By Matt Gade

605 Sports

Growing up, Taylor Graveman was always told that if she committed herself to wrestling, she could go anywhere and her family would help her get there.

“My dad always told me when I was a little girl, even growing up throughout high school, that it didn't matter where wrestling was going to take me, that he'd take me to the moon if I wanted to go there to wrestle.”

While it might not be the moon, last Friday, Graveman competed in her first international wrestling tournament. Not only did she compete in her first international competition, the Spearfish Spartan alum and North Central College wrestler also claimed a gold medal in the 72kg division at the 2026 U23 Pan-American Wrestling Championships in Lima, Peru.

“That I have that kind of support to back me up means a lot, because I can just really go out there and lay it all on the mat, and whatever happens,” Graveman said. “If I get to wrestle on the moon one day, then I'll know he was right, yeah, but Peru is pretty close to the moon for me right now.”

Taylor Graveman with her family, Kara, Shane and Parker Graveman at the Pan-America championships. (Courtesy Taylor Graveman)

Showing their support, Graveman’s parents, Kara and Shane and her brother Parker, were on hand to watch their three-time state champion from Spearfish take part in her first-ever international tournament.

Graveman traveled to Peru as part of Team USA with her North Central teammates Claire DiCugno and Sara Sterner, along with NCC graduate assistant coach Yele Aycock.

Graveman said having her teammates with her made the trip more enjoyable, and she felt more comfortable having familiar faces to be a part of the trip with her.

Despite hiccups after getting to Peru, Graveman said none of that dampened the experience for her.

“I actually had a ton of fun. Funny enough or not, we actually got our luggage lost because we ended up having to change flights, so we didn't have luggage for the first two days,” Graveman said. “So we were scrambling, trying to find different outfits from our teammates. We ended up having to go to a mall nearby that was like a 20-minute walk. 

“So that was an adventure. Like not having our credit card work for some of the days, stuff like that. But I’m just grateful to be there, and it was such a great experience.”

While arriving just after midnight that Wednesday morning instead of mid-day Tuesday, Graveman said she and her teammates went straight to work.

“We ended up getting into Peru about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, and then we had training camp Wednesday, Thursday, and then we competed Friday,” said Graveman, whose family arrived on Wednesday to support her.

“I really didn't get to see them until the day of competition, just because of like prep camp and acclimation to Peru and stuff like that, so it was kind of tough to know that they were there, and I didn't get to see them until I competed, but it was very, very rewarding.”

Earlier this season, Graveman, who was a part of NCC’s first-ever National Duals Championship, said this was one of her toughest seasons as a wrestler after finishing 1-2 at the NCAA national tournament after having finished as an All-American the previous two years.

This was the first year for Graveman wrestling at 160 pounds, having moved up from the 138-pound division where she competed the previous seasons.

Despite that finish, Graveman still went out and competed in the USA Wrestling Nationals tournament in April, winning the title at 72 kg.

“I actually kind of hit rock bottom this year at nationals, going 1-2, not placing at the national tournament,” she said. “I kind of wasn't sure what was next, or kind of was having doubts if I should take some time off, but just having my family and my teammates by my side… I just didn't show up that day. 

“But ultimately, just believing in my coaches and my teammates telling me that I can do it from anywhere. So I kind of have just been proving to myself since nationals that one moment won't define me. I can always come back, and I think that I've kind of proved myself by becoming a national champion and now Pan-Am champ.”

While her immediate family made the trip to Peru, Graveman said she received a lot of support back home. Not just from family, but friends, former wrestlers she coached and South Dakota USA wrestling, which also contributed to helping with some of the financial costs of the trip.

Her grandparents, who are Graveman’s biggest supporters, even canceled all other plans for the day to watch her wrestle.

“They had a lot planned for Friday, but my grandma ended up canceling everything on their schedule just so that they could watch me,” Taylor said. “So my cousins and my aunts and uncles actually went over and watched my matches with them. That was really special.”

Following her gold medal finish on Friday, Graveman said she and her teammates finally got to really enjoy Peru as more of a tourist staying for a few extra days before returning on Tuesday night.

“I was very nervous, it was my first international trip, wrestling or not,” Graveman said. “So I was just nervous being in a different country. We couldn't drink the water, no ice, no water with your toothbrushes, stuff like that. So I was kind of scared at first, but I also had to remember that I got the privilege to be able to travel to the country and get an inside look at what other people do in their daily lives. It was a really cool experience.”

Graveman said she’s now planning on just taking time off both mentally and physically from wrestling, just to have some time off before stepping back on the mat again.

Taylor Graveman wrestling at the Pan-America championships in Peru. (Courtesy Courtesy Taylor Graveman)

This fall, Parker will join Taylor at North Central College, where he will wrestle for the men’s program.

Taylor said she’s excited to have her brother on campus and is excited to show him around. 

Taylor said she plans to compete again next year, hoping to defend her gold medal.