Evelyn Perkins, sports editor

Historically, Augsburg University has always been a pioneer and advocate for change. One example of this is the fact that Augsburg is the only college or university in Minnesota that sponsors a four-year women’s wrestling team. One of the best athletes to ever go through the program, Nina Makem, has recently started her professional wrestling career with Team USA. I had the pleasure of emailing with Makem to discuss her experience as a professional wrestler and the impact Augsburg had on her success today.

Makem said that some of the toughest challenges in transitioning from collegiate to professional wrestling happen off the mat. “One thing people don’t always talk about is how difficult the transition can be beyond wrestling itself. Once college ends, you’re responsible for finding ways to fund your training, travel, competition expenses, and everything that comes with pursuing wrestling or any other sports at this level. Finding sponsorships and financial support can be challenging, especially when you’re still trying to establish yourself as an athlete. Traveling to tournaments, staying in hotels, paying for meals, transportation, training and recovery adds up quickly. You’re not just competing against the people on the mat, you’re also navigating the financial realities of being a high-performance athlete,” Makem said.

Makem credited Augsburg and the wrestling team for helping her remain positive and resilient during these challenges. “My teammates and coaches pushed me to hold myself accountable, believe in myself and keep working even when things weren’t going my way. The culture at Augsburg also taught me the importance of hard work, resilience, consistency and competing with confidence. Those lessons have carried over directly into my life as a high-performance wrestler,” she said.

Makem excelled as a high-performance wrestler. During her collegiate career, she was a four-time All-American, an under-20 World Team member, and a three-time under-23 World Team member. Since graduating, she has been a three-time under-23 Pan-American champion for Team USA, has lived and trained at the Olympic Training Center, and competed with elite athletes. “I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to train in an environment surrounded by people who have the same goals and dreams that I do. Being in a room full of people who are all pushing themselves to become better is something I don’t take for granted. It reminds me every day that I belong in these spaces and that there is always another level to reach,” Makem said.

With elite competition comes intense pressure to succeed. Makem said she combats that pressure by focusing on small victories. “One thing I’ve learned throughout this journey is that success isn’t always about the biggest win or the next medal. Sometimes it’s about continuing to show up, especially when nobody else sees the work. Every day I train, I’m not chasing wins; I’m chasing the strongest version of myself. I’m excited to see where that mindset takes me next, and I’m grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way. From my Augsburg community to my coaches, teammates, family, friends, and everyone who has believed in me, thank you. I carry that support with me every time I step on the mat.”