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Hi, my name is Elexa Reyes! I am currently a senior at Spring Valley High School and going into my fourth year of wrestling. With a ten-year background in Jiu-Jitsu, I quickly fell in love with the sport of wrestling. Over the past four years, I’ve pushed myself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Wrestling has changed my perspective on life, teaching me the importance of self-confidence, resilience, and how to keep moving forward. Outside of wrestling, I’m an antisocial-social person! I love being around family and friends, but I also cherish my independent time. I enjoy sleeping, shopping, hanging out with my friends, and going to church. Wrestling has helped build me into the person I am today, and I couldn’t be more thankful for what it’s blessed me with. |
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| My freshman year, I was hesitant to join my school’s wrestling team, as I would be the first girl on the team since the school had opened. Nonetheless, my dad pushed me to go because my brother was on the team. At first, it was hard. I cried after every practice, begging to quit, because I didn’t feel like I belonged. Once again, my dad pushed me to stay, and it became my biggest blessing. At the end of my first year, my record was 7-4, losing a close match at the Southern Nevada Regional Tournament, and I was hungrier than ever. |
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| That summer, I trained almost every day. Whether that was waking up early to run at the park or drilling on the mat with my uncles, I wanted to prove I could belong in this sport. At the start of my sophomore year season, I was extremely excited to see my efforts in action. I showed up to my high school practices every day wanting to be the best, and it showed. I was in the finals of almost every tournament we were registered for, and I had good matches that displayed my hard work throughout the off-season. I ended the regular season with a 20-5 record, and with the post-season coming up, I knew I could be the first girl for Spring Valley to qualify for state. I was seeded fourth at Regionals. I was able to make it to the semifinals; however, my semifinal match was incredibly tough, knocking me into the cons-semis, where I had to battle for my spot at state. I wrestled with all that I had, establishing my place as a Nevada State Qualifier. Entering the arena where the state tournament was to be held, I was overwhelmed with excitement but also anxiety. I questioned whether I belonged there, feeling like I was back to square one standing in the middle of the wrestling room my freshman year. This affected my performance, leaving the state tournament 0-2, but with lessons learned under my belt. |
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| At the beginning of my junior year, I was more than excited to continue where I left off. My confidence was at an all-time high, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to wrestle at state again. My confidence was evident through my wrestling performance; I was pinning, teching, overall dominating the competition, and coming home with hardware. I was at an all-time high. But with all-time highs come all-time lows. My attitude was nothing short of cocky. I felt I didn’t need to show up to school practice because I knew I would win the next tournament, so I didn’t bother putting in the same effort I had done the previous year. I didn’t show up to the conditioning, the weight lifting, or the wrestling practices. I simply didn’t care, and it seemed neither did my coaches, further influencing my decision to stop showing up. With this attitude, I ended up in physical therapy for injuring my MCL from pushing my body to limits it hadn’t gone, due to not showing up. I knew I had to change my mindset, but with a low confidence level and self-discipline, I couldn’t bring myself to dig out of the hole I put myself in. I sabotaged my chance at qualifying for state, placing fifth, and couldn’t be more frustrated with myself. Ending my season with a 21-7 record, I knew I had to undergo a significant change if I wanted to be at the top again. |
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| This led me to finding a wrestling club to join. I didn’t know what a good wrestling club was supposed to entail, but I looked for a club that would be in my corner physically as well as mentally. I needed to pick each piece of myself back up, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone, leading me to Legends of Gold. Coach Bill Sullivan welcomed me to his club with open arms, and I couldn’t feel more at home. The environment, the people, the coaches, the energy, is what I needed, so I stayed. I met some of my closest friends at LOG, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I was able to learn and fall in love with freestyle from amazing coaches and was given the opportunity to compete at national-level tournaments, giving me life lessons along the way. Slowly but surely, to this day, I’m still building myself up to be the best possible athlete and person I can be in preparation for this senior year. |
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| Where I was, where I am, where I will be, is all thanks to God. Every day is a new beginning, and I will live it out to its fullest potential in glorifying my savior. Blessed with a loving family, thank you, Mama and Daddy, for always believing in me when no one else did. I wouldn’t be given this life without your love and support; I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. I love you. Thank you for choosing me as NVSportsLocals Women’s Athlete of the Month. |
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