic Team.
“I thought when I retired I had given it everything I had,” Lampe said in noting the coach was convinced she still had a shot at being the champion if she trained with him. “A piece of me wanted to give it a shot. I’m in my prime right now and I feel great.”
Before competing for a shot to represent the USA in Japan in 2020, Lampe has some work to get done before qualifiers are held in April. On Nov. 15 she travels to New York where she will compete in a tournament where she has had plenty of success in the past.
She first won the New York AC International in 2008 and defended the title the following year. She took second in 2010 before retaking the top spot in 2012 to once again be crowned champion.
“Thinking back on all the amazing stuff I’ve got to experience, I would have to say it is even better than I could have imagined,” Lampe said as she gets ready to write the next chapter in her life’s story.
A chapter that starts with induction into the George Martin Wrestling Hall of Fame and hopefully includes a trip to Japan for the 2020 Olympics where she could again make history.
Alyssa lampe: US and International wrestling career
USA Age Group (2004-2006)
2004 - Third at Junior Nationals
Body Bar Cadet National Champion
Third at Body Bar FILA Junior Nationals
Second at Junior Nationals
2005 - Third a Junior Nationals
Body Bar FILA Cadet Champion
Third at FILA Junior Body Bar
2006 - Second at Junior Nationals
2007 - Third in Junior World Championships in Beijing
Fifth in US World Team Trials
Fifth in US Nationals
FILA Junior Body Bar Champion
2008 - New York AC International Champion
Second in US World Team Trials
Seventh in US Nationals
Fourth in Dave Schultz Memorial International
Third in Junior World Championships in Turkey
2009 - New York AC International Champion
Third in Sunkist Kids International Open
Second in US World Team Trials
Third in US Nationals
Pan American Championships gold medalist in Venezuala
Fifth in Dave Schultz Memorial International
2010 - Third in Open Cup in Russia
Second in New York AC International
Third in Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix
Third in Canada Cup
US World Team Trials Champion
US Open Champion
Second in Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International
Third in Dave Schultz Memorial International
Third in Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia
World Team member representing country in Moscow
2011 - Fourth in Sunkist Kids International Open
Second in US World Team Trials
Guelph Open Champion in Canada
2012 - New York AC International Champion
Hargobind International Champion
Third in World Championships
US Women’s World Team Wrestle-Off Champion
Canada Cup Champion
Second in US Olympic Team Trials
Dave Schultz Memorial International Champion
Fourth in US Open
2013 - Third in World Championships
Poland Open Champion
US World Team Trials Champion
US Open Champion
Ukrainian Memorial International Champion
Third in Dave Schultz Memorial International
2014 - Second in Open Cup in Russia
Bill Farrell International Champion
Fifth in World Championships
Third in Grand Prix of Spain
US World Team Trial Champion
US Open Champion
Third in Klippan Lady Open
Second in Dave Schultz Memorial International
2015 - US World Team Trials Champion
Second in US Open
Third in Cerro Pelado International in Cuba
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