A career in sports information is all about effectively communicating the excitement, statistics, and stories behind athletic events to the media, fans, and stakeholders. My vision for this career involves working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where I can combine my passion for sports with strong communication and analytical skills. I aspire to manage media relations, produce compelling content, and ensure accurate reporting of sports data to enhance fan engagement and the visibility of teams and athletes. As an incoming collegiate wrestler and being a member of a sport-crazy family, I have grown up surrounded by hundreds of sporting events. I have written newspaper articles and social media posts regarding game recaps which have helped me refine and convey insights clearly. I have experience managing my schools FFA Instagram and TikTok account, as well as my school and club wrestling teams accounts. Therefore, I will be familiar with managing social media accounts, creating engaging content, and growing an audience. I have attended and created content for live sporting events, gaining hands-on experience in real time reporting and media coordination. I have participated in interviews, attended press conferences, and exposed myself with opportunities to speak in front of large crowds. These experiences have strengthened my ability to communicate effectively, confidently, and accurately. Being a member of leadership classes throughout my education, as well as being a wrestling team captain, and a member of the Growing Leaders committee board for my schools FFA program, I have experience working in team environments which has prepared me to collaborate with coaches, advisors, colleagues, athletes, and media professionals. I plan to pursue coursework in sports communications and journalism in college at Minot State University. I will gain hands on experience with internships in athletic departments, sports teams, or media organizations and companies to gain real-world exposure. I will stay updated by following and practicing industry trends and learning new tools to remain competitive in the sports media field. I aspire to engage with industry professionals through conferences, brands, social media, and sports associations. I believe the most important skills for success in the sports media field include communications, use of platforms, relations, and adaptability and quick thinking. These core skills will ensure that I write clear and engaging releases and content, build strong relationships with other media professionals, utilize platforms such as X, TikTok, and Instagram to promote teams and events, and be able to proficiently respond to breaking news, game results, and unexpected developments in real time.

Playing sports in high school is a challenge by itself, but there are many challenges that come along with it. Balancing grades and producing optimal performance in a sport is very hard. Maintaining exceptional grades while participating in rigorous training for your sport can be overwhelming. Playing a sport in high school teaches time management and responsibility, two of the most essential skills to have in life. Another significant challenge scholar athletes face is dealing with mental and physical stress. The physical demands of sports can lead to injuries, which require resilience and a strong mindset to overcome. I personally struggle with the pressure to perform well. I get very bad anxiety and get stressed, just wanting to perform to my fullest potential 100% of the time. As a highschool athlete, I have learned the importance of mental toughness and the value of maintaining a positive attitude even in the face of adversity. A big part of being a student athlete is learning your needs and fulfilling them, including selfcare, proper nutrition, getting enough sleep, and much more to sustain your performance and overall well being. One more lesson of being a high school athlete is learning to work well with others. Being a high school athlete involve teamwork and leadership. Sports teach students how to work together towards a shared goal, communicate effectively, and most important of all - support each other. The experience of being a student athlete cultivates leadership skills as athletes very often find themselves in a position that they need guidance and motivation from their peers and vise versa. The lessons learned from teamwork and leadership extend far beyond the sports field. These lessons prepare student athletes for college, their work settings, future careers, and personal relationships. I believe that the greatest lesson taught when being a student athlete is resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks time and time again. Student athletes face many setbacks whether it is losing a game, dealing with injuries, balancing the stress of multiple responsibilities, or just having a bad practice but it affecting you because you are so dedicated to performing well at something you put so much time and effort into. These experiences have taught me how to bounce back from adversity, maintain a positive attitude, and stay motivated and keep that spark lighted even when things get tough. The resilience developed through being a student athlete in highschool is crucial for overcoming challenges in other areas of life.

In wrestling, I feel I have always been an underdog. I grew up in a family that doesn't have any wrestling background, and didn't know anything about wrestling. As I started wrestling when I was younger, I was always the only girl in the practice room, and one of, if not the only girl at the local tournaments on the weekends. I had to pick myself up and get back on my feet time and time again wrestling boys for years on end, always feeling like I would never be good enough, but kept fighting because I don't give up. Now, as a senior in highschool, a 2x California State qualifier, signed to wrestle at Minot State, I am no longer the underdog. I am beyond thankful for my younger years in wrestling teaching me to continue trying and not giving up against boys, because it taught me to never give up in life and that you will never regret putting in your full effort. Now, women's wrestling is the fastest growing sport and I am thankful to have the opportunity to be an advocate for the young women being introduced to this sport and I hope that if the sport of wrestling teaches them anything, it is to never stop trying. No matter who you are or where you come from, hard work will never go unnoticed and you will never regret working hard in life. You don't need to be perfect to be good at what you do, you just have to fight for it. I am proud of myself to have a title as a pioneer of women's wrestling. Wrestling truly turns people into a different person. The sport forces you to have an open mind, be dedicated, and be mentally tough. As an underdog, you have to be willing to put in more work than your competition. You have to study day in and day out to fight the title of underdog. You have to be willing to prove you are worth more than that title. You have to constantly get back on your feet and not get discouraged by adversity. You need to believe in yourself more than anything, but above all, stay humble. You need to truly understand that you are capable of succeeding, no matter the circumstances. Realizing you are an underdog, but fighting to not be, gives you the opportunity to grow. And you putting in that effort to grow sets you apart from the mediocre.

Wrestling, to me, is more than just a sport. Wrestling has consumed my life for more years than I can count. Whether it was watching my brother at wrestling practice while I tumbled around the mats when I was young, to now, being 17 , a 2x California State Championships qualifier, eager to pursue my wrestling career at the college level. Being a woman in wrestling means breaking barriers. When I first started wrestling, all I wrestled was boys, now women's wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Being on the mat gives me a sense of pride, strength, and an adrenaline rush that you can't get from anything else. The sport of wrestling has taught me the true meaning of hard work, dedication, discipline, and perseverance. Each minute on a wrestling mat gives me an opportunity to grow, to learn, and most importantly to push my limits- not just physically but mentally as well. The sport of wrestling demands a different level of focus and determination that people who haven't wrestled, will never understand. Being a women in wrestling allows me to be the voice and advocate for the future of women's wrestling. No matter what I was feeling on any given day: tired, stressed, worthless, a failure- wrestling was always there for me. Knowing after a bad day, going into a wrestling room, lacing my shoes up, and working hard could always bring me a sense of comfort that no one or anything else could. Nothing compares to the feeling of getting your hand raised after giving your all time and time again during practices, matches, and behind the scenes.I live for the thrill of getting my hand raised. Wrestling gives me a platform to inspire others. Wrestling may be "just a sport" to others, but to me it's about showing little girls- that plan to wrestle or not, that with passion and dedication, they can excel in anything they put their heart and mind to. Wrestling has taught me that setbacks are just setups for comebacks, and every challenge faced on and off the mat, is a lesson in being resilient that I carry into all aspects of my life. Wrestling, to me, is not just a sport- it's a symbol of empowerment, a testament to the strength of women, and a constant reminder that I can break through any barrier set before me.