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| My name is Destiny Gonzales, and I am currently a Junior in high school, and I am sixteen. I have only been wrestling for two years, starting in my Sophomore year with no prior experience in wrestling or any combat sport. Growing up, my focus was mainly on baseball, then transitioning to softball, volleyball, and finally wrestling when I entered high school. The inspiration behind my decision to take up wrestling was my brother, Lusio Gonzales, who is now my coach. Similar to me, he had no wrestling background until high school, starting in his Freshman year and excelling quickly, despite limited resources. His success motivated my sister, Faith Gonzales, and me to join wrestling; a sport that we all came to love, including the rest of my family. We were all inspired by his passion and dedication. |
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| I only participate in wrestling during the high school season, not year-round. Over the past two years, I have benefited greatly from the guidance of Coach Olson, Coach Graham, Coach Rivera, and Coach Gonzales. These coaches have been instrumental in teaching me and pushing me to improve. I am incredibly thankful to have such a dedicated group of coaches supporting me. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge my dad, Lusio Gonzales, as a coach figure, even though he may not fit the traditional criteria or have official credentials. Despite being new to the sport, my dad has shared to me valuable knowledge about wrestling and what it takes to succeed. He has also spent countless hours educating both himself, and me, about wrestling, and his support has played a significant role in my wrestling accomplishments. |
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| I don’t have many accomplishments compared to most wrestlers as of yet, as like I said I am still fairly new to the sport. However, my first year of wrestling, I qualified for State and placed 3rd for the 185 pound weight class for girls, and I was the first female in my school to ever make it to State and Place. I also had a record of 31-3 and took First at many tournaments which was a really cool experience for me since I was only a Rookie. My second year of wrestling, though, was filled with even more accomplishments. I had a record of 36-4, never having gotten pinned and only losing by a couple of points in all four losses. I also took Fourth at the Sierra Nevada Classic; I took First place in the Northern Regionals Division in the 165 pound weight class for girls, and I placed 4th at State. I was one of the first females in my school to win a Division Title too, along with my teammate Madison (Gracie) Rivera. I am proud of the accomplishments I have made, especially because I come from a small 2A town that is not known for anything other than its casinos and basketball. These accomplishments prove that I can compete with some of the biggest and baddest schools and programs, and that time means nothing as long as you have the heart and dedication. |
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| Currently, I maintain a GPA of 4.422 and have plans to pursue nursing at either the University of Nevada, Reno, or Utah Tech University after high school. I am uncertain about continuing my athletic career post-graduation, but the idea of competing at a higher level sounds really fun and exciting to me, especially with the growing interest in women’s wrestling. Contributing to this trend and supporting the development of women’s wrestling is a huge factor to whether or not I decide to continue on with my wrestling career. I also have plans to become a coach for either wrestling or softball once I finish with college. I am thinking of maybe coaching some high school team in North Carolina (not really, I am just really obsessed with the show Outer Banks). |
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| I have a lot of people to give thanks for my accomplishments and the growth I was able to make in this sport from my first to my second year of wrestling. The first people I would like to give thanks to are my teammates. Everyday, they pushed me, encouraged me, and believed in me and my ability to go far and to be the one standing at the top of the podium every chance I got. They also helped on the days that practiced sucked the most, or when I didn’t feel like being there. Having them along my side on days of brutal conditioning was a reminder that I was not in this alone, and that was what helped me get through tough practices. It is also the fact they are the only ones who know and understand the type of pain us wrestlers go through. They know the sacrifices, the blood, sweat, and tears that go into this sport in order to be good. Having people that can relate to you and your situation, in this case, my teammates, is amazing to have and why I keep going on days I don’t think I can. |
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| There are two of my teammates, however, that I would like to give additional recognition to, and my deepest gratitude and appreciation–that is Faith Gonzales and Madison Rivera. These two girls have been by my side since day one, and they have pushed me past my limits and contribute to as much of my accomplishments as I do. I am truly grateful for them, and I feel fortunate to have such amazing individuals by my side on this journey. The next group of people I would like to give thanks to is my coaches. Their trust in my potential has truly been a source of motivation and inspiration for me and their guidance, encouragement, and support have not only helped me improve as an athlete, but they have also instilled in me a sense of confidence and determination. I am grateful for the countless hours they have dedicated to training me, pushing me to my limits, and helping me develop both on and off the mat. Their belief in me has been a driving force behind my progress, and I am thankful for the opportunities they have provided me to grow and succeed. Their faith in my abilities has meant the world to me, and I am truly grateful for all that they have done. |
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| Lastly but not least, the group of people I want to give my greatest thanks to are my parents, Lusio and Guadalupe Gonzales, especially because I would not even be writing this bio if it weren’t for them. From early morning practices to late-night tournaments, they never failed to show up, cheer loudly, and provide the love and motivation I needed to push myself further. I hope that they know their selflessness and dedication have not gone unnoticed either. The sacrifices they made to ensure I had the resources, time, and guidance to pursue my passion for wrestling have shaped me into the athlete and person I am today. Their belief in my abilities, even when I doubted myself, has been a source of strength that propelled me to strive for excellence. I am truly blessed to have them as my parents; they are my biggest fans, and my pillars of support. I want to thank them for being my rock, my cheerleaders, and my guiding lights throughout my athletic career. Their love and presence mean more to me than words can express. I cherish every moment we have shared on this journey, and I look forward to many more victories, both on and off the mat, with them by my side. |
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