Chyann Bullerman-Yu concludes solid mat career at Crestwood

CRESCO - Girls’ wrestling programs throughout Iowa have been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years, which includes the Crestwood girls’ squad.

One of the main leaders in the wrestling room and on the mat for the Cadets the past four years has been senior Chyann Bullerman-Yu, who is the daughter of Cambria and Casey Sebastian and Dustin and Katy Yu of Cresco. 

Saying that Bullerman-Yu has simply made her mark on the Crestwood girls’ program over the years is a huge understatement. Bullerman-Yu has not only etched her name in the Cadet record books under several categories but she has also proven her mettle as a leader and a fierce competitor time and time again on the mat.

From 2020 through 2024, Bullerman-Yu racked up 95 career wins, which is a record for girls’ wrestling at Crestwood. Other impressive career records she has set include: most takedowns (117), most three-point nearfalls (25), most falls (62) and most team points scored (400). During the 2023-24 season, she led the Cadets in wins (32), was second in falls (22), second in two-point takedowns (35), second in escapes (15) and second in three-point nearfalls (8).

“It feels good (to hold the girls’ career win record at Crestwood) but it’s also kind of surreal,” Bullerman-Yu said. “I didn’t really expect it. I was hoping to get to 100 wins but I missed a few meets, which impacted the total. Still, I’m cool with 95 wins.”

She said her wrestling career began in ernest in seventh grade, thanks to some encouragement from her former math teacher and current coach, Jerry Steffen.

“Mr. Steffen was my math teacher in seventh grade and he knew I had tried wrestling when I was younger,” she noted. “He and Ethin Matt, a member of the boys’ team, were pushing me to go into wrestling again. So I decided to try it again to see if I would like it, I did and I’ve stuck with it.

“I really like the team aspect of wrestling, which is definitely fun. I feel like my teammates are like family. I also like how wrestling is also an individual sport. What you put into it will be what you get out of it, which I really like,” Bullerman-Yu said.

During her years at Crestwood, she also competed on the volleyball team for three years and ran cross country last fall for the first time.

“I went out for cross country to get in shape for the wrestling season,” she said. “Wrestling is definitely my favorite, though. With our wrestling team, we’ve created a huge bond. It’s a great feeling to know you have your (wrestling) family who will look out for you and you can count on them.

“It is so great to see your teammates on the sidelines cheering for you. They are there to support you. Even if they didn’t win their match, they are still there to watch your match and support you. My teammates and I like to joke around and mess with the coaches sometimes,” she said.

Regarding challenges of the sport, Bullerman-Yu said the mental aspect of wrestling can be difficult at times.

“With wrestling, mentally, you need to be tough and push through (the challenges) even if you don’t want to,” she said. “The season can be long but having your teammates cheering you on helps get you through it.

“One lesson I’ve learned (through wrestling) is don’t take things for granted. Another is to value the time you have (with your team) because it goes by fast. Enjoy each moment,” Bullerman-Yu said.

She offered some solid advice to up-and-coming wrestlers.

“Wrestlers need to know that it will be tough and you’ve got to be committed to the sport,” she said. “However, in the end, it is definitely worth it. As long as you put the time and effort into it, things will turn out well for you.

“During the off-seasons, I was involved in club, freestyle and AAU wrestling teams. Competing at the AAU State Wrestling Meet (in previous years) was helpful for me. For wrestlers who are interested, there are tournaments throughout the year that they can compete in. 

“There are more and more girls going out for wrestling (throughout Iowa) and they continue to get better every year. It definitely takes off-season work and extra practice to take your skills to the next level,” she said.

Bullerman-Yu said that after graduating from Crestwood this May, she will attend the University of Northern Iowa for its BSN (Nursing) program.