Gabby Weyhrich had quite a rookie head coaching campaign. Not only did her team win the inaugural NAIA Freestyle Wrestling Championships, Weyhrich became the first woman to coach a team to a national wrestling championship. 

That’s on top of her four seasons at McKendree as an assistant where the Bearcats won the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships from 2020-22. 

Now, it’s back to work for year two in Ashland. Southern Oregon lost several key starters due to graduation, but Weyhrich is excited for the challenge. 

Here are five takeaways from Andy Hamilton's interview with Weyhrich at the NWCA convention. 

Building Blocks

How do you avoid complacency after a big accomplishment? For Weyhrich, it’s about getting to work right away. She’s keenly aware that a new group of girls means new opportunities and new challenges. The team needs to make adjustments within a constantly changing sport.

“We did a lot of things really well (last year) but there are things we need to improve,” Weyhrich said. “We’re getting a new group of girls — I think 25 new girls. That’s going to completely change the culture of our team if we let it. We have to keep the same standards and expectations. The sport is going to adapt — and if we don’t adapt with it we’re going to get left behind.”

Forever The First

Weyhrich became the first woman to lead a wrestling team to a sanctioned college wrestling championship when Southern Oregon won the 2023 NAIA Championships earlier this year. The Raiders scored 160 points with three champions and seven All-Americans. 

“It meant a lot,” Weyhrich said of her historic accomplishment. “With all that was being said, I had to humble myself a little bit. I have been put in great positions to do really great things. Being at McKendree I was an assistant under a great head coach (Sam Schmitz). I got to learn a lot. Going to Southern Oregon, I already had a great foundation. There were just pieces missing. I went into that knowing I only needed to change a few things. 

“I don’t want to stop at being the first girl to win a national championship. How do I continue to do this and how do I continue to change lives?”

Family First

There were moments during the interview when Weyhrich was distracted by her staff’s animated conversation. She says that’s a defining quality of her team's family culture. 

In fact, Weyhrich and her staff were so enthralled in an important discussion that they missed the coaches' social during the convention. 

“We walk into a room, people know who we are,” Weyhrich said. “They know our girls love each other and they’re going to be loud and they’re going to stick behind each other. That’s what I’m most proud of and what I want to continue.”

Bed Of Roses

Southern Oregon rolled out the red carpet when the women’s team returned from Jamestown, North Dakota, following the team’s historic title. People were waiting with signs and all the girls received roses from the men’s team. The administration hosted a social and paraded the team through campus. 

“We got to share with everyone in the community and the school,” Weyrich said. “It felt really special for our girls.”

All You Need Is Love

Love was a common theme throughout the interview and it was the word Weyhrich continued to use when asked about what makes the program unique. 

“With any wrestling program you have to be honest about what the expectation is and what the standard is and what happens if you don’t meet that,” Weyhrich said. “I’m strict on the standards and expectations but I also show love through that. 

“We show it and we’re examples of it. We truly love each other and love what we do.”