Arcadia/ Loup City Wrestler Rylee Kursave named ESPN Tri-Cities Female Athlete of the Month

LOUP CITY, Neb. — Arcadia/Loup City senior Rylee Kursave has been named ESPN Tri-Cities Female Athlete of the Month, honoring her success on the mat and her role in helping grow girls wrestling in Nebraska.

Kursave enters the postseason ranked No. 1 in Class B at 170 pounds and is the defending state champion.

She said the recognition came as a surprise, but sees it as a reflection of the work being done across the state to build opportunities for female wrestlers.

“I was surprised, actually, and it’s an honor,” said Kursave. “I feel like my coaches and I have worked really hard to kind of grow women’s wrestling in Nebraska.”

Beyond her competitive success, Kursave has become an advocate for the sport, volunteering with youth wrestling programs and encouraging younger girls to get involved.

She said participation continues to rise, with more elementary and junior high girls joining each year. Arcadia/Loup City started this season with nine girls wrestlers, continuing a steady trend of growth.

Despite her top ranking, Kursave says she approaches each match with a focus on effort and improvement rather than pressure.

“We tell all of our girls, you don’t lose, you learn,” she said. “No matter what happens, you just go out and give your best and learn everything you can.”

Head coach Rob Thompson said Kursave’s leadership extends well beyond competition.

“She works her butt off, but she also gives back to the program,” said Thompson. “She’s always encouraging teammates and helping younger wrestlers. She’s more than deserving of this recognition.”

As the postseason approaches, Kursave hopes her journey shows other girls that wrestling is worth trying.

“If you’re thinking about going out for wrestling, do it,” she said. “You might regret not going out, but you’ll never regret giving it a chance.”