By Fitzgerald Jordan
For the first time in five decades of wrestling at Western New England University, the Golden Bears have a female regional champion. During the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Region I Championships, junior Linda Holeman defeated all her opponents to win first place in the 124 lb. weight class.
When she is not pinning girls on the mat, Holeman is busy on campus wearing many hats. As part of the Student Senate, Holeman takes great pride in ensuring students get what they need. Additionally, she is part of WNE’s Cadet Program, where she works to ensure students are safe on campus. Holeman is also a part of the Black Student Association (BSA), the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and is the head of security for Western New England University’s upcoming Spring Event, just to name a few of her commitments.
Holeman started wrestling at the young age of eight when her dad first inspired her in the sport. She said, “I like that it gives, you, of course, that physical aspect obviously, but it also gives you a greater look into your mentality and how to look at stuff that’s happening on the mat and off the mat, basically…your whole life experience. It gives you something in that aspect which is awesome.”
Holeman has long recognized the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated sport. “Obviously, when I was younger, there was no female team,” she said. “So I’ve wrestled on a male-dominated team, except for the last two years at Western New England. So, being on the only female team I have been part of…I can say being on the male-dominated team has helped.” Holeman continued, “It was tough because many people wanted to see females fail; they did not want women to succeed in this sport, as they say, it’s a male sport. Still, it’s also growing into a more feminine sport.”
Holeman said many people told her women should not be wrestling. “I’ve had parents throw clothes in their sons’ faces for losing to females, and that was the hardest part…it made you not want to wrestle anymore, but pushing through and being on a woman team was worth it, and I like the dynamic of our team,” she said.
Holeman said she came here because Coach Sugermeyer inspired her and wanted her to come to WNE. “Coach Sug reached out to me,” she said, “and he was like, let’s get you on campus right away.”
Coach Sugermeyer, the men’s wrestling coach and a former wrestler, is in charge of recruiting for Golden Bear wrestling. He played a significant role in the growth of WNE wrestling over the past 10 years. Coach Sugermeyer’s father also worked for Western New England and was a professor until last year.
At only three years old, the women’s wrestling team is young. Women’s wrestling has exploded from having 12 wrestlers to now more than 30, with both Sugermeyer and Coach Tyler Keane overseeing the organization. Coach Keane had a remarkable season with the women’s team this year, helping them to a 17-4 record, including 9-1 at home. Not only that but the women’s team was also ranked as high as #14 in the nation.
Holeman said she’s proud of the team and honored to be a women’s regional champ. “It was a great experience going to a finals match. I was going against a girl that has beaten me twice before, so it was very exciting to be able to beat her, and that was the goal I was working toward all season.”
Linda Holeman is a true trailblazer in women’s wrestling, as the university’s first women’s regional champ. She’s a leader and a role model for girls and women both on and off the mat.
