Brendlinger, Faust just biding time
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Just recently, Kayla Brendlinger and Brittney Faust were making their marks in women's collegiate wrestling.
Only that wasn't good enough.
Both King University seniors want to be among the best.
That's why Brendlinger, a Slippery Rock High School graduate, is red-shirting this season despite finishing 15-7 and placing sixth at 130 pounds in the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) last season.
That's why Faust, a Knoch graduate, transferred to King after finishing 24-4 two seasons ago at Missouri Valley College.
King, one of 24 schools comprising the WCWA, won its first national championship last season and returns three national champions, two runner-ups and 11 All-Americans from that squad.
“I was concerned about my future in wrestling and my academics,” Faust said. “I decided to transfer to King and major in athletic training.
“It's a good course of study here and the best women's wrestling program in the country. I've got the best of both worlds.”
Faust is coming off an injury — she's been hurt numerous times during her mat career — and figures she's four weeks away from competition.
“We're pretty open this year at 130 pounds and I feel like I can come back and help fill that spot in time for national duals,” Faust said. “I'm healing up right now, but I'm here to help the team.”
Faust will have to compete with Megan Black at 130 when she does come back. A sophomore, Black is ranked third in that weight class nationally and placed seventh at WCWA Nationals a year ago.
King coach Jason Moorman, the only coach in the six-year history of the program, agrees that Faust will be an asset down the road.Faust had to red-shirt last year, but still practiced with the team.“She's gotten better by going through that experience,” Moorman said. “We've got 42 women on the roster, 35 actively competing in the room right now, so we can be patient with Brittney.“We'll take our time with her and make sure she's healthy. I think she can help us.”Brendlinger has been battling a sore back and said she could use a red-shirt year to get healthy. But she also has her eye on another prize.“My goal is to come back next year, wrestle and earn a spot at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016,” Brendlinger said. “That's always been a target for me.“I've wrestled all my life and never had any type of injury. Lately, my back's been flaring up. I'll get past that, though.”Brendlinger is majoring in psychology and hopes to get into social work and/or counseling for a career.“Last year was incredible,” she said of her team's title run. “Everybody just pushed each other to do her best.“Right now, we don't feel like we're defending a title. We're trying to get another one.”Brendlinger has wrestled with Black in practice and said “she's always pushed me. I think highly of her. The sky's the limit of what she can accomplish.”Moorman believes Brendlinger hasn't peaked yet.“She's a great kid with a great work ethic,” he said. “She has her eyes fixed on those Olympic Trials and I wouldn't put it past her.”King is the preseason favorite to repeat as national champion. The team already won the prestigious Patriot Duals to open the season, defeating No. 2 ranked Oklahoma City, 32-13.Faust and Brendlinger have known each other for years.“Her dad used to come with her and pick me up for various wrestling events during the summer in high school,” Faust said. “We're the Pennsylvania girls on the team. We hang out together and I've wrestled her in the room.“I've wrestled just about every member of this team at some point.”Faust has doubled up on her class schedule in an effort to graduate in May. From there, she'll look to enter graduate school and a graduate assistant opportunity on a women's wrestling staff.Brendlinger wants to get into coaching as well.“Oh, yeah, it's something I want to do,” she said. “I love the competition and the mat strategies. I'll coach wrestling when I'm done doing it.”
