Spartans of UD - Alexandra Hofrichter

Spartans of UD highlights what makes the University of Dubuque special - the people.

Alexandra Hofrichter, of Antigo, Wisconsin, is a first-year biology major and a member of the University of Dubuque women's wrestling team. During the team's historic inaugural season, Alexandra became the first All-American in women's wrestling for the Spartans.

How did you get into wrestling?

"I got into wrestling because I used to play basketball and my brother was in wrestling. My basketball practices would finish up before wrestling practice would so I would end up sitting in the wrestling room waiting for his practice to end. Eventually, I ended up joining in the practices because I was so bored. I competed for the first time the last two weeks of my seventh-grade year and have been wrestling year-round ever since."

What do you do to prepare for meets?

"For a week leading up to the competition, I tend to eat only healthy, high-protein food with a few snacks here and there. The day of competition, I only eat high energy food. I have learned that I need to do an intense warm-up where I get exhausted and then I have to lay down and hold still to calm my head so that I don't get too nervous for my first match. After my first match, I'm good to go for the rest of the day."

How does it feel to be named UD's first All-American in women's wrestling?

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to not only train at the University of Dubuque on its first women's wrestling team, but I am doubly grateful to be able to work with Coach Dennis Hall. He is an amazing coach, and I would attribute much of my success this year to everything that he has taught me and all the work he put into each of us girls on the team. I am honored to be the first All-American for the UD women's wrestling team, but I wish my teammates could have been there competing with me. And hopefully next year that will be what happens."

What are your favorite memories from the historic first season of Spartans women's wrestling?

"I would say one of my favorite memories from the wrestling season this year would be how after one of our competitions we were all sore and beat up and we didn't want to practice, so we decided to have a dance practice instead. And we spent the whole practice doing different line dances and other dances. It was a lot of fun, and we all had a good time."

In your opinion, what makes the University of Dubuque unique?

"I would say one thing that makes the University of Dubuque wrestling team unique would be the strong faith of the coaches and the athletes. Every morning Coach Hall will lead a Bible study for everyone who comes to practice and there will be questions and discussions. I have learned a lot going to those morning sessions, not only about the other wrestlers on the team but about myself. I would say another thing that makes the team unique is all the support staff that comes in. We have a lot of graduate students and assistant coaches that come in and help instruct the wrestlers, and they all have their own strengths and are really good at teaching their techniques."