Bruntil is a former state wrestling champion, two-time collegiate national champion and two-time U.S. Open champion.
DEMING, Wash. — Emma Bruntil is not only a former state wrestling champion, but also a two-time collegiate national champion and two-time U.S. Open champion.
She now has her sights set on an even bigger goal: an Olympic medal.
“I've had nine surgeries and two neck surgeries, so those things can definitely make the surgery more difficult,” Bruntil said. “Overall, I think the process is definitely tough.
But Brantil gets back up and keeps winning.
“Despite all the injuries and adversity I endured, I always loved wrestling itself,” Bruntil said.
Her breakthrough moment came when she won a state championship as a sophomore at Mount Baker High School.
“Winning my first state title was probably the happiest I've ever won any kind of title, to be honest, because that was just the first goal I had in wrestling.” Bruntil said.
Bruntil will be the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country in her weight class.
She won a national championship in college and earned a spot on the U.S. World Team at the 2023 Final X.
While finishing in the top five at the world championships is an incredible feat in itself, it was almost a miracle for Brantil to even get on the mat.
“It's been tough. For the last two years, I've been basically dealing with a herniated disc. Then a lot of bone has grown to accommodate the disc, and from there I was basically nervous all the time. ''Brantil said. “I basically had a lot of weakness, like numbness all over my right arm. After every practice, I had severe pain in my shoulder blade, and I was in treatment for about three hours a day so I could wrestle the next day. And then the chronic migraines started and I couldn't even go into my room without checking the lights, changing my glasses, changing my contacts.”
Bruntil said she needed everything to qualify for the world championships, but she is now the healthiest she has been in a while.
“Fortunately, after this surgery, the situation has improved a lot and is quite manageable. As the healing progresses, I think I will be completely healthy and able to compete,” Bruntil said.
In December 2023, Bruntil returned to his hometown of Nooksack Valley, happy, healthy, and excited to inspire a younger generation of wrestlers.
“Well, I love teaching kids and seeing how much they love this sport reminds me of what I love about this sport,” Bruntil said. “Actually, I usually learn a lot from watching younger kids wrestle, but sometimes I’m like, oh, I have to use this, so it’s always refreshing.”
Bruntil said the ultimate would be to represent the United States and Paris.
“That's the dream I've been chasing,” Bruntil said. “Fortunately, I was able to put myself in a position where that was a possibility.”
Bruntil isn't the only Northwestern native competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials.
White River High School state champions Claire DiCugno and Shelby Moore will also be participating in the trials.
The U.S. Olympic Trials will be held at Penn State University on Friday and Saturday.
