By Dave Pemberton
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Beware Sashabaw Middle School boys, there’s a girl at your school you don’t want to mess with and her name is Faith Lieder. The reason is she’s well trained wrestler.
Lieder a sixth grader, finished seventh in her weight class at the USGWA Girls Nationa Championships held at Lake Orion High School on April 1.
Even more impressive than the seventh place finish, Lieder at age 12 was among the youngest at the event, which had girls ranging from 6th to 8th grade.
She earned her entry fee into the national tournament by winning the MYWA Girls Open tournament on March 26 and took third in the USGWA Girls state championship on March 12.
Lieder does not just wrestle against girls. She finished third at the MYWA eastern regionals on March 19 and defeated several boy in the process.
She was also the only girl on the Clarkston Wrestling Club, which finished fourth in the state in the elementary division.
In fact, one of the reasons Lieder got into the sport was because she wanted a chance to beat up some boys.
‘My brother started wrestling and I went to one of the practices,? Lieder said. ‘There were two girls in there wrestling and they were really good. They were beating up all the guys and I thought I could do that.?
A little over a year later, Lieder proved she could do just that. Lieder has a nice collection of medals and continues to work hard.
She originally started wrestling because she thought the sport was fun, but now she also wants to be successful.
‘The first year I was having fun and also working hard,? Lieder said. ‘This year was a little more serious because I got into more tournaments. I still just try to have fun with it, but I want to win.?
Lieder doens’t just wrestle she also plays soccer and swims. Her biggest goals revolve around her wrestling career.
Lieder wants to finish higher than seventh at next year’s national championships. She also wants to compete for Clarkston High School’s wrestling team.
According to Lieder and her father Rick, no girl has ever made the Wolves high school team.
Lieder has big goals for her wrestling career, but knows success isn’t only measured by wins and losses.
She likes wrestling for more than just the competition.
‘Wrestling teaches you how to deal with a lot of life problems,? Lieber said. ‘It’s not just a sport. It teaches you things away from the sport. It teaches you good sportsmanship. When you lose a match and your’re really mad, you still have to shake the coach’s and wrestler’s hand.?