To finish her wrestling career at Washington State University, Petra (pronounced Pay-tra) Bernsten, 20, is going out as a three-time National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) All-American.

“It’s been tough,” the 2022 Sequim High graduate said after finishing the season.

“After almost 10 years of wrestling, it’s been a journey and a huge part of my life. A big portion of my friends are from wrestling. A lot of things I’ve learned are from wrestling.”

The future pharmacist took second place on March 13-15 at the NCWA National Championships in Louisiana.

For the season, she went 20-6 in the 180-pound classification, and at the championships she made two pins in just over a minute each. Bernsten won a 13-11 decision over Krysta Luce of Grand Valley State University in the semi-finals before losing to Katie Law of Utah Tech University by pin in 4:50 in the finals.

Photo by Caleb Steele Photography/ Katie Law of Utah Tech, left, takes on Petra Bernsten of Washington State University in the 180-pound finals match at the NCWA National Championships. Law won by pin, but Bernsten finished second in her weight class in back-to-back years and is a three-time NCWA All-American.

Bernsten took second in the 170 pound weight class last year and third at 143 pounds her first year at WSU. She’s a senior, according to her credit total, and will graduate early after taking two years of classes through Peninsula College’s Running State program while in high school.

At WSU, she wrestled for three years in the NCWA against colleges across the nation.

Volunteer coach Andrea Yamamoto said she was impressed with Bernsten’s commitment to her academics and wrestling.

“Regardless of score and accolades, the personal development in her has been really satisfying to see,” she said.

“She’s a good example that if you just stick with it, and don’t give up on yourself, you can achieve that harmony in sports and academics.”

Bernsten said she’s always sought a balance between her academic and wrestling lives.

Her bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Genetics remains the priority, but wrestling was an important aspect in choosing a college too.

“If I can get a prestigious degree, and also wrestle, great,” she said. “It was a balance thing for me.”

Sequim

Bernsten spent most of her childhood in Sequim, except for a brief stint in Olympia. She wrestled for the first time in P.E. class at Sequim Middle School.

Despite some initial hesitation from family, she was adamant to join the school’s team.

“Well you know what, I like it, I’m gonna do it,” Bernsten said she told her family.

Asked about her high school wrestling record, Bernsten called it “decent” and she went 2-2 as a senior at the 2A Washington State Wrestling Championship in the Tacoma Dome.

She was one of a few girl wrestlers in Sequim High’s wrestling program at the time, Bernsten said, as it was seen as “very niche, and hard to recruit.” However, Bernsten made lasting connections, especially with her coach Chad Cate.

At age 46, Cate, a captain with Clallam County Fire District 3, died on Jan. 12, 2023 due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease. He was Bernsten’s coach for two-plus years at SHS, and she was in her first year at WSU when he died.

“He was such an amazing coach,” Bernsten said. “He really understood me as an athlete and really pushed me. All he wanted was the best for you.”

Her senior year was his last full season coaching.

“Even to this day, I use things he has told me to get myself through a match,” Bernsten said.

Her collegiate wrestling career was one way to honor him, she said.

Photo courtesy of Petra Bernsten/ Petra Bernsten celebrates a first place win with Washington State University head coach Phil Burnett at a freestyle tournament earlier this year.

WSU

Following her brother Beau’s lead, an appealing tuition with many local scholarships covering most of the cost, and that there was a wrestling team, Bernsten chose Washington State University in Pullman for college.

She recently decided to pursue the pharmacy program as she wasn’t quite sure what to do after she finished her bachelor’s degree. Bernsten felt getting into medical school would have been too competitive, but she “respects the hell out of people who get into (it).”

“I wanted something more obtainable,” she said.

She was accepted into the WSU-Spokane campus for school with three years of classes, one year of clinical rotations and one-two years of residency, Bernsten said.

“I’m excited to have more things to do and people to see,” she said. “I’ve never been in a big city on my own.”

As for where she’ll work and live long-term, Bernsten said there are “opportunities everywhere” for pharmacists.

Photo courtesy of Petra Bernsten/ Petra Bernsten is named a winner in one of her earlier matches while attending Sequim High School. She started wrestling in middle school and became a three-time National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) All-American.

Style

Yamamoto said this season she found that Bernsten was becoming a well-rounded athlete that took risks on the mat.

“A lot of wrestlers don’t like upper body ties; she’s the opposite and most comfortable getting into these ties,” she said.

“(Bernsten) was a little singular in that (but) this year she’s been building and saying, ‘I do want to learn. I do want to start taking risks with these offensive attacks.’

“This year she gave herself freedom.”

While she’s never wrestled Greco Roman wrestling before, Bernsten said she’s told that’s her style.

“My style is throws … and typically my matches are one round,” she said.

This season, 13 of her wins were by pin, and 12 of those in the first round.

“I train at the gym consistently lifting and drilling different things with different people and looking to see other styles and adapting to other styles,” Bernsten said.

Bernsten had a lot of great moments at Nationals, Yamamoto said, where she pushed herself and tried new things.

At college, she joined 20-plus other young women on WSU’s club team.

“It was great to see a lot more women on a team,” Bernsten said.

“Having access to a state-of-the-art gym was great too and learning from practice partners.”

She also found that Yamamoto helped her keep calm and “get in the right headspace.”

Yamamoto said even in her last match at Nationals, Bernsten was wrestling better than ever.

“She should feel proud of how far she’s come,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Petra Bernsten/ Julie Wilson, top, and Petra Bernsten with Washington State University celebrate their wins in early March at the Northwest Conference Championship.

Club wrestling

WSU’s wrestling team is under a recreational club program that operates similarly to varsity sport programs thanks to Phil and Susan Burnett and past student presidents that built the club up, Yamamoto said.

There can be first-time wrestlers and four-year state champions on the club team, she said.

“Petra is a good example why club wrestling on a university campus is so important,” Yamamoto said.

“She’s the embodiment of why we need good options for women wrestling. WSU is certainly the leader in Washington state.”

Whether students feel they have unfinished business from high school wrestling or want to get connected, Yamamoto said the club can create a place for people to belong and have a sense of community, particularly for young women as the sport grows in popularity.

“The only combat sport we have is wrestling (in college) and that’s why it’s so important we’re opening that to females,” she said.

“And we are the only sport approaching (all types of) girls and asking them to join the team. So many of them have never been asked as they’re not perceived to fit those sport stereotypes.”

Yamamoto said young women wrestlers like Bernsten are changing what it means to be an athlete.

“What’s fantastic right now is that Petra has the ability to become a coach and be a part of the next generation of where we expect girls to be wrestling,” she said.

While living in Spokane, Bernsten said she’s considering Brazilian jiu jitsu or mixed martial arts training to continue her passion for combat sports. She might compete for fun.

“I’m still gonna be in the gym,” she said. “I love lifting. I’ll be working on that as well.”

As for coaching, she sees it.

“I might coach in the future,” Bernsten said. “I could see myself coach when I have time.”

For more information about WSU Wrestling, visit https://wrestling.urec.wsu.edu.

Photo courtesy of Petra Bernsten/ With coach Chad Cate watching, Petra Bernsten wins a match while on the Sequim High School wrestling team. Bernsten said Cate, who died during her first year at Washington State University, taught her a lot. “Even to this day, I use things he has told me to get myself through a match,” Bernsten said.