“It’s just six minutes.”
She closes her eyes just for a second, letting the anxiety wash over and move past her. Taking a deep breath, she tilts her head up to glance at her opponent.
“It’s just six minutes.”
The wrestlers’ knees are slightly bent, bodies poised with determination as their eyes lock onto each other. Their hands tense up in front of them, ready to grab, control, or evade. After a quick glance, the referee blows their whistle, signaling the start of the match.
“It’s just six minutes.”
EHS junior Olivya Kroope made history last week as the first EHS student to compete in girls wrestling at the state level. From March 6-8, Kroope competed in Hershey, Pennsylvania, at the 2025 PIAA Wrestling State Championship. Kroope’s successes over the past few years earned her one of the coveted spots in the 155-lb weight class of the state tournament, marking a tremendous milestone for her and EHS.
Her journey to this point wasn’t always straightforward, as she had to carve her own path. Kroope never imagined she’d be able to compete on a girls team, let alone make it to states.
“Originally I was thinking about joining the boys [wrestling] team, but realistically, I wouldn’t have gone very far,” Kroope said. “There’s a chance that I could have, but I’m in such a particular weight class it’d be difficult.”
Ultimately, Kroope worked with her father, Steven Kroope, and freshman Peyton Schneck to start EHS’ first girls wrestling program.
“I think just starting the team was a really big achievement last year,” Kroope said. “It was kind of just like getting started, finding my grounding and getting situated. And then this year is really about starting to set that standard for my team because I want to have a strong legacy.”
Her efforts to establish such a legacy have not gone unnoticed by the school. The school recognized Kroope’s achievement with messages on its electronic board outside the building and loudspeaker announcements from Principal Beth Guarriello. Additionally, Kroope has received scores of comments and congratulations from countless members of the school community, from administrators to aspiring wrestlers.
“All of a sudden, everybody seems to be giving me all sorts of notoriety, and it’s a really weird feeling,” Kroope said. “Because when you’re younger, I feel a lot of people find themselves getting notoriety for not having the best behavior, but when you do something right, and you get notoriety, it’s a really weird feeling.”
Kroope’s journey to her success in competitions has not been an easy one. As she describes it, wrestling can be a “toxic relationship” that can “break you or make you.” But for Kroope, the sport has become an addictive pursuit — one that has fueled her passion and pushed her to new heights.
“It’s really just learning to cope, learning to deal with the pain, pushing through the pain, because even if it takes years, you’re gonna start seeing success,” Kroope said.
The state tournament was one such success. Although the championship only offers “rankings” up to eighth place, Kroope scored enough points to score 10th place had the competition ranked them up to there. During the state tournament, she recorded a major decision victory — meaning she won by a margin of 8-14 points and showed clear dominance — over a wrestler who went on to place third in the tournament, a testament to her skill and adaptability on the mat.
To her teammates, Kroope is defined by more than just her wrestling prowess — she is also a guide and mentor.
“Olivya has just always been the best,” Kroope’s teammate senior Sarah Luisi said. “She’s just always been up there as a leader, and I couldn’t have expected anyone else to make it.”
And to her coaches, she is an inspiration to those around her.
“It has been a pleasure getting to work with [Olivya],” former girls wrestling head coach, and Kroope’s father, Steven Kroope said. “I mean, I got an opportunity to bond with my daughter and to benefit all the girls in the school district that come through the program.”
Current head coach Thad Smith agreed, and feels that she is an exemplar for all the girls on the team.
“She has natural wrestling ability and comes from a family with a strong wrestling background, which gives her a solid foundation,” Smith said. “She’s determined to succeed and puts in the effort to continually improve. She is also just as dedicated in the classroom and therefore she is a true scholar athlete.”
Kroope credits much of her strength and stamina to both her training (over 500 hours of it) and some words of wisdom her father gave her before a big match.
“I remember going out right before the EPCs [Eastern Pennsylvania Conference] for the finals match, and he just grabbed my shoulder and he was like, ‘It’s just six minutes. You’re fine, go out there,’” Kroope said. “And I tell myself now that pretty much right before any big match where I get nervous.”
Six minutes. That’s really all it ever is — on the clock, in her mind, before a match. But in reality, those six minutes define far more: they represent the hours of training, the setbacks she’s overcome, and the drive that pushes her forward. Whether she wins or loses, six minutes is all she gets — but in those 360 seconds, everything she’s worked for is put to the test.
