| My name is Jenavi Alejandro. I am seventeen years-old and am currently a Junior at Centennial High School in Las Vegas, NV. I started wrestling at the age of five, and I was one of the only girls in Nevada wrestling. At the time, the only girls in the sport in Vegas were myself, my sister- Juliana, and Sterling Dias. The first time I had ever been in a wrestling room was in 2008; I went to watch my older brother, Matthew practice. When we got home that night, I begged my dad to let me practice, so he obliged. I wrestled for a year and a half, before stepping away to pursue other sports. In my two years away from wrestling, I tried cheer and golf. However, I missed the physicality and intensity of wrestling. Therefore I asked my dad if he would allow me back in the wrestling room so that I could begin training again. My dad said no, but my sister and I didn’t budge; we begged my dad everyday until he finally agreed. Knowing that there was no turning back, my love of wrestling started. I began my wrestling career with Team Vegas. After a short while we began practicing with a new club, The Gladiators. While with the Gladiators we wrestled under my dad–Jay Alejandro and coach Jose Sosa. Over the years I continually worked hard and always strived for improvement everyday; I eventually began hitting my stride in the seventh grade. I then transferred to SLAM Academy where I wrestled under coach Jake Rollans. This provided me with the unique opportunity to be around a team of female wrestlers, which tremendously helped my development in the sport. |
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| When Juliana and I were in fifth and sixth grade, our parents started taking us to different tournaments around the country. This helped the both of us tremendously, not only with gaining exposure within the sport, but to different cultures and people as well. I am forever grateful for my parents giving me those opportunities. As an eighth grader, I traveled to Western Regionals in Pocatello, Idaho where I won the High School Girls Freestyle Championship and was named the “Outstanding Wrestler.” That same year, I traveled to Fargo, ND to compete at the prestigious USA Wrestling Freestyle National Championships, where I placed Fifth in the country and earned All-American honors. |
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| My Freshman year of high school, at Centennial, I was coached by Coach Steve Wike, Coach Kevin Robles, and Coach Jake Evans. Under their guidance my success continued, and I compiled a 20-9 record during the High School Varsity Boys Season; I placed at every boys Varsity Tournament that I attended. Near the end of the season, I won my first High School Girls State Championship. The next weekend I placed Third at Boys Varsity Regional Championship, becoming the youngest girl to qualify for State. I then attended the Boys Varsity State Tournament where I became the First and Only girl to ever win a match, in Nevada, in any Division. |
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| That spring and summer my sister and I were lucky enough to travel the country competing. I was able to earn All-American Honors five times in just a few months. Our first stop was Folkstyle Nationals, in Oklahoma City. Here I double bracketed and placed Fifth and Sixth in Both High School Divisions. Our next stop was New York City. There I won the Cadet Division at Beat the Streets Gotham City Tournament, where I defeated the Canadian National Champion in the Finals. We then traveled to Fargo, ND again, where I Placed Fourth in the Junior Division. My Sophomore year we got a new Head Coach, Don McGregor, who has helped further my development in the sport. I finished my Sophomore season with a record of 36-12 on High School Boys Varsity, and 22-1 in the Girls Division. Some of my accomplishments during the season include: winning a 64-Girl bracket at The Freakshow, pinning my way through the Bulldog Growler, which was a Boys Varsity Tournament, and placing third at Queen of the Hill in California- the biggest Girls Tournament of the season. I capped my season by winning my Second State Championship in the Girls Division. |
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| My Junior year unfortunately, due to Covid, Nevada did not have a wrestling season. My parents found a way to train safely, by practicing with different clubs from California, all the way to Texas. I participated in a Showcase in Wisconsin and was victorious, defeating a Nationally Ranked Wrestler. I was also invited and traveled around the country to be on several Dual Teams. In March, I attended the USA High School National Recruiting Showcase in Coralville, Iowa, where I defeated multiple Nationally Ranked wrestlers and was a National Runner-up. We then traveled to Virginia Beach, where I placed Fourth at the NHSCA National Tournament. I currently train with my High School Coach, Don McGregor, and Coach Kevin Robles out of Drysdale Fight for us Jiu Jitsu, and also Anicete Training Center with Coaches Napoleon Aniciete, Alex Aniciete and Valyen Rauser. |
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| My goals after high school are to wrestle in college and eventually make a World Team. I would like to further my education to study Anesthesiology in Medical School. I currently carry a 3.8 GPA. I want to thank my parents, Jay and Christina, for giving me the opportunity to do what I love and pushing me to be the best version of myself. I want to thank my siblings–especially my sister Juliana, for banging with me in practice, as well as my grandparents, aunts and uncle and cousins–for being so supportive throughout my journey. I also want to thank all of my coaches throughout the years for believing in me and helping me to get where I am today. And a big thank you to my High School Coaches Don McGregor and Kevin Robles and my Club coaches, Napoleon Aniciete, Alex Aniciete and Valyen Rauser. |
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