Ashland High Wrestling: A Breakout Season for the Girls Program Under Coach Alec Slinkard
The 2025 winter sports season marked a defining year for Ashland High School’s girls wrestling team, as the program continued its climb toward excellence with standout performances, gritty perseverance, and the emergence of a powerful duo setting the tone for years to come. At the heart of this success story are Sage Thatcher and Lilly Dominguez, two athletes whose talent and leadership not only shaped the season but laid a strong foundation for the future of the girls' wrestling program.
We sat down with Coach Alec Slinkard, who also serves as the school counselor, for our 2025 Winter Season Recap Article Series. His reflections offer a deeper look into a season filled with progress, resilience, and exciting possibilities.
Two Leaders, One Standard
While every successful team has key contributors, the impact of Sage Thatcher and Lilly Dominguez on Ashland’s wrestling team goes far beyond the scoreboard.
“These two set a daily example for others on how to be the best student-athlete they could be,” Coach Slinkard said. “They both maintained high GPAs while showing up to practice every day, leading through hard work, dedication, and communication.”
More than just competitors, Sage and Lilly brought an infectious energy to the wrestling room. They were often the first to cheer for their teammates, celebrate small wins, and create a culture of support and positivity, rare qualities in a sport as individually demanding as wrestling.
“They bring energetic personalities to the team and thrive in their own right
A Season of Success and Steady Growth
Both girls had notable individual seasons, capped by strong performances at the district and state levels.
Sage Thatcher, who has emerged as one of the program’s top talents, finished as a district champion and placed 5th at the state tournament in the highly competitive 5A/6A division. Her technical skill and focus allowed her to peak at just the right time.
Meanwhile, Lilly Dominguez, a first-year wrestler, made a remarkable debut. She placed third at the district tournament, earning a spot at the state championships—a major feat for a newcomer. Unfortunately, an injury in her opening match at state cut her tournament short. But the experience, Coach Slinkard believes, will prove invaluable.
“She learned many valuable lessons that will allow her to flourish over the next two years,” he said. “She’s just getting started.”
Despite the setback, both athletes have already expressed clear goals for the future: to win a state title.
A Defining Moment: District Dominance
While the season had many highs, one pivotal moment stood out: districts.
“I believe the defining moment of our season was when our girls wrestled at districts and placed 1st and 3rd respectively,” Slinkard said. “They faced adversity and avenged losses from earlier in the season to qualify for state.”
It wasn’t just about the medals or the wins. The district performance represented how far these athletes had come. The adversity they overcame, including prior losses, injuries, and illness, became the fuel for their final push to the state.
More Than Wrestlers: Culture Setters
While Sage and Lilly both made their mark from the start of the season, it was their development into leaders—not just athletes—that left a lasting impact on the team.
“As they grew together as wrestlers, they began to shape the culture of the team for the better,” said Coach Slinkard. “They showed how to celebrate your teammates and support them through both highs and lows.”
They also demonstrated what it means to bounce back from tough moments. Both athletes battled adversity with a growth mindset, adjusting their training and attitudes when challenges arose.
“They avenged losses during the season and did so in dominant fashion,” Slinkard proudly noted.
No Seniors? No Problem.
Interestingly, the team did not feature any senior girls this season—something that might usually spell trouble for a young program. But in this case, it means the best is yet to come.
“Even without senior leaders, these two girls have shown immense leadership and grit,” said Slinkard. “To have them for one and two more years, respectively, will be a great benefit to our program.”
Instead of looking to upperclassmen, Ashland’s younger wrestlers now have role models in Sage and Lilly—student-athletes who are blazing the trail in both competition and character.
Building for the Future
With a solid core returning and the program gaining traction, the future for Ashland’s girls wrestling looks promising.
“We are already starting to gain more interest this offseason,” said Slinkard. “Building a program takes time, but having Sage and Lilly as the face of our women’s program is invaluable.”
These two athletes are not just raising the standard—they’re drawing others into the fold. As they continue to grow, so too will the rest of the team.
Offseason Goals: Back to the Basics
Every great team knows that success isn’t built overnight—it’s developed through the grind, often in the offseason.
For Coach Slinkard, the next few months will be all about mastering the fundamentals.
“This offseason we’re focused on improving our basics,” he said. “It’s a time where we can really zero in on small adjustments to make sure our wrestlers understand each move, not just physically, but mentally as well.”
Wrestling is as much a mental game as a physical one, and this approach ensures that Ashland’s wrestlers will return smarter, sharper, and more technically sound.
Stats and Successes
For those looking for detailed performance data, Ashland’s wrestling stats can be found on TrackWrestling, and Coach Slinkard is happy to provide further insights via email.
But numbers only tell part of the story. The real success of the 2025 Ashland girls wrestling season lies in the example being set, the culture being built, and the growth being cultivated—on and off the mat.
Final Thoughts
What Ashland High’s girls wrestling program is doing under Coach Alec Slinkard’s leadership is nothing short of transformational. With no senior class to lean on, two underclassmen—Sage Thatcher and Lilly Dominguez—took the reins, setting standards in academics, athletics, and team culture.
They celebrated others’ victories, faced adversity head-on, and represented Ashland with pride at the highest levels of competition.
As Coach Slinkard said best: “The future of the program is bright.”
With passionate leaders at the helm, growing interest from new athletes, and a coach committed to long-term development, Ashland High wrestling is on a powerful upward trajectory—and it’s only just begun.
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