After being the only girl in my county to wrestle for the first three years of my wrestling journey, I remember how scared and nervous and lonely I was being the only girl to try wrestling. my coach and I had always talked about trying to get other girls to join, constantly putting up reminders and announcements for girls who are interested and going out of our way to talk to female athletes that aren't an in season athlete during the winter, to girls who just wanted something to be apart of, as well as trying to figure out what my own next step was as an student athlete. I had a decision to make, take the trail that I had no idea where it would lead me and go to college, or try and find a job I would enjoy after I get out of school. I desperately wanted to go to college and wrestle and learn, but I had no clue how, my parents didn't go to college and didn't know how to help as much as they would like to. So for a whole year I was stuck not knowing what to do. That following year was a year that changed how I would view my future. Eleven other girls came out forming my schools inaugural women's wrestling team, something I had never dreamed of seeing. That season I learned just as much from them as they did me. I may have helped them learn how to wrestle and how to put on a headgear, but they taught me that wrestling is more important than your record or wins and losses. A wrestling team is a family, they are there when you win and celebrate you, but they are also there when you lose and push you to get better. Before this group of girls I had never felt fully supported by my team. Being a female wrestler wasn’t encouraged when I started, it was a boys sport and no one ever challenged that until I joined. I would be called names talked about behind my back, most of the time it was the parents and coaches from the other teams saying I shouldn’t be on that mat etc. It was very discouraging to hear, but I kept going, I would think to myself “one day there will be a girl like me who wants to try this crazy sport, and I want them to feel accepted and know that it is okay to wrestle.” Towards the end of that season, I shared with my team the dilemma I was in. I told them how I was scared to go off to school because I wouldn't know what would happen, and no one in my family has before. They laughed at me. Just when I was about to get angry at them for laughing at my problem, my now bestfriend says, "what would have happened if you had that attitude about wrestling? None of us would be here, on this wrestling team. why start thinking that way now" I stopped for a moment and realized she was right. Just because I am nervous for the outcome, doesn't mean I shouldn't try and give it my all like I had with other things in my life. I want to do something more with my life, and help people. I plan on going on and creating my own business that specializes in women athletes and the specialized needs they have when training for their sports. I want to inspire the next generation of athletes into doing what they love.

As a child growing up from a broken home, with parents who fought all the time and a brother who was always out with his friends. I found myself incredibly lonely as well as over weight and lacking confidence. I was bullied for how I looked and when I brought up jiu-jitsu to my parents at first they were unsure but after seeing what I was facing at school and a few weeks of convincing they were all in. From the first class I was hooked. I would show up for as long and as frequent as my coach would let me. Through my 10 year journey of jiu-jitsu and other martial arts I've added along the way, I have gained my sense of self and have learned what is good for my body as well as making life long friendships I would have never had the opportunity of making otherwise. I am forever grateful to this sport, and give back at any opportunity I can by helping with youth classes and giving as much time as I can because I would like to be there for them like my coaches were for me when I needed them.

After being the only girl in my county to wrestle for the first three years of my wrestling journey, my coach and I had always talked about trying to get other girls to join, constantly putting up reminders and announcements for girls who are interested and going out of our way to talk to female athletes that aren't an in season athlete during the winter to girls who just wanted something to be apart of. But I would've never thought I would be standing in front of eleven other girls just that next November after my freshman year, just as eager to start the season then I was. After their first practice they were hooked. Watching my new teammates fall in love with a sport I loved replenished my drive to succeed. That season i learned just as much from them as they did me. I may have helped them learn how to wrestle and how to put on a headgear, but they taught me that wrestling is more important than your record or wins and losses. A wrestling team is a family, they are there when you win and celebrate you, but they are also there when you lose and push you to get better. Before this group of girls I had never felt fully supported by my team. Being a female wrestler wasn’t encouraged when I started, it was a boys sport and no one ever challenged that until I joined. I would be called names talked about behind my back, most of the time it was the parents and coaches from the other teams saying i shouldn’t be on that mat and other things along those lines. It was very discouraging to hear, but I kept going, I would think to myself “one day there will be a girl like me who wants to try this crazy sport, and I want them to feel accepted and know that it is okay to wrestle.” I'll never forget that year for many reasons, two of which are capturing a region and state title with an army of girls supporting me, but more importantly, seeing the sport that is so deeply important to me that I fought so hard to be a part of, impact the lives of those girls. Some of which have even chosen their paths to continue their wrestling career at the collegiate level. At the end of the day, being able to say "I’m a state champion" is nice, but being able to say I inspired people to pursue something they enjoy is the experience of a lifetime.

After being the only girl in my county to wrestle for the first three years of my wrestling journey, my coach and I had always talked about trying to get other girls to join, constantly putting up reminders and announcements for girls who are interested and going out of our way to talk to female athletes that aren't an in season athlete during the winter to girls who just wanted something to be apart of. But I would've never thought I would be standing in front of eleven other girls just that next November after my freshman year, just as eager to start the season then I was. After their first practice they were hooked. Watching my new teammates fall in love with a sport I loved replenished my drive to succeed. That season i learned just as much from them as they did me. I may have helped them learn how to wrestle and how to put on a headgear, but they taught me that wrestling is more important than your record or wins and losses. A wrestling team is a family, they are there when you win and celebrate you, but they are also there when you lose and push you to get better. Before this group of girls I had never felt fully supported by my team. Being a female wrestler wasn’t encouraged when I started, it was a boys sport and no one ever challenged that until I joined. I would be called names talked about behind my back, most of the time it was the parents and coaches from the other teams saying i shouldn’t be on that mat and other things along those lines. It was very discouraging to hear, but I kept going, I would think to myself “one day there will be a girl like me who wants to try this crazy sport, and I want them to feel accepted and know that it is okay to wrestle.” I'll never forget that year for many reasons, two of which are capturing a region and state title with an army of girls supporting me, but more importantly, seeing the sport that is so deeply important to me that I fought so hard to be a part of, impact the lives of those girls. Some of which have even chosen their paths to continue their wrestling career at the collegiate level. At the end of the day, being able to say "I’m a state champion" is nice, but being able to say I inspired people to pursue something they enjoy is the experience of a lifetime.