vLEONARD continued from page 9 can be surprising at times, with people approaching Leonard’s parents at matches and expressing awe over her participation. Other times, however, the reaction isn’t as supportive. “People have no problem walking up to you and voicing their opinion of what they think of a female wrestling against boys,” Kim said. “You sometimes hear people on the side yelling (to the other wrestler), ‘She’s just a girl, you got this.’ And old men have said to her ‘You’re still pretty’ after a loss. It’s really frustrating sometimes.” She said she reminds Leonard that she stands out due to her being a girl in a male dominated sport and that people will be quicker to judge her. “If she cries on the mat, they’ll say it’s because she’s a girl and can’t handle it, even though boys have cried too,” Kim said. “It’s an emotional sport; everybody cries. You’re putting everything out there and it’s very personal.” Leonard dedicates much of her time and energy into practicing for wrestling matches, from getting up early on average three mornings a week to work out before school and practicing after school on weekdays. She has recently begun having practice sessions at the Yankton High School (YHS) and can already see a difference. “Training at the high school is a lot more intense than at the middle school,” she noted. For the last two years, she has trained under the guidance of YHS wrestler Carlos Ruffo, his father and brothers, Giovanni and Royce. The family has recently moved away and Leonard has begun working with a new trainer, though she won’t forget the lessons the Ruffo’s taught her. “They’ve given me a lot of pointers and taught me a lot of techniques that I had never done before,” she said. Getting a taste of what wrestling will be liked at the high school level hasn’t dissuaded Leonard from continuing it. If anything, it’s fueled her determination to keep going in the hopes of receiving a college scholarship through her participation in the sport. She had previously considered taking up boxing to become a UFC fighter, but has since decided to stick with wrestling. “I would rather get very advanced with what I already know how to do and go from there,” she said. Kim credited Leonard with her ability to juggle training with her school life. “Wrestling takes a lot of self-discipline, which she has,” she said. “We don’t have to really monitor or push her. She knows what she has to do and does it.” Leonard noted that there are talks of taking wrestling out of the Olympics, which she thinks is a bad idea. “People put a lot of time and energy into becoming the best wrestler they can be,” she said. “Most of the more advanced wrestlers put a lot of extra time into what they do. They have to make a lot of sacrifices.” Those sacrifices are worth it when she is able to prove any naysayers wrong by coming out of a match on top. “Those victories at the end of the matches are rewarding enough for me,” she said. “I feel accomplished.” n The Flu Can Still Get You. Vaccinate Today! It’s not too late to vaccinate. Did you know that while flu season can begin as early as October, influenza activity typically peaks in January or later? Get your flu shot today, and protect SA yourself all season. UEL VER F Get Your Flu Shot With Us And Receive 20¢ Fuel Saver offer available to all customers. No insurance exclusions. Limit 1 offer per customer. *With Hy-Vee Fuel Saver™ Card. See store for details. Fuel savings are limited to 20 gallons per vehicle. Immunization Headquarters See pharmacy for details. All Medicare Parts B and D accepted. • Shingrix: Shingles Vaccine No prescription necessary if 60 years or older. • TDap (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) No prescription necessary if 18 years or older. • Prevnar13-Pneumonia • Pneumovax23-Pneumonia No prescription necessary if 65 years or older. • FLU/INFLUENZA Adult or Children 6 years or older. • HIGH DOSE FLU/INFLUENZA Recommended for 65 years or older. Pharmacy 2100 Broadway, Yankton • 665-8261 Your Pharmacy of Choice!