A decade after her historic feat, Hutchison is still strong as ever
Michaela Hutchison
She was one of a record three Alaska women that qualified for this year’s USA Wrestling Olympic Trials in Iowa City, Iowa.
In 2012, Hutchison competed alone. This time around she was joined by fellow Alaskans Dajan Treder of Anchorage and Rachael Shannon of Big Lake.
Even at 26, Hutchison is still on top of her game as a member of the prestigious Titan Mercury Wrestling Club.
She advanced to the semifinals before losing 7-2 to Army’s Whitney Conder.
This weekend Hutchison won by technical fall over Treder in the 117-pound division.
Dajan Treder
Hutchison was the only one of the three Alaska wrestlers to advance out of the preliminary round.
In 2006, Hutchison, of Skyview High fame, made U.S. prep history by becoming the first girl to win a state title while competing against the boys.
The moment was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Hutchison graduated in 2008 went on to wrestle at Oklahoma City University, where she dominated the WCWA tournament with three national championships and four All-American finishes.
She is now an assistant coach at McKendree University in Illinois.
Rachael Shannon
Shannon, who grew up in the Valley and attended both Houston and Colony high schools before graduating in 2010, was also an All-American at college Linderwood University in Missouri.
Shannon qualified by winning the 138-pound division at the Last Chance qualifier, prevailing in each by by technical fall.
She is currently an assistant coach for Wayland Baptist in Texas.