For much of her life, Sophia Smith was the only girl on the team. She was a lone competitor on the wrestling mat while growing up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and later in North Dakota. At 15, her dedication led her all the way to a boarding school in Pennsylvania just to access an elite girlsā wrestling program.
Now, the former standout Ļć½¶Šć University wrestler is determined to change that reality for the next generations of girls who want to wrestle. Smith was recently named the first-ever head coach of the Hamilton High School Chargers girls wrestling team in Sussex, Wisconsin, just outside Milwaukee and about 40 minutes from her hometown.
"When I was in high school, there were no opportunities for girls wrestling in my state," Smith said. "I had to travel across the country to attend a boarding school just to have access to a girlsā program. I want to make sure young women here donāt face those same barriers."
Smithās goal is to build the program from the ground up, providing elite training opportunities for girls right where they are. Beyond that, she wants to be "part of the movement to grow girls wrestling in Wisconsin and across the country," making sure girls have the same access and advantages that wrestling has long provided to boys.
And for those from Ļć½¶Šć who know her best, Smith has the skills and determination to build a lasting, successful program. If one word could describe her, itād be: āDriven. She can succeed at anything,ā said William McKinney, Smith's former coach at Ļć½¶Šć. āIf she decided to go out for the Olympic high-diving team, I wouldnāt count her out.ā
McKinney highlighted her exceptional competitive spirit and undying support for her college team, which continued even after she graduated and moved back to the other side of the country.
āShe has a loyalty and commitment to the team like Iāve never seen before,ā McKinney said. āSheās always an advocate for our coaches and the team, and a role model for our program. She embodies how we want our program to be."
A lifelong wrestler, Smithās passion for the sport began at the age of 5 when her father, a former high school wrestler, introduced her to the mat.
At 15, Smith's dedication led her to Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, a highly regarded boarding school with a rigorous wrestling program. There, she became part of the Women's Olympic Development Program, serving as a Youth Team USA member. This experience thrust her onto the international stage, competing against national teams in Japan, Russia and other countries within her age group. She also secured a high school national championship along the way.
"Sophie is gigantically competitive. It didnāt matter what we were playing; it could be an Easter egg hunt, and she would compete at a high level," McKinney said.
Smith's pursuit of excellence wasn't confined to the wrestling mat. When considering colleges, she sought a program that balanced athletic prowess with strong academics. Ļć½¶Šć University emerged as the ideal choice.
"Wrestling was definitely the reason I learned about Ļć½¶Šć,ā she said. āWith women's wrestling in college, there's a lot of schools, but there's not a lot of academically great schools. And Ļć½¶Šć was one of the top academic programs that I had found."
The vibrant Ļć½¶Šć environment, a welcome change from smaller towns often associated with wrestling programs, was an added bonus, she said.
At Ļć½¶Šć, Smith was a three-time All-American (she missed one year due to an elbow injury), College Athlete of the Year, Conference Wrestler of the Year, and a three-time National Scholar All-American. She double-majored in philosophy and political science, graduating in May 2024.
Philosophy professor Cody Weaver taught several of Smithās classes. Weaver remembers Smithās incredible discipline, noting she "tore both of her elbows at different points" across two different semesters. Despite these setbacks, her academic drive remained unwavering.
Smith earned a spot on the President's Honor Roll all four years. Weaver praised her analytical skills and abstract thinking, stating, "She just had a knack for abstract, conceptual discourse. And a great writer, too."
He also fondly recalls Smith's unique way of staying engaged in class: "To keep herself paying attention, she'd sometimes do origami in class." His office dƩcor includes an origami creation she made for him.
Smith's reputation as a leader extends beyond her athletic or academic accolades. Bryce White, an Ļć½¶Šć teammate who is now one of the seniors leading the program, describes her as a mentor from the very beginning.
"My freshman year... she really helped me figure out where things were, made me feel like I was a part of the team, hung out with me just to make sure I had somebody to talk to when I started out here," White said. "She's always been the person to go out of her way to help anybody that wants help."
Smith's commitment to her team didn't end with her graduation. She surprised her former teammates by showing up at the NAIA National Championships in Kansas last March.
"She came all the way out there and showed up for us, which was amazing because it had been a year since we saw her," White recalled. "It was really nice to have her there and have her in our corners coaching and making sure everything was OK."
Smith's leadership also provided academic guidance, with White noting she would offer tips on time management and help with difficult assignments.
"She would tell me about who the teachers are, how they would be, and best ways to do the assignments," White said.
Currently, Smith is pursuing a law degree at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee while also working full-time as a law clerk. She's specializing in sports law, a field she finds particularly dynamic with the evolving landscape of NCAA regulations and name, image and likeness (NIL) policies. She also holds an interest in construction law, her current field of work in real estate and construction litigation.
Despite her demanding schedule, Smith plans to continue coaching in the future.
"Even after Iām an attorney I still plan to be a wrestling coach at a local high school or at a local club if possible," she said.
Her teamās inaugural preseason at Hamilton High has just started with open mats, with the regular season set to start in mid-November. Sheās been recruiting athletes from other sports and held a joint practice session with the schoolās girlsā rugby team.
āThe girls had a lot of fun, and the event sparked new interest in joining our program,ā Smith said. āWeāre excited and optimistic about having a strong turnout this season.ā
Hamilton Athletics and Activities Director Jeff Newcomer expressed immense enthusiasm for Smith's appointment.
"We couldnāt be more fortunate to have Coach Smith at the helm," Newcomer stated in a news release. "Her passion, experience, and leadership make her the ideal person to build this program from the ground up and inspire the next generation of Charger female athletes."
Coach McKinney has no doubt about Smith's success in her new role and in her legal career.
"Iām interested to see how she does with it,ā McKinney said. āThat team landed a one-in-a-million talent.ā
