American Gold Sports Alliance

FEBRUARY 2021 ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

SAMANTHA SPIELBAUER

Wrestling and Basketball

Samantha Spielbauer plays varsity basketball, while also competing as a wrestler at Clayton Ridge High School in Guttenberg, Iowa. Even though this is her first year of wrestling, Spielbauer surprised everyone by winning her first-ever state wrestling championship during the third annual Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s girls state tournament. She had the fastest pin, in 1:16 to win at 160. Spielbauer will continue her season wrestling in the 2021 High School National Recruiting Showcase and Girls Folkstyle Nationals Tournament on March 27th and 28th. Oh, and did we mention that she plays basketball in the SAME SEASON as wrestling? And she also plays volleyball and soccer! We are honored to have her as our February Athlete of the Month. Congratulations!

10 Questions With Samantha

1. What is your favorite thing about wrestling?

I like that it’s physical. Moving around is fun. It is a different type of physical than in basketball. I am able to be more aggressive and not receive a foul.

2. Who do you look up to?

In wrestling, I first started looking up to my teammate Mikayla. The person I look up to the most though is the gymnast, Simone Biles. I used to be a gymnast and she made it to the Olympics. She has a lot of dedication.

3. What challenges have you faced as a two-sport athlete? How did you overcome them?

Being able to balance both of them, to have enough time for both of them, and being able to fit everything in. My parents and coaches were a big help in making sure I was able to balance the two sports and being able to practice when needed.

4. How did your teammates react to you playing for both the basketball and wrestling team?

My teammates on both the teams thought it was really cool that I was playing both sports. Nobody really had a problem with it.

5. What is your pre match/pregame routine?

In wrestling, I try not to think too hard before the match. I don’t want to worry myself about my competition. I usually try to focus on what I know, the things I know how to do, and going back to the basics. The biggest thing for me is not getting in my own head before a match.

6. What are you most looking forward to in your upcoming wrestling competition?

The girls that are going to be there. I have never seen or competed against them before so I am curious on how good they are compared to the girls I wrestled at state. I am also curious on how big the competition will be and how it is all going to go.

7. What advice do you have for any young athletes who are debating whether or not to try a new sport?

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so if you want to try it, then try it. If you don’t like it then you can always not do it next year. I didn’t like wrestling in the beginning, but I don’t quit sports. I kept with it and I ended up really liking it. I would also tell them to not question their own abilities.

8. What songs are on your pump up playlist?

A lot of country songs. Luke Combs is probably my favorite artist. My favorite song of his is “Big, Big, Plans.” I will listen to that song on repeat at school.

9. Do you have any secret talents?

I train and ride horses. Also, I can do backflips, even on a beam.

10. What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t playing sports?

I love to train and ride horses. I spend my free time doing anything I can with my horse.

Featured Articles About Samantha

NATIONAL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS RELEASED FOR APRIL, AS SPRING SEASON BEGINS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL EVENTS

•
AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, Women's Wrestling, Wrestling, Youth Sports

By USA Wrestling, National Wrestling Hall of Fame, FloWrestling USA Wrestling, FloWrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum has …

AGSA February Athlete of the Month Wins 2021 High School National Girls Folkstyle Nationals Tournament

•
AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, Women's Sports, Women's Wrestling, Wrestling, Youth Sports

This past February, Samantha Spielbauer was chosen to be the American Gold Sports Alliance’s Athlete of the Month.  Sam plays varsity basketball, …

Iowa high school wrestling: Meet the 2021 All-Iowa Girls’ Wrestling Team

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AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, Women's Sports, Women's Wrestling, Youth Sports

Cody GoodwinDes Moines Register The continued growth of girls’ wrestling in Iowa reached new heights this season. There were 683 girls that …

USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals – Final Results

•
AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, Women's Sports, Women's Wrestling, Wrestling, Youth Sports

USA WRESTLING GIRLS FOLKSTYLE NATIONALSAt Coralville, Iowa, March 28Cover photo by Cam Kramer 16U results

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so if you want to try it, then try it. If you don’t like it then you can always not do it next year. "

Samantha Spielbauer
@AGSASports
@AGSASports
@AGSAGold

FEBRUARY 2021 ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

SAMANTHA SPIELBAUER

Wrestling and Basketball

Samantha Spielbauer plays varsity basketball, while also competing as a wrestler at Clayton Ridge High School in Guttenberg, Iowa. Even though this is her first year of wrestling, Spielbauer surprised everyone by winning her first-ever state wrestling championship during the third annual Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s girls state tournament. She had the fastest pin, in 1:16 to win at 160. Spielbauer will continue her season wrestling in the 2021 High School National Recruiting Showcase and Girls Folkstyle Nationals Tournament on March 27th and 28th. Oh, and did we mention that she plays basketball in the SAME SEASON as wrestling? And she also plays volleyball and soccer! We are honored to have her as our February Athlete of the Month. Congratulations!

1. What is your favorite thing about wrestling?

I like that it’s physical. Moving around is fun. It is a different type of physical than in basketball. I am able to be more aggressive and not receive a foul.

2. Who do you look up to?

In wrestling, I first started looking up to my teammate Mikayla. The person I look up to the most though is the gymnast, Simone Biles. I used to be a gymnast and she made it to the Olympics. She has a lot of dedication.

3. Being a two sport athlete, what challenges have you faced? How did you overcome them?

Being able to balance both of them, to have enough time for both of them, and being able to fit everything in. My parents and coaches were a big help in making sure I was able to balance the two sports and being able to practice when needed.

4. How did your teammates react to you playing for both the basketball and wrestling team?

My teammates on both the teams thought it was really cool that I was playing both sports. Nobody really had a problem with it.

5. What is your pre match/pregame routine?

In wrestling, I try not to think too hard before the match. I don’t want to worry myself about my competition. I usually try to focus on what I know, the things I know how to do, and going back to the basics. The biggest thing for me is not getting in my own head before a match.

6. What are you most looking forward to in your upcoming wrestling competition?

The girls that are going to be there. I have never seen or competed against them before so I am curious on how good they are compared to the girls I wrestled at state. I am also curious on how big the competition will be and how it is all going to go.

7. What advice do you have for any young athletes who are debating whether or not to try a new sport?

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so if you want to try it, then try it. If you don’t like it then you can always not do it next year. I didn’t like wrestling in the beginning, but I don’t quit sports. I kept with it and I ended up really liking it. Also, I would say to not question your own abilities. 

8. What is your favorite meal?

I love to eat anything, as long as it’s edible. If I had to choose one it would be stuffed peppers. It’s like the inside of a taco, inside of a pepper.

9. What songs are on your pump up playlist?

A lot of country songs. Luke Combs is probably my favorite artist. My favorite song of his is “Big, Big, Plans.” I will listen to that song on repeat at school.

10. Do you have a secret talent?

I train and ride horses. Also, I can do backflips, even on a beam.

10 Questions With Samantha Spielbauer

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. If you don't like it, you can try something else next year"

Samantha Spielbauer

Featured Articles About Samantha

NATIONAL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS RELEASED FOR APRIL, AS SPRING SEASON BEGINS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL EVENTS

•
AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, Women's Wrestling, Wrestling, Youth Sports

By USA Wrestling, National Wrestling Hall of Fame, FloWrestling USA …

AGSA February Athlete of the Month Wins 2021 High School National Girls Folkstyle Nationals Tournament

•
AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, Women's Sports, Women's Wrestling, Wrestling, Youth Sports

This past February, Samantha Spielbauer was chosen to be the …

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@AGSASports
@AGSAGold

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