Alexa Rico '27 Recruiting Profile

Throughout the year, I have fallen in love with the sport of wrestling. During my freshman sports orientation, I was intrigued by the wrestlers in the corner of the room. They were having fun, practicing throws, and drawing people to their table. My PE teacher, soccer, and basketball coach all suggested I give the sport a try. I thought to myself, what is there to lose? Ever since then, wrestling has been a crucial part of my high school journey, and I will work hard to make it a part of my college journey too. 

Despite only wrestling for a few months, this sport has helped me realize that I too, can dedicate myself to something. During the season, I show up to practice every day possible, including breaks and optional practices, and work hard. During the off-season, I attend all the practices I can, including my school's club practice, other school’s practices, and off-season tournaments, even while juggling going to the gym, flag football, turning in all my assignments, and keeping my 4.2 GPA in the classroom. Additionally, I volunteer at middle schools, after-school programs, and have been in CJSF/CSF since 7th grade. 

On the mat, I am not afraid to take a shot. This, other than my coachable nature and motivation to become better, has been described as one of my best qualities. Additionally, his sport has taught me many things, win or lose, there is always a lesson to be learned. You can always strive for better. Despite my hardships, this is what I do every day, on or off the mat. During the tournament I tore my MCL at, I figured out how resilient I really am. Despite my injury during my third match of the day, I wrestled the whole tournament, and have never taken wrestling for granted again. While off the mat I was still striving to be better, working hard in the gym and at physical therapy, getting better little by little, wishing I were wrestling once again. In a way, I came back stronger and learned to put my all into my matches, as I remember the time I could not wrestle any matches at all. 

In the near future, I hope to attend a college where I can push my boundaries and receive a good education, while also competing and growing with my fellow wrestlers on the mat. I want to show my younger siblings and those around me who you can become when committing to something. I want to be someone they can look up to. I want to make my coaches proud. I want to make my family proud. I want to make myself proud. I want all my hard work to pay off, and I will overcome all obstacles to do so.