Liana Carney '22 Recruiting Profile

Imagine running through artificial smoke as your name is called over the loudspeaker. You run and face off with your opponent in the middle of the mat, in front of hundreds of people, under the spotlight, as you shake your opponent's hand. The feeling of anticipation building up inside you as you prepare for the match. Then imagine when the match is over, the feeling of your hand not being raised, and your ears being filled with the sound of your opponent's celebration as she runs to her coach. The feeling of defeat sinking into your body. 

That was me. I lost my state finals match my freshman year. I was congratulated by many for just getting that far, but that wasn’t my goal. My goal was to be a state champion, and I fell just short of that goal. The next year when training, I remembered the feeling of defeat, and that feeling pushing me to work harder. So that next time my name was called out over the loudspeaker, running through the smoke, and facing off with my opponent, I was prepared. In the end I gained the feeling of my hand being raised. I was the girl running over to my coach in celebration. 

My name is Liana Carney, and I know that I will be an asset to your wrestling program as well as in the classroom at the University. 

Being a premature born baby, I am told that there were many caring, and quality nurses on the scene, taking care of my mom and I when I was born. Without those nurses, who knows where my mom and I might be. These nurses not only inspired me, but my mom as well. After the care that she received from those nurses when I was born, she switched her college major so she could also help like they did. When I was young, I remember picking up her nursing books, looking at them, and thinking about how I wanted to do the same thing one day. Growing up,  I watched her use these nursing skills. These memories have solidified my passion for nursing. With this passion, I hope to earn a degree in nursing, so I can help others as they helped me. 

Knowing what I want to do in the future has helped me in highschool. I am currently the valedictorian, with a 3.92 GPA. I have participated in many extracurricular activities such as the Shakes Glacier Team, Student Government, Prom Committee, and National Honor Society. 

Along with my academics, I am a four sport athlete, participating in wrestling, basketball, cross country, and volleyball. Currently, I serve as a captain of my wrestling and cross country team. My freshman year, I took 2nd at the wrestling state championship, and captured a regional title on the varsity basketball team. My sophomore year, I won a state title in the 119 pound weight class for wrestling, as well as a regional title with the wrestling team, and gained 6th at the cross country state championships. In my Junior year, I was able to capture my second state title, along with another region title, and place 5th in the state for cross country. Coming into my senior year, I placed 3rd in the cross country state championships, and hope to continue growing in wrestling.

I plan to wrestle in college, competing at the highest level I can. Wrestling is my passion, as well as something that I can focus on and pour my hardships into. At a regional level national tournament, I learned one of my closest friends, leader, and role model, Helen Decker, and her brother had been killed in a car accident. Even with all the emotions that I was feeling, knowing Helen would want me to compete and have that opportunity, I stuck to my plans and wrestled at the tournament, taking 5th. Even with all the craziness at home, and the huge feeling of loss I felt, I was still able to perform, and wrestle. This was one of the hardest things I have ever had to overcome, but in the end, it has made me stronger, and more confident knowing I can compete at a high level no matter the circumstances. 

These interests and abilities have prepared me for the future. The hardships that I have faced, have pushed me to work harder, to be better than I ever have been before. I know that I will be a remarkable addition to the wrestling program, as well as in the classroom of your school.