Brigitte Smyth takes it to the mat

WINSTED — High-school wrestling is tough and can be particularly challenging for girls, but that hasn’t prevented Gilbert School senior Brigitte Smyth from excelling in the sport.Smyth competed at the United States Girls Wrestling Association (USGWA) National Championships at Eastern Michigan University April 2 to 3, finishing in third place overall in the 112-pound weight class. In March, she wrestled in the New England USGWA Championship Open, taking first place in the 115-pound division, on top of a successful season at Gilbert that took her to the state finals.A co-captain of the Gilbert wrestling team, Smyth said she was happiest about her performance at the nationals in Michigan, where she was met by her two older sisters, Brianna, 23, and Brittany, 22, who made a special visit to show their support.Though the reunion was inspiring for Brigitte, it was bittersweet for the three girls, who lost their father just last year. Terence Smith died at the age of 59 last July after suffering a stroke on Father’s Day. Smyth, who lives in Winsted with her mother, Becky, said her father had been her biggest supporter, driving her to practices and attending every competition.“He went to every one of my wrestling meets and went to every tournament,” Smyth recalled. “He didn’t wrestle himself — he was kind of learning like me — but he would always be with me. He shared all those moments with me, regardless of whether they were good or bad.”Smyth and her father had initially planned to attend this year’s national tournaments together. Sensing that a family presence would give their sister a positive boost, Brianna and Brittany traveled from Florida and Connecticut, respectively, to show their support. “It ended up being a special trip for all of us, and Brigitte did awesome,” Brianna said in an email to The Journal. “My dad would be proud.”Having competed in both co-ed and all-girls matches, Smyth said wrestling has been one of the best things to happen to her so far. “It’s the best decision I’ve made because it’s opened so many doors for me and given me so many connections,” she said. “Each day in wrestling you give 100 percent.”When not wrestling in school meets, Smyth wrestles for two clubs, Northeast Elite in Enfield and the Connecticut Green Knights in Thomaston. She said coaches and fellow wrestlers have become an extended family for her and offered support, while she has returned the favor by coaching younger wrestlers. “I like being a positive role model and showing them that hard work can pay off,” she said.Smyth also said she has learned a lot about independence since her father died. “Now I’m more independent than ever. I’ve had to step up a lot and drive myself to Enfield and schedule my own appointments. What you put into it is what you get out of it.”Back at school, Smyth recently organized a blood drive and plans to participate in a couple more fundraisers before the end of the school year. In the meantime, she has applied to nine different colleges and is currently thinking about attending Western Connecticut State University or Springfield College in Massachusetts, but there are still other options to consider.“I have to make a college decision soon, and I’m looking forward to the senior prom and my sisters coming home,” Smyth said, noting that she and her sisters will reunite for Brittany’s graduation from Mitchell College in New London in May, followed by Brigitte’s graduation from Gilbert in June.Smyth noted that both of her older sisters excel academically and she wants to follow in their footsteps as she enters her college years, but she is taking things one step at a time. “I’m trying not to be too stressed out,” she said. “College is a big decision, but I’ve been through worse.”