Columbia girls wrestling: Callie Demagall excelling after six years away from the mat

Whatever mat rust might have existed for Columbia senior Callie Demagall is long gone.

Callie, the elder sister to sophomore state placer Cailyn, had a 13-7 record entering a Jan. 9 tri-match against Brunswick and Avon Lake. While she had a rough go at it with Avon Lake’s returning state runner-up in Rejan Al-Hashash, she dominated her Brunswick opponent in her first dual match.

Her opponent took a shot and Callie sprawled perfectly, spinning around for two points and eventually scoring the pinfall in 58 seconds. Demagall’s opponent never came close to earning an escape, as they were utterly helpless in the former’s grip.

Prior to the senior’s return to the mat, she’d been out of wrestling for six years. Senses dull and it takes time to get back into a groove, but the elder of the Raiders’ Demagall sisters has done excellent work in her return to the mat.

“I was shocked at how fluid she was right away coming back after six years off, but she’s an athlete,” Columbia girls coach Marti Belfi praised Demagall. “That’s what athletes do — she came in, started working, knocking the rust off (and) she looked good right away. We still have a lot to work on. A lot work on as far as confidence goes and having the confidence to pull the trigger on some of her moves.”

Having done well in other sports at Columbia, what made her decide to return to wrestling after so many years?

“I’ve always been involved in the sport since Cailyn was younger since we both started off in youth. Seeing her and all her teammates wrestle just made me miss the sport,” Callie said. “Just sitting on the sidelines wasn’t enough for me.

“I wanted to get back out on the mat and show what I’m made of against all of the other girls, seeing how far I can compete. Especially being off for so long and being a senior — I’ve wanted to come back since last year or sophomore year. I love the sport and I just want to come back and compete for myself.”

Beyond Coach Belfi, other coaches in the program have praised Callie for her work ethic and how she’s been able to pick up the moves and technique after last donning a singlet and headgear at the youth level. She says that it’s been easy to work with her top game, “breaking them down and getting them in pin combinations and getting the half in.”

“Youth stuff that I’ve remembered – the easy stuff like the hald and the bar, all of that,” Callie said. “The hard stuff is trying to work in my shot, setting up my girl and getting back in the rhythm of a good shot and a good takedown to get them on their stomachs so I don’t have to work as much.”

With Cailyn placing seventh as a freshman last year and being back in the wrestling room with her sister and the other girls, Callie says it’s been a good experience having that kind of comradery around her.

“Cailyn and Youstina (Hanna) and all of the other girls in the room really help me work on my moves. They take me step-by-step through new moves and what works for them and what can work for me, just help me break down my girl. After every match and every meet, they help me break down the stuff I saw – what was wrong with me (in the match) – and make a better move out of it next time.”